Braid (PSN)

I don't remember the last time I had to use my brain for a video game in a long time. Of course, lots of games test your hand-eye coordination and test your skill, but this game really forces you to activate those extra synapses laying dormant in your brain in order to solve the puzzles in this game. A lot of trial and error is involved as well as being able to see outside of the box. Thank you, Braid, for reminding me how to think critically and creatively.

Braid is a beautiful game. I love the art direction. Everything comes together beautifully - the story, the music, the graphics and art. I think this is one game that strives to advance the video game medium as a fully legitimate work of art. I don't know if I even got what the story was about - it's like it took a philosophical/metaphysical direction at the end that basically lost me.

The gameplay is where Braid really shines (which is what always matters most). In Braid, you essentially control time. And then each level has their own preset rules of time and motion, from slowing everything down, to rewinding, to even parallel dimensions. In order to collect puzzle pieces scattered throughout the levels, you have to manipulate time along with the rules of the level to succeed. Such a conceptually robust game.

All I can say really is: Braid 2 please!!

Games Completed: 4/36

New Super Mario Bros. Wii

So I actually 100% completed this game! Go me!

Super fun and challenging gameplay. I love how the game incorporates little things from each previous iteration of the Mario series (Spin jump from Galaxy, Mario Bros 3 match-the-items mini-game, Yoshi from Super Mario World, Mini Mario from NSMB DS, etc.). I've only really played the one-player experience, haven't really messed around with multiplayer yet. The later levels get pretty difficult, some even got my heart racing! Not to mention the sheer epicness of the final battle with Bowser.

There's nothing bad to say about this game. I heart it completely and would totally put it in GOTY status.

But fuck World 9-7, Star Coin #3. TOOK ME FOREVER TO GET THAT FUCKING STAR COIN!!

Games Completed: 3/36

Mirror's Edge (PS3)

Despite its short length, Mirror's Edge is probably one of the most awesome games I've ever played at a conceptual and creative level. It's hard to describe what it feels like to simulate jumping across rooftops and under pipes in such a swift and seamless fashion. Almost exhilirating even. Playing it on my 52" HDTV with surround-sound is definitely conducive to the immersion factor.

I'll admit, I wasn't really paying much attention to the story. I just wanted to get to the next platforming section and figure out how to get from point A to point B. That's where most of the fun in the game is found.

The game can also get highly, intensely, exorbitantly frustrating though, particularly during gameplay situations involving gunplay and combat since that's where the difficulty spiked for me. It took a lot of dying to finally figure out how exactly to tackle a given scenario. Some scenarios had me respawning maybe 30 times before I finally got it down.

One other thing to note is the music, which I adored! The game soundtrack consists of a lot of energetic and suspenseful electronic beats for those hectic scenarios involving gunplay and trying to run away from the po-po, versus perplexing, soft, ambient music for those puzzling situations in which you had to figure out where the route continues.

All in all, a great game worth the $15! I'm glad I didn't buy this at launch. If I spent $60 on this, I would have been pissed considering how short the game is. I'm not really in the mood to do those speed run trials though, experiencing the main story was sufficient in entertainment value. Time to move on!

Games completed: 2/36

Happy 2010! Also: New Blog Objective!

Yay to a new decade etc.

Well, I've been wanting to revamp this entire blog and talk more specifically about gaming for a while. What better time to do it than while ringing in the new year, right? So from now, this blog will serve more as a chronicle of my video gaming exploits, with a little bit of personal life experiences and goings-on intermittently sprinkled in for novelty factor. But mostly games. GAMES GAMES GAMES.

Personal goal: to beat at least 3 games per month. That equals 36 games. But I really want to aim for 50!

Let the fun COMMENCE.

OH SNAP I JUST BEAT A GAME YESTERDAY TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT:




Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride

Such an awesome traditional turn-based RPG. After playing both IV and V on the DS, I've come to realize that Dragon Quest is developing into one of my favorite series. The thing that makes this RPG stand out from others is its whole generations-skipping schtick in which you start off as a little boy fighting alongside his dad. Later on, you are able to watch him grow into adult, get married (and have the option of which girl you want to marry), and ultimately have kids that eventually join your party! In the end, your party can consist of your you, your wife, and your son and daughter. OMFG, how fucking cute is that? Family-oriented RPG for real. Another awesome element this game features is something known as Party Chat which adds a lot of content to the game. For every NPC you talk to, if you press the Party Chat button, the more significant people currently in your party (as opposed to monsters you can recruit throughout the game) will chime in with something insightful to say. I thought it was a great thing to add in order to facilitate more character development and, now that I think about it, ALL RPGs should do this. I've seen this before in the later Tales games (Symphonia and Abyss) to an extent, but I love the way DQV incorporates it. It feels like the game has significantly more content.

I'm definitely excited for DQIX and DQVI to come out on the DS this year. DQ has made its mark in being one of my favorite series now.

Games completed: 1/36