Issue 5 - May 2009

Issue 5 : May 27, 2009

Latest Happenings:

Nothing major as most big news will come out of E3. A couple of things have been revealed lately, like Tony Hawk Ride and a slew of Guitar/DJ/Band Hero titles. I’m already sick to death of peripherals and Activision is swiftly becoming the new gaming anti-christ. That now famous quote from that Howdy-Doody looking Activistion Exec about how they dumped Ghostbusters because they couldn’t “exploit” it year after year still blows my mind. Oh yeah, can’t forget about the just announced GTA IV DLC, The Ballad of Gay Tony. No shit. Good for you, Rockstar. You haven’t been in the news for a while and this should grab some attention.

Anywho, lots of rumblings in rumorville. Slim PS3, new Kojima game that’s possibly a Metal Gear (or 2), new PSP revision, price drops, bundles, unannounced games, lots of good stuff. The Mass Effect 2 preview in this month’s Official Xbox Magazine is an excellent article. New characters, tidbits on the story, fixing what didn’t work in ME1, all great stuff. They’re hyping the story to be monumental, especially the ending. I can’t imagine how they can top the ‘wow’ factor of ME1, but it sounds like they’re crafting the greatest sci-fi story told since Star Wars (OT of course).

As for new releases, the delay of Batman still annoys me to no end. Infamous did come out this week and it looks awesome. It’s PS3 only, so I can’t play it yet. This is probably the most under-hyped big game of the summer.

Irresponsible Reviews:

Note: These are called “irresponsible reviews” because I’m basing my review on a very short time playing the game. A responsible reviewer would play a game in it’s entirety before making a blanket statement damning it to the ether of shovelware. I’m not that guy.

• Bionic Commando (Retail)
• Playtime: 0 Minutes … as in never played it, not even the demo
• Review: Hey, the title of the blog is irresponsible news and reviews, so I’m living up to my commitment. I haven’t played this game. It's my blog and I'll do what I want! I'm ChubbyNinja Bitch! Here’s my take on this game: It looks pretty, story is incidental, the nature of the gameplay will be vomit inducing to anyone who gets even a little queezy from motion sickness, battles are ‘meh’ and the controls suck. I’ve seen reviews ranging from horrible to pretty good. But, they all fault the same areas, which I’ve outlined above. It’s just too damn hard to do what you want to do. And you’ll throw up while you’re trying to do it. Plus, I automatically deduct points for a game that’s demo is multiplayer only. Screw that.
• Verdict: Save your vomit (and your cash) for another day.

• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Retail)
• Playtime: 3 hours
• Review: This is a great game, no question about it. Graphics are beautiful, controls are solid, story is well thought-out and believable, fun factor is definitely there. The presentation blows away most anything to date and that is what makes this game not only stand the test of time, but also stand above the rest. That first mission where you’re on the tanker, that’s genius…cinematic and engaging. Note, I do get motion sickness pretty bad with FPS’, but this one wasn’t too bad in short bursts. I didn’t play through the whole game, for some reason it’s not my cup of tea. But, I cannot deny just how damn good it is.
• Verdict: Purchase (pronounced ‘Pur-chay-see’), especially since it’s down to $40 new

• Paperboy (Demo - XBLA)
• Playtime: 5 minutes
• Review: Nostalgia almost reeled me in. I remember playing Paperboy in the arcade and the shitty NES version years ago. Even my wife remembered this game and she’s no gamer. I thought, I have some M-soft points burning a hole in my pocket, let’s get something. Thank God I tried the demo first. This game ..um... Jump to the verdict.
• Verdict: This game was shit back in the day and its shit now. Screw that little bastard with the radio control car. Avoid this turd.

Status Report:

My family got me Blue Dragon for my B-day this month. I’m 5.5 hours in and I’m really enjoying it. Sure, it’s not super-epic with ground-breaking features. But, hey, I like it. It’s like Lost Odyssey which I likened to comfort food. Mistwalker is an amazing development house, and I thank Sakaguchi san and Uematsu san for keeping these types of games alive.

I’m an admitted achievement whore, and Blue Dragon doesn’t give up achievements very easily, either. Which is a testament, to me at least, to how good the game is. For me to commit to a 40 hour game, with few achievements and a reported weak story, the game has to be pretty dang good. Simple, traditional turn-based battles are the main course and that’s what I love. The strategy behind turn-based battles is just so fun. As compared to coming off of Star Ocean: The Last Hope which felt like a button masher. Now, take all this with somewhat of a grain of salt, I’m only 5.5 hours in. Although I always hear people say the game sucks until very late. I’m having fun now, so I hope it continues.

I’ll play this through the summer, while taking breaks to wrap up Assassin’s Creed and I’ll go ‘cheevemint whoring with Kung Fu Panda, too. My gamerscore is at 8795 and I’m anxious to break 10K! Hey, I’d play something new if there was anything worth playing that just came out or is coming out soon. Friggin Batman delay. Maybe I’ll check out Prototype.

On the Horizon:

Four Syllables. E3 next week.

Now, for something totally unrelated:

My two favorite acronyms are NFC and GFY. NFC = No Fat Chicks and GFY = Go ‘F Yourself. Not sure why, both seem to find their way into my vernacular quite often.

Issue 4 - May 2009

ChubbyNinja’s Irresponsible Game News & Reviews:
Issue 4 : May 7, 2009



Latest Happenings:
The biggest ‘latest happening’ is the delay of Batman Arkham Asylum. Ridiculous. That game was getting so much pre-release buzz and even the in-store ad’s and demo’s were out in force. Then the delay. I’m very disappointed, but I wonder if something more nefarious is going on. Let’s put the pieces together, shall we? Eidos has a great game lined up, Square Enix buys Eidos, Square Enix thinks “hmph, if FF XIII isn’t ready, we don’t have a big-name title for the holiday”, next thing you know, Batman is delayed to late summer to fall. Very suspicious, methinks.

The other interesting news is all the pre-E3 rumors. Some big names are already publicly teasing, like Modern Warfare 2 (note the lack of the Call of Duty tag) and Assassins Creed 2. Konami is teasing a Kojima Productions game on either May 15th or May 18th and rumor it’s an Xbox 360 exclusive version of Metal Gear Solid. I’ll believe that when I see it. I bet it’s Zone of the Enders 3, which will hardly be exciting. If it was a Snatcher remake or sequel….now we’re talkin! Then we have the oft rumored Xbox 360 full-body motion control sensor. Meh. That’s my response. Love me or leave me alone.

What would I like to see at E3? I’ll break it down:

1. For the 360 = Another blockbuster announcement on par with FFXIII from last year. A Metal Gear Game would suffice. More Mass Effect 2 is a must! I’d also like to see Killer Instinct 3 from Rare. If motion control is the big deal, I’ma be one pissed off fella. Oh, more fun stuff to do with your avatar would be nice, too.
2. For the PS3 = Kingdom Hearts 3. Please Heavenly Father up above in Heaven, make this happen. I expect God of War III to be huge along with maybe Grand Turismo or something. For some reason, I don’t think we’ll hear about a blockbuster exclusive title. I hope I’m wrong. Although I do expect they will continue to build with strong titles, but not that one “OMG the world just turned upside down” announcement that I think most people believe they need right now.
3. For the Wii = I expect to hear Reggie say “ooooh, we’ve got the core audience covered!” then show us Legend of Zelda: Horse Mane Comber for the Wii – with motion control hair combing action!! I expect nothing short of a slap in the face from Nintendo. Once again, I hope I’m wrong. I honestly can’t think of anything they could do at this point to take my gaming time away from the 360.
4. For the DS = more drivel. Nuff said.
5. For the PSP = Finally, the reveal of the new hardware. Although, I do believe it won’t be the PSP2, but a hardware reset w/ slide out controls and no UMD drive. When you look at it, yes, it’s new and it’s pretty and smaller. But, with a big enough memory stick, can’t the current PSP do everything the rumored new revision can do? Yeah, not as big a deal when you break it down. I also want, strike that, need to hear more about Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. I expect a few new big games to be announced that will surprise us.

Irresponsible Reviews:
Note: These are called “irresponsible reviews” because I’m basing my review on a very short time playing the game. A responsible reviewer would play a game in it’s entirety before making a blanket statement damning it to the ether of shovelware. I’m not that guy.

Resident Evil 5 (demo)
o Playtime: 10 Minutes
o Review: What a disappointment. Capcom has taken the Resident Evil franchise from being a modern day parallel to the Castlevania series (in that it was a horror themed action series) and turned it into a run of the mill gimmicky shooter. Sure, the graphics are great, but the gameplay, the setting, the gimmick are all just blah. The controls were flat out poop, too. Beyond that, I tried to hold a candle for Capcom regarding the racism controversy. But, when you’re playing, it does feel weird to be a white guy running around shooting black guys. It just feels wrong and weird.
o Verdict: Get it when you find it for $10 or less purely out of sense that you need to because it’s Resident Evil.

Fable II – Knothole Island (DLC)
o Playtime: 3 hours
o Review: If you liked Fable II, then this is a continuation of the side quests with a self contained story. The three dungeons are fun, nothing special. The story is interesting and the interactions are very funny. The Mayor is a complete dick and it was fun to be evil while on the island. The new stuff….clothing, potions….are mildly interesting. If you made a choice that left you ‘alone’, then I understand you can visit the graveyard on the Island to ‘meet up with an old traveling companion’ which is extremely cool.
o Verdict: At $10, it’s a little steep. But, if you’re a Fable junkie you need to buy it. Then go buy ‘See the Future’, it’s even better.

Star Ocean IV (Retail)
o Playtime: 9 Hours
o Review: I wanted this game to be a big deal. I wanted this to quench my Japanese role playing game hole. I just couldn’t get into it. The characters are pretty cliché, and you want to care more than you actually do. They just seem like they were developed by a 1st year student in one of those cheesy ‘You too can develop videogames!’ ads. The story is pretty mundane, too. The big thing this one has going for it are pretty visuals and a really fun battle system. It is fun and deep, but that can’t carry a 40 hour game like this. I felt like I was playing an early PSX RPG with bad localization.
o Verdict: I love RPG’s, but this is one that I can’t recommend. I actually enjoyed Infinite Undiscovery much more and that game gets ho-hum reviews at best.

Status Report:

Flipping back and forth lately. Playing Assassin’s Creed, Kung Fu Panda and now Fable II – See the Future. This latest Fable II jaunt should only last a few hours, so I’ll buzz through this quick, then I’ll jam on KFP to get the achievements. Then back to Assassin’s Creed. Just wasting time until the next big thing

On the Horizon:
Since Batman isn’t coming out in June, which was to be the ‘next big thing’, I may go back to finish Infinite Undiscovery. There isn’t a lot new that interests me right now. Ghostbusters looks okay, but that’s about it until August/September. We’ll see what my birthday brings me next week. Maybe some Blue Dragon action or store credit to get a PSP. All I know is that I can’t wait to get my PS3 and dig into MGS4, Uncharted and more. Heck, I’ll be able to pick up Uncharted 2 by the time I get the system! Very Nice!

Issue 3: Mid-April, 2009

Latest Happenings:

The pre-E3 hype machine is starting to rumble to life. Exciting times are on the horizon. 2007 and then 2008 were arguably two of the best years our industry have ever seen. Games like Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3 (still a multiplayer juggernaut), Call of Duty 4, Assassin’s Creed, Uncharted, Fable II, Gears of War 2…all games that blew the lid off gaming in one way or another. And, they almost all have sequels, or continuations in the case of Halo and Fable, on the way. So far we know about those sequels, with Assassin’s Creed 2 just popping up to tease. The setting sounds really interesting and being that I’m an amateur history buff, I like what they’re doing with the series. Granted, the first game wasn’t perfect, but they did do a lot of things right. It sounds like they listened to the fans and are learning from their mistakes. I also expect there to be a few big-name surprises at E3, as well. Oh, and the obligatory “here’s an old classic that you’ve all been waiting for…buckle your seatbelts, core gaming audience….expect we’ve dumbed it down so Aunt Linda can play…..I present you with….Kid Icarus can Cook! for the Nintendo Wii and DSi!” I hate you, Reggie Fils-Aime. I hate you.

Oh, and the rumors of a new PSP for Christmas continue to gain momentum. I’m intrigued, Sony. Tell me more.

Irresponsible Reviews:

Note: These are called “irresponsible reviews” because I’m basing my review on a very short time playing the game. A responsible reviewer would play a game in it’s entirety before making a blanket statement damning it to the ether of shovelware. I’m not that guy.

• Tom Clancy’s Hawx (demo)
• Playtime: 10 Minutes
• Review: I haven’t played a flying game since Afterburner II on the Genesis/Arcade. I liked those types of games back in the day, but as they progressed they moved towards the simulator type of game. I’m more of an arcade style of gamer. What lured me to try Hawx was the graphics and the google maps technology. My understanding is that Ubisoft partnered with google to have real time updated images of real places via satellite. That’s very cool! They also partnered with real companies to develop the in game planes. Beyond that, the graphics were unbelievable. The control was decent and the gameplay was pretty fun. I didn’t know exactly what I was doing, but it wasn’t too complicated.
• Verdict: A pleasantly surprised thumbs up!

• Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (demo)
• Playtime: 15 minutes
• Review: Heard good things about the first Riddick game on Xbox and initially heard good things about this one, too. The demo was straight forward and easy to get into. The graphics are very good, especially the menus….very well done. Control was very good, as well. The atmosphere pulled you in. I got stuck in a drone lab thing and couldn’t figure out how to get out. That coupled with my never-ending bout with motion sickness when playing FPS’ ultimately led me to turn the demo off.
• Verdict: A lot of potential and very promising. I liked what I played, before I got stuck and almost barfed. If you liked Halo and Bioshock, this is probably a worthwhile purchase. Thumbs up!

• Dig Dug (Xbox Live Arcade)
• Playtime: One hour
• Review: I wonder what someone in their teens would think of this game? I, like many gamers, grew up with gaming and cut my teeth on games like Dig Dug. There is nostalgia there. I remember borrowing this game from my older cousin along with the paddles. It was like Christmas. This was back when games for the Atari 2600 cost a lot of money and you couldn’t rent them. There weren’t exactly easily accessible. So, to try out a game was truly something special. The xbox live release isn’t any different than the arcade version, aside from the matte graphics and achievements. It’s still simple, still challenging in the later stages, and still mildly entertaining.
• Verdict: I got this game for 200 MS Points on Live. That’s $2.50 in real world dollars and about as cheap as a “full” game will ever get on Live. I wouldn’t pay 400 ($5) points for it, though. So, if you can get it cheap and appreciate the classics….eh, why not.

Status Report:

Took a break from Star Ocean IV. Not a bad game, I just needed something that moved at a little more of a brisk pace. Popped in Fable 2 and downloaded Knothole Island. It was very fun and the weather effects were fantastic. But, it only lasted a couple of hours. I wanted to, and ultimately did, shoot that village leader in the face. But you know what, $10 for these add-on levels is a bit much, even if they are good.

Anyway, played through Knothole Island, completed those challenges. Then went on to grind on some achievements. Fable 2 is one of those rare games that I can keep going to. Usually, when I beat a game, it’s done. D E D dead and done. I never go back. But, this game keeps compelling me to come back just because it’s fun. I spent an hour last night just exploring (and resisting arrest, but I digress). I’m really looking forward to the new expansion coming out in May. I have high hopes.

Latest Haul:

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Cheap Ass Gamer? Due to the beloved website, I scored four new games for $65 last weekend at Blockbuster. Scored Uncharted for $20, Heavenly Sword for $15, Folklore for $10 and Assassin's Creed (Xbox 360) for $15. Now, I just need a PS3. At least I'll be ready when I finally get it later this year. I have to give myself some credit though. I did pass on Ratchet and Clank ToD for $20, Lego Batman for $20, and a bunch of other games for less than $20 that I normally would have picked up.

On the Horizon:

Couple of quick things here……

Batman: Arkham Asylum Collectors Edition – Pic of the contents has finally come out. It looks cool and all, but is it really worth $40 for a batarang, journal about the villains and a nondescript “bonus DVD”? These CE/LE’s are getting a little old. And, to answer your question, yes I will be in line to reserve the ultra-mega-limited-collectors edition of Mass Effect 2, so suck it.

Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete – The re-envisioned “masterpiece” (not so much) is on it’s way to Blu Ray on June 2^nd. This version just launched in Japan with a playable demo of FF13. It isn’t confirmed that the domestic release will come with the demo, but nobody expects it to. Even though the original version was just okay, I’m really excited for this. … When will I learn?

Issue 2 - April 4, 2009

Letter from the Editor…
Wow, so this newsletter actually made it to a 2nd issue. It’s been two weeks since the first one, that seems like a good span of time between updates. Not a whole lot going on lately in videogame land. This time of year is the ‘quiet before the storm’ that is E3 and my gut is telling me that there will be big news out of E3 this year. Particularly from Sony and Nintendo. I should also note that GDC wrapped up last week. Nothing earth-shattering came from the conference, but I don’t think we should expect big announcements from that event anyway. Oh, the PS2 dropped to $99.99. Oh boy.

Latest Happenings:
So, I have a problem. I sometimes struggle with irrational urges when it comes to gaming. For the past 4 months, something in my cranium has convinced me that I need a PSP. It’s been out since 2005, but it’s only now that I need one. Realistically, I have no business getting one. I don’t game ‘on-the-go’ and I have more than enough to keep me busy on the 360 (plus the PS3 on the way!!). Rational won over and I ordered a 4 gb Sansa Fuze (Thanks for the recommendation, Simosaurus!), since I really needed an MP3 player. I’m pleased with my decision. Just for reference, here are the games on the PSP that I wanted to play. It’s a surprisingly long list:

- Final Fantasy VII – Crisis Core
- God of War – Chains of Olympus
- Gitaroo Man Lives!
- Parappa the Rappa
- SNK Anthology
- Dracula X Chronicles
- Wipeout Pulse
- Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops
- Metal Gear Solid Digital Comic
- Star Ocean – First Departure
- Star Ocean – Second Departure
- Capcom Classis Remixed
- Final Fantasy Dissidia – Coming Summer 2009
- Kingdom Hearts – Birth By Sleep – Coming Winter 09/10 (?)

Irresponsible Reviews:
Note: These are called “irresponsible reviews” because I’m basing my review on a very short time playing the game. A responsible reviewer would play a game in it’s entirety before making a blanket statement damning it to the ether of shovelware. I’m not that guy.

• Guitar Hero: Metallica (demo)
o Playtime: 15 Minutes
o Review: Demo had 4 songs, 2 of which were from Metallica. I haven’t played GH in about a year, I thought World Tour stunk and completely lost interest in the franchise, to be honest. This game doesn’t really change the formula, but if you’re a fan of the band or a fan of good hard rock, then this is a fun game. The visuals changed only slightly in that they went with a more concert vibe than lame grammy show wannabe video shoot style of the previous GH’s. I had fun with the demo. Not sure I’d pay $60 for this, but I did have fun.
o Verdict: 7.5 out of 10 if you’re a metal fan. 5.5 if you are not.

• Kung Fu Panda
o Playtime: 2 ½ hours
o Review: Fun game! It is geared to the younger set, but it’s still a solid action beat-em-up game. Levels aren’t difficult, but you do need to pay attention if you’re out for the achievements. Overall, this is about 6 hours of no-brain gaming and easy achievements, and I love me some ‘cheese mints! Visuals and voice work is in-line with the movie, which is a good thing.
o Verdict: I got this game bundled with Lego Indy on sale at Gamestop for $12 = Great deal! Definitely worth buying, even at the $30 regular price (for both KFP and Lego Indy, which is worth $30 alone).

• Bionic Commando: Rearmed (Xbox Live Arcade)
o Playtime: 30 Minutes
o Review: This was the first XBLA release that I was really looking forward to. I loved BC on the 8 bit NES and actually beat the game on a fluke run. The end boss was Mecha Hitler (cool concept). This one is a direct remake with super-enhanced visuals. It looks great! It plays pretty good. But, it’s just not as fun as I remember it. It’s one of those things where the memory surpasses the reality and this one didn’t age great. It’s not a horrible game, but I have no desire to go back and play more.
o Verdict: For $10 or $15 on XBLA, you can get more for your money. Try the demo, you may like it. I give it a 6 out of 10.

Status Report:
Currently Playing – Star Ocean: The Last Hope on Xbox 360

Only 12 hours in and on the 3rd 'planet'. The game is fun, but I feel like it's gonna drag on. I need to grind away and get into it some more.

On the Horizon:
June = Batman: Arkham Asylum, Ghostbusters,
August = Darksiders (look this one up, fingers are crossed that it plays as good as it looks!)

ChubbyNinja’s Irresponsible Game News & Reviews: Issue 1 : March 2009

Letter from the Editor…

This is the first in a regular series of insights into my gaming life. A “blog” if you will, although I detest the notion of mindless meanderings for the masses on the interwebs. I have no misconception that anyone will read my iteration of mindless meanderings except approximately 66% of those who actually force fed the link. Where this will ultimately land, I’m not sure. It’s doubtful that I’ll actually keep this up past the two week mark. But, hey, it’ll keep you busy for the next five to seven minutes.

Latest Happenings:

My beloved surprised me late last week when she revealed that she would reward me with a PS3 upon completion of my graduate degree, which is on track for December of this year. If all goes well, it will have taken me five years from start to finish. Longer than it could have, but there were some meaningful pitstops along the way, so I’m not regretful that it’s taken this long.

While I continue to enjoy the latest JRPG to find it’s way into my Xbox 360, I find my mind wandering to the thought of cracking open the high-gloss corrugated goodness containing a new gaming console. Even if said console has been on the market for some time, there is an intoxicating rapture that consumes me whenever I sort through the contents and set up that new machine. Who knew that component cables and power cords could have such a strange effect? These lamentations have more than influenced the contents of this entry of CNsIGN&R, no doubt about it.

Irresponsible Reviews:

Note: These are called “irresponsible reviews” because I’m basing my review on a very short time playing the game. A responsible reviewer would play a game in it’s entirety before making a blanket statement damning it to the ether of shovelware. I’m not that guy.

• Watchmen: Time is Nigh (demo)
• Playtime: 15 Minutes; 5 minutes of loading screen, 5 minutes of bland cinemas, 5 minutes of bland playtime
• Review: Being a new fan of the graphic novel, I was looking forward to this game. Early reports were promising. Then the initial reviews came in. They were rough, one reviewer claimed that they would rather play Streets of Rage 2 on the Genesis. They were right. What a boring game. It looks pretty, especially for a downloadable game. But, wow, there is no excitement pulling you from one dimly lit room to another. Even the cinemas, with graphics modeled after the graphic novel, are awful. The dialogue is terrible, too. Punch, kick, grab, repeat 400 times. And, Rorscach runs like he has to poop. Not fun.
• Verdict: Fans should download for the immediate jolt of excitement to play as Rorschach, then turn it off when you realize what a terrible time you’re having.
• Ninja Blade (demo)
• Playtime: 10 Minutes; well, about 3 minutes, just the same 3 minutes a few times.
• Review: The premise, although contrite, is fun. You’re a BA ninja jumping from a helicopter into the Tokyo skyline. The game is half quicktime events and half traditional action gaming. Both suck. The QTE’s look fun, but having to do them over when you fail takes the fun away immediately. It removes you from the gameplay which is always the kiss of death. Then, once you land on a horizontal surface, the traditional action fighting is boring. Keep slamming a combination of regular and strong attack and that’s it. Yay.
• Verdict: Stick with Ninja Gaiden.
• Tomb Raider: Anniversary
• Playtime: 10 Minutes
• Review: I’ve never been a fan of the Tomb Raider games, but that was because I hadn’t given them a shot. Why not, I thought. I probably started with the wrong game in the series. This is a remake of the first TR game and it shows. PS2 quality graphics = unacceptable. Combined with control, camera, and puzzles from yesteryear, this is one to avoid.
• Verdict: Try Legend or Underworld instead. Me? I’m done with the series.
• Lost: Via Domus
• Playtime: 20 Minutes
• Review: First 4 minutes = wow, this is kinda good. I’m getting into this. 5 minutes and onward = I’m lost in a f#$%ing jungle and I want to slap the sour puss off of Kate. I’ve replayed this sequence 4 times and I’m still lost in this God forsaken jungle. Bonus points for really making me feel like I’m lost in a jungle?
• Verdict: I wanted to like this game. But the gameplay is so awful that it’s just not fun. I had an interaction with Kate that made me dislike her even more and then I got lost in a jungle. Just watch the show instead.

Status Report:

Currently Playing – Star Ocean: The Last Hope on Xbox 360

9 ½ hours in and enjoying the game. Just beat the second boss and wrapping up first mission/visit to the 2^nd planet. Won’t win any awards for story, but it’s moving along. Very Japanese in presentation, which isn’t a bad thing. Battles are very fun and that ultimately saves the game from overall mediocrity. I’ll keep playing with a goal of beating the game by the time Batman: Arkham Asylum comes out in early June.

Latest Haul:

Two weekends ago Gamestop had a buy 2/get 1 free sale. I bought Blue Dragon, Tomb Raider:Anniversary and Lost:Via Domus. All three for $36. I really only wanted Blue Dragon. Well, Lost and TR sucked and Blue Dragon stunk of cigarettes…literally. Plus, with the impending arrival of a PS3, I finally had a valid reason to pick up Metal Gear Solid 4!! Happy Happy! Joy Joy! I returned the three games and found a new copy of the limited edition of MGS4 at a local Gamestop for $60 (originally it was $80). Got there and it was all beat up. As a collector at heart, I wasn’t having any of that nonsense. Then, I looked over and there was a used copy of the limited edition for $40 (same price as the regular game since Gamestop doesn’t recognize special editions). And, this one was in great condition! So, for $2 more than I originally spent on those awful games, I left the store with a mint copy of the LE that has the soundtrack and bonus Blu Ray disc. Needless to say, I’m quite happy with a game sitting on my shelf that I can’t play for a few more months. But, it’s there. Waiting. As am I. By the way, the soundtrack for MGS4 is amazing.

Next up….selling Street Fighter IV and fightpad. Right now, I think those funds are going towards a PSP. Yes, I know I have major problems.

Hot Sites:

• Kotaku.com
• Cheapassgamer.com
• Xbox360achievements.com
• Joystiq.com