So after playing FFCC: My Life as a King for well over 100 in-game days, I've finally decided to move on to other games. Don't get me wrong, I thought the story was interesting and all of that, but the pacing was just too random for my tastes. I didn't even my the repetition either, though that must be in large part to my excruciatingly high tolerance to the Dynasty Warriors games.
Aside from that, I have gotten into trying a few other WiiWare games and I'll admit that they weren't quite what I expected. The title I actually had high hopes for was actually a stinker and the one I didn't think I'd enjoy was actually fun.
I guess a grasshoppa, I remain.
First off is a WiiWare game called "Pop," which is an appropriate title because that is pretty much the whole game explained in a word. You pop colored bubbles, you gain time, you score points and chain pops together, if you can manage to understand how that works out (with my simple brain, I just couldn't). The difficulty increases with levels (the speed the bubbles move increases). You continue on until you run out of time.
This was the game I was wanting to get, with me being under the belief that it would end up being fun. Well, I was sure surprised! After several levels, I was just hoping it would end soon. To sum up my thoughts, the game is just flat out dull and I grew bored of it and fast. That is a half hour of my life I'll never, ever get back.
"Defend Your Castle," on the other hand, was a real sleeper in my view. I just downloaded it to give something a try. What I found was a game where you click on stick people (with button heads) and you fling them away from your castle via Wii Remote. As you progress through the levels, more button heads attack (at various speeds) and more enemies are introduced.
Again, this is another simple game but it picks up it's pace early on and maybe I'm just a sick human being, but I kind of enjoy tossing those button heads around. You can toss them up into the air or bounce them off of the side of the screen. Seconds later, they'll come crashing back down to earth with a splat! Good times...
And that is it for my little write up on some of these games that have been keeping me occupied these past few weeks. On the home front, I think I'll be back to writing a little more regularly next month. Having had to face a combination of be lazy, tired and slightly unmotivated is/was a daunting task. But I think June will be back to business as usual.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King
So it has been four days since I last wrote and at the time I was having a few issues on downloading games, namely one called Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King. Four days later and about 100 days later (in-game) and I can honestly state that I actually enjoy the game.
It isn't a deep RTS game to be sure, then again I am not even sure if it can be classified as such. Still, it manages to be addicting in it's own ways and I am still surprised at how well it plays. Even the story itself isn't bad and I am curious to see and I am still playing to know what happens next, how it happens and why.
Conversations do tend to repeat themselves and repeat often at that. But considering that this is a downloaded game, it has to be expected right?
Graphically, the game itself is fairly easy on the eyes. The King, on the other hand, seems to have a thing for pink and having clips in his hair... not that there is anything wrong with that....
A few gripes that I have aren't really that major, but it does lead to a little frustration here and there. For one thing, once you hire an adventurer for your growing kingdom, you've got them for life as far as I can tell. You cannot fire them! So if they perform poorly, you are stuck with them for the long haul which leads to much wasted time overall.
And speaking of which, if you hire too many people on, too quickly, you'll find that you can easily lose control of them and they will run off and do their own thing. It isn't too bad in the beginning, but once you start to get in the mid 20's in level, it becomes a pain. Nothing gets more frustrating in the game then to have your highest level fighters running off and leaving your weaker guys to form their own parties and see them off to their collective dooms.
Then there is the lack of things to do, once you've gotten your kingdom under way. After setting up tasks for your adventurers, you can either build more buildings or talk to your loyal subjects. As stated earlier, the conversations are deep and so you will be seeing the same things before long. As for building, you are kept under a rather tight limit and the choices in buildings are few. It isn't really a bad thing, but you will find yourself on some days just calling it a day as soon as your hired guns run off like a bunch of headless chickens.
Still and again, as I mentioned before, I am still managing to enjoy this game. It isn't perfect by any means, yet it still has a charm that has kept me playing for these past several days quite dedicatedly. I suppose I can only dream as to what Square Enix could do, should they ever make a move and expand the game out to a full length game of it's own.
Maybe then it shall be good to be King.
It isn't a deep RTS game to be sure, then again I am not even sure if it can be classified as such. Still, it manages to be addicting in it's own ways and I am still surprised at how well it plays. Even the story itself isn't bad and I am curious to see and I am still playing to know what happens next, how it happens and why.
Conversations do tend to repeat themselves and repeat often at that. But considering that this is a downloaded game, it has to be expected right?
Graphically, the game itself is fairly easy on the eyes. The King, on the other hand, seems to have a thing for pink and having clips in his hair... not that there is anything wrong with that....
A few gripes that I have aren't really that major, but it does lead to a little frustration here and there. For one thing, once you hire an adventurer for your growing kingdom, you've got them for life as far as I can tell. You cannot fire them! So if they perform poorly, you are stuck with them for the long haul which leads to much wasted time overall.
And speaking of which, if you hire too many people on, too quickly, you'll find that you can easily lose control of them and they will run off and do their own thing. It isn't too bad in the beginning, but once you start to get in the mid 20's in level, it becomes a pain. Nothing gets more frustrating in the game then to have your highest level fighters running off and leaving your weaker guys to form their own parties and see them off to their collective dooms.
Then there is the lack of things to do, once you've gotten your kingdom under way. After setting up tasks for your adventurers, you can either build more buildings or talk to your loyal subjects. As stated earlier, the conversations are deep and so you will be seeing the same things before long. As for building, you are kept under a rather tight limit and the choices in buildings are few. It isn't really a bad thing, but you will find yourself on some days just calling it a day as soon as your hired guns run off like a bunch of headless chickens.
Still and again, as I mentioned before, I am still managing to enjoy this game. It isn't perfect by any means, yet it still has a charm that has kept me playing for these past several days quite dedicatedly. I suppose I can only dream as to what Square Enix could do, should they ever make a move and expand the game out to a full length game of it's own.
Maybe then it shall be good to be King.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Wii Have a Problem
Note: I like writing (bitching) about the Wii because it gives me a lousy excuse to make up all of these craptacular titles involving "Wii." Aren't I a clever monkey? :p
Anyway, problems... do I have it? Or do I not? Well before I get too far ahead of myself, allow me to set the scene for this particular writing. Now I have been trying for the past 2-3 hours trying to acquire some "Wii Points" so that I may purchase a game from the fairly lackluster pickings of the "Virtual Console" and/or Wiiware selections.
However, I've been met each time with a error message saying it cannot process my credit card info at this time, please try again, blah, blah, blah. Drawn out story short, it's a no go!
Under normal circumstances, an issue such as this would hold absolutely no grounds with me. But! But considering that my apartment feels about as cool as an oven, yeah. I think you'd have a better time jabbing a slumbering grizzly with a pointy stick.
And all of this trouble to get these pricey points just so that I can try out Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King. I've read the reviews and all that and it didn't fare well in that regard. But screw it, it caught my attention and now I wanna give it a go.
But I can't! I can't throw away more money to this system (don't even get me started on the $30 goddamn internet line converter/contraption/whateverthefuckyoucallthepieceofyouknowwhat). Maybe it's a sign? A divine one maybe? Yes, yes... the God of Video Games is watching over me and I know it now.
Or maybe Nintendo is just actually having issues with their shit. Then again, I could waste an hour or more of my life trying to call their customer service/tech support peeps. Things usually turn around at that point, in which case it'll be YOUR (or in the case of this writing, my) equipment that has all the issues.
Is it really too much to ask to be able to play what might actually be a shitty game? I mean I wanna waste my money! But they won't allow it!? Am I getting some kind of intervention here or what? Do I get a group hug?
Hell no! I'll just sit in my oven/apartment and simmer on these random and off-the-wall thinkings and we'll see where that goes. Maybe I need sleep? Sleep could solve everything! But wait, no it will not because I'll still not be able to play what may very well be the crap amongst crap of games!
Grrr... forget it, I'm grouchy and that is that...
Anyway, problems... do I have it? Or do I not? Well before I get too far ahead of myself, allow me to set the scene for this particular writing. Now I have been trying for the past 2-3 hours trying to acquire some "Wii Points" so that I may purchase a game from the fairly lackluster pickings of the "Virtual Console" and/or Wiiware selections.
However, I've been met each time with a error message saying it cannot process my credit card info at this time, please try again, blah, blah, blah. Drawn out story short, it's a no go!
Under normal circumstances, an issue such as this would hold absolutely no grounds with me. But! But considering that my apartment feels about as cool as an oven, yeah. I think you'd have a better time jabbing a slumbering grizzly with a pointy stick.
And all of this trouble to get these pricey points just so that I can try out Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King. I've read the reviews and all that and it didn't fare well in that regard. But screw it, it caught my attention and now I wanna give it a go.
But I can't! I can't throw away more money to this system (don't even get me started on the $30 goddamn internet line converter/contraption/whateverthefuckyoucallthepieceofyouknowwhat). Maybe it's a sign? A divine one maybe? Yes, yes... the God of Video Games is watching over me and I know it now.
Or maybe Nintendo is just actually having issues with their shit. Then again, I could waste an hour or more of my life trying to call their customer service/tech support peeps. Things usually turn around at that point, in which case it'll be YOUR (or in the case of this writing, my) equipment that has all the issues.
Is it really too much to ask to be able to play what might actually be a shitty game? I mean I wanna waste my money! But they won't allow it!? Am I getting some kind of intervention here or what? Do I get a group hug?
Hell no! I'll just sit in my oven/apartment and simmer on these random and off-the-wall thinkings and we'll see where that goes. Maybe I need sleep? Sleep could solve everything! But wait, no it will not because I'll still not be able to play what may very well be the crap amongst crap of games!
Grrr... forget it, I'm grouchy and that is that...
Saturday, May 17, 2008
To Write Love On Her Arms
Quick post, just something I feel is worth mentioning and spreading the word on. Now it isn't everyday that you'll see me writing about good causes and stuff of that sort. That isn't to say that I don't like to help a good cause, because that is the complete opposite to be truthful, but most times I worry that it's nothing more then a money making project.
However, I happen to came across a blog last night that linked to a group calling themselves Twloha. I've never heard of these folks before, but they sounded interesting and so I went ahead and checked it out.
The story behind the group itself is touching and I am certainly glad I got the opportunity to visit the site. I am glad to know that there are people out there trying to help those facing "depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide."
The best I could do to support them was to buy a shirt to give what little support that I could to their cause. Still, every little bit counts huh?
Check out their site at To Write Love On Her Arms
And the link at the bottom of my blog was suppose to be for their MySpace page, but it seems MySpace blocked it off. Anyway, you can check that out from the link through the link above too.
The story behind the group itself is touching and I am certainly glad I got the opportunity to visit the site. I am glad to know that there are people out there trying to help those facing "depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide."
The best I could do to support them was to buy a shirt to give what little support that I could to their cause. Still, every little bit counts huh?
Check out their site at To Write Love On Her Arms
And the link at the bottom of my blog was suppose to be for their MySpace page, but it seems MySpace blocked it off. Anyway, you can check that out from the link through the link above too.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Mario Kart Wii
A fast thought here about Mario Kart Wii and how I am quickly beginning to dislike it almost to the point of hate. Don't get me wrong, I like the concept of how you can control your kart with the remote mounted inside of a wheel. It is very responsive and easily makes even the simplest races a little frantic to say the least.
That isn't my problem.
My sole problem with the game is the amount of bombardment you face, especially when you're running in first place. Actually, the same can be said with the Balloon Battles and the Team VS stuff also.
I mean I've bared witness (and had been victim of) at least 3 consecutive weapon hits. So yes, any chosen racer of mine have all taken a series of flying lessons in any and every race they were in. I am surprised the game didn't include airplanes as one of the chosen modes of transportation.
Maybe this can be considered more of a short burst of a "rant," if this can even qualify as such. And I'd love to write more about my misadventures in plumber kart races and stuff, but that will have to wait until next time. No fun writing right now, not when my computer is lagging like turtle.
That isn't my problem.
My sole problem with the game is the amount of bombardment you face, especially when you're running in first place. Actually, the same can be said with the Balloon Battles and the Team VS stuff also.
I mean I've bared witness (and had been victim of) at least 3 consecutive weapon hits. So yes, any chosen racer of mine have all taken a series of flying lessons in any and every race they were in. I am surprised the game didn't include airplanes as one of the chosen modes of transportation.
Maybe this can be considered more of a short burst of a "rant," if this can even qualify as such. And I'd love to write more about my misadventures in plumber kart races and stuff, but that will have to wait until next time. No fun writing right now, not when my computer is lagging like turtle.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Wii Have Arrived
So after trying to find the Nintendo Wii the "cheap" way (at a regular game store), I finally caved in and bought it at the only place I knew had it for sure. The price wasn't all that bad, I mean it did come with 2 games but when you tack the costs together, it came out about right anyway.
Out of that, I picked up The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Mario Kart Wii and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Of those, I think the game that is ahead of the pack (for me) would easily be Zelda. I've enjoyed the heck out of it, more then Smash Bros. and Mario Kart.
I think Smash Bros. would be a bit more fun if we had the regular controllers, rather then trying to play it with the remote and nun chuck.
What I am a little disappointed was the discovery that I cannot get online unless I get a separate adapter *groan, grumble* so I can use my broadband connection with it. Now after picking up another remote and nunchuck (didn't realize they were sold separately), I was hoping that that would be it.
But of course not!
Anyway, I'll be back in a few days to bitch and complain about my newly acquired games. One thing I will say with absolute certainty and that is I am glad I didn't have my boss's luck. He was in search of one for him mom and he apparently got one over the weekend also. But, unlike the system I got, he lucked out and bought a defective Wii.
Sucks to be him!
Out of that, I picked up The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Mario Kart Wii and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Of those, I think the game that is ahead of the pack (for me) would easily be Zelda. I've enjoyed the heck out of it, more then Smash Bros. and Mario Kart.
I think Smash Bros. would be a bit more fun if we had the regular controllers, rather then trying to play it with the remote and nun chuck.
What I am a little disappointed was the discovery that I cannot get online unless I get a separate adapter *groan, grumble* so I can use my broadband connection with it. Now after picking up another remote and nunchuck (didn't realize they were sold separately), I was hoping that that would be it.
But of course not!
Anyway, I'll be back in a few days to bitch and complain about my newly acquired games. One thing I will say with absolute certainty and that is I am glad I didn't have my boss's luck. He was in search of one for him mom and he apparently got one over the weekend also. But, unlike the system I got, he lucked out and bought a defective Wii.
Sucks to be him!
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Grand Theft Auto 4
I've been meaning to post more often, but I just haven't had the energy to do anything about it. I was also meaning to see Speed Racer today, but I'll be damned. I haven't heard a good thing about it since it's release!
Besides, if it isn't all that great... I probably couldn't handle it, not after enjoying Iron Man as much as I did. Fun, fun movie. Might just have to go and see that just one more time.
Short bursts of thought here folks, I am lacking sleep and lemme tell you this. Don't try and play games like Rock Band when you're deprived of sleep. I tried that at 4 am this morning and could barely squeak past songs on "Easy."
Note: Metallica's "Enter the Sandman" is a bitch to play. Or is it the lack of sleep? Or both even?
I think it is worth mentioning that I am *again* pursuing that ever elusive Nintendo Wii. I just recently saw a post on a local game store's blog about a particular sale on them. Should I? Or should I not? The thought is mind bending, to say the very least.
One last thought for the moment, this time I turn my fuzzy little mind towards Grand Theft Auto 4. I've rented it, I've played it to a small degree and my thoughts of it? Well, it looks, plays and generally feels like a GTA game.
I guess I am a bad person to ask about it, considering I've never really been into the series all that much. The last time I played a GTA game was GTA 3 and I spent a vast majority of my time just running people down with cars and using cheat codes to flood the streets with tanks.
This time around? I tried my hand at mugging people and I nearly got my ass kicked by a homeless guy. Aren't I a real bad ass?
Overall, I suppose GTA4 is a good game and it does seem pretty polished. Then again, I didn't put much devotion into it and so my ultimate verdict is pretty up in the air at this point. I will say that it caught my interests, but this one might sit on the back burner for the time being with all this debate if I should or shouldn't purchase a Nintendo Wii.
Did I just repeat myself with more words? Ugh, I need to sleep.
Besides, if it isn't all that great... I probably couldn't handle it, not after enjoying Iron Man as much as I did. Fun, fun movie. Might just have to go and see that just one more time.
Short bursts of thought here folks, I am lacking sleep and lemme tell you this. Don't try and play games like Rock Band when you're deprived of sleep. I tried that at 4 am this morning and could barely squeak past songs on "Easy."
Note: Metallica's "Enter the Sandman" is a bitch to play. Or is it the lack of sleep? Or both even?
I think it is worth mentioning that I am *again* pursuing that ever elusive Nintendo Wii. I just recently saw a post on a local game store's blog about a particular sale on them. Should I? Or should I not? The thought is mind bending, to say the very least.
One last thought for the moment, this time I turn my fuzzy little mind towards Grand Theft Auto 4. I've rented it, I've played it to a small degree and my thoughts of it? Well, it looks, plays and generally feels like a GTA game.
I guess I am a bad person to ask about it, considering I've never really been into the series all that much. The last time I played a GTA game was GTA 3 and I spent a vast majority of my time just running people down with cars and using cheat codes to flood the streets with tanks.
This time around? I tried my hand at mugging people and I nearly got my ass kicked by a homeless guy. Aren't I a real bad ass?
Overall, I suppose GTA4 is a good game and it does seem pretty polished. Then again, I didn't put much devotion into it and so my ultimate verdict is pretty up in the air at this point. I will say that it caught my interests, but this one might sit on the back burner for the time being with all this debate if I should or shouldn't purchase a Nintendo Wii.
Did I just repeat myself with more words? Ugh, I need to sleep.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Divas Can Fight!
It is amazing to me how the women in WWE have been picking up their game and have been improving week by week. After so many releases, it looked as though the entire division had been reduced back to nothing but T&A for the show. The last time I remember having any real interest in their women's division was probably a few years back, when Trish Stratus battled against Lita (pictured above, in this blog's header picture) for the title.
If my memory serves me correct, Trish vs. Lita for the Women's Championship was the first (and so far only) women's match to ever be placed as a main event for any of WWE's shows. It was a pretty damn good match, in my honest opinion.
Now the division is making a coming back, in huge part to the fact that all the "divas" are backing either Beth Phoenix or Mickie James (the current champ). The sides did look a little unfair, considering those who are backing up Phoenix (Victoria, Melina, Natalya, Jillan Hall & Layla) are more experienced in the ring then those who are with Mickie James (Michelle McCool, Cherry, Ashley, Kelly Kelly & Maria).
Still, the battles they've had against each other have made for some fast and fun matches. Now I just hope that the division will keep the pace and continue to get better, rather then to sink back down to the joke it ended up being for these past many years.
If my memory serves me correct, Trish vs. Lita for the Women's Championship was the first (and so far only) women's match to ever be placed as a main event for any of WWE's shows. It was a pretty damn good match, in my honest opinion.
Now the division is making a coming back, in huge part to the fact that all the "divas" are backing either Beth Phoenix or Mickie James (the current champ). The sides did look a little unfair, considering those who are backing up Phoenix (Victoria, Melina, Natalya, Jillan Hall & Layla) are more experienced in the ring then those who are with Mickie James (Michelle McCool, Cherry, Ashley, Kelly Kelly & Maria).
Still, the battles they've had against each other have made for some fast and fun matches. Now I just hope that the division will keep the pace and continue to get better, rather then to sink back down to the joke it ended up being for these past many years.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Iron Man
I could probably spend the time and write up a decent sized blog about how great/horrible this movie was. I mean I like substance in a post and I like to write/type, so it would be perfectly logical to stick to what I know.
Instead, however, I will simply describe the movie this way...
IRON MAN IS FUCKING AWESOME!!! GO SEE IT!!!
See? That was simple, to the point and absolutely truth! I kid you not, see the damn movie! It is easily one of the very best comic related movies I have ever seen! Now! Go! Go!! Go!!!
Is it noticeable that I might have enjoyed it? Just a little bit?
Friday, May 02, 2008
Robbed!
After watching WWE Smackdown! tonight, I admit that I had a bundle of different thoughts, feelings and opinions about the show. But as the events began to sink in, those thoughts and feelings began to shed away until there was only one remaining.Yes, I have but one single thought with which I feel I need to share about tonight's SD show.
The Undertaker was robbed! Flat out robbed I say!
He defeated Edge at Wrestlemania, winning the title and keeping his undefeated streak intact. Undertaker then defeated "The Rated R Superstar" yet again at Backlash.
And what happens?
His new choke hold submission gets banned and he is stripped of the World Championship! What kind of crap is this anyway? Are we becoming the all-new WCW or what?
Sorry, I do get a little carried away sometimes and I get into the shows every now and again. I am interested in seeing how this whole mess plays out, hopefully it'll end up with the Undertaker as the World Heavyweight Champion once again.
If not, the f*ck you Edge! You ain't nothin' but a punk! Oooooh yeah! *snicker*
I am forever traumatized because of the Macho Man. That dude is almost certainly off his rocker...
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Possibly Losing My Mind
I don't quite know how to explain it, but I feel like my mind is just slipping away here. I mean, wasn't it just January the other day? Where in the hell did May come from? Has it been watching the Animal Planet, learning how to stalk people like the lions in Africa?Before I know it, December will hit me right smack in the face and it'll be Christmas time again.
I guess today, for me at least, is one of those odd days when my brain goes wild and begins to think up crazy things. Or maybe it is just rare moments of clarity.
This could possibly be attributed to the fact that the weather hasn't been too grand lately. I mean the winds have picked up, who knows what that blew in.
Yeah... it must be the wind...
Speaking of which! I haven't a clue where I found this picture I've posted up here, nor do I know who that is suppose to be thats in it. But I do know that I thought it was/is a good looking picture and I'm a simple kind of guy. I like pictures! Lots of 'em too! You just can't ever get enough of 'em in!
Partly why I don't really read books too often!
I actually don't read that much because if the first page doesn't catch my interest, then that is where the story ends for me. Am I too picky? Maybe. But it sure helps to prevent me from either reading all day or spending more money to buy books. Fact is, I just let my girlfriend be the reading manic.
Me, on the other hand, I like to buy games I know I'll never finish. Case in point, I am sort of debating whether or not I should pick up Grand Theft Auto 4. Truth be told, I played very little of the first 2 games and part 3 I spent picking up, having sex, then running down hookers (hey I got the money back!) and being shot to death by cops. I can't help it my driving was horrible and I got bored and decided I wanted to drive on the sidewalk!
On the flip side, the movie "Iron Man" is coming out this Friday and I'd be lying if I said I thought it looks like shit. I'd be there to see it on opening night, but I'll be damned if I willingly walk myself into a structure that will house hundreds of idiot kids who MUST make as much noise as humanly possible.
When I was still in school and I went to the movies with friends, I think the worst that we did was clap waay before the movie started. But otherwise, eh... we didn't get stupid.
It is always amazing when a little kid can be more mature and better behaved then someone twice their age. Amazing and sad!
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