Rocket Pie

Looking back on many of these posts it becomes somewhat cute what I thought about games three years ago. Professor Layton having a plot that makes sense? The most ludicrously unmedicated conspiracy theorists can not come up with schemes like those found in puzzle-addicted London! Not completing Mass Effect like so many other RPGs I play like Persona 3 and 4 and Final Fantasy 1, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 13? Mass Effect is one of the few games in general I have played through twice and I’m seriously contemplating another run. XNA games which I was so excited about playing and possibly making? I lack the time to seriously apply myself to making them and I really don’t pay too much attention to what is posted on XBL.

I have been somewhat dedicated at documenting my game playing the last few years on Twitter @RocketPie but reading my thoughts here makes the long-form somewhat appealing. Maybe I will persist this time?

Things are actually going to change around here soon. I just need to make up my damn mind…

Somehow I end up attending midnight launches for games even when I have no intention of picking the game up at midnight. Got to play about 2 hours of Mario Kart Wii tonight, 4 player. I love that you can race against the CPU in multiplayer like the DS version. The wheel is pretty cool once you get used to it. There seem to be too many powerful weapons and not enough shells and bananas. Bikes are cool. Stunts are cool. Some of the new tracks are cool. I think I’m stuck on cool due to the hour, time for bed!

I completed Trace Memory the other day. Like this post the game is rather short.

I have not had the opportunity to play many games in the last few weeks due to relocating my habitat. I’m missing out on the new Halo 3 maps I hear. I did pick up Trace Memory cheap and had a chance to play for like… 5 minutes. So far it looks promising, and the writers did a good job of writing for a young girl. The interface is slightly non intuitive at first but I’m getting over that. More impressions to come when I actually get to do something in the game.

I’ve been playing Mass Effect pretty hardcore the last few weeks while I was not busy being sick. I’m surprised at some of the plot elements. Little bit of N+ here and there. Downloaded the Battlefield Bad Company beta and I think I’m over it already. It has good elements, and bad elements, and I’m not sure if the bad elements are things that will be fixed in the final game. Unfortunately its been a number of days since I’ve played the beta so I’m not going to go into details.

Which is one of the problems I have with writing about games. I think of things while playing but by the time I get around to being online and writing I don’ have as strong feelings anymore. I’m going to try note taking or something and ideally the quality of my writing will improve.

You Have to Burn the Rope is simply the best new game I have played today. It is a homage to Portal. Or a parody. It’s difficult to tell the difference.

Wrex is awesome. Actually pretty much all of the characters are awesome. My main party consists of bitter, cynical Wrex and curious Tali. I’m really enjoying Mass Effect. Bioware really thought through the universe they present. Reading about the cultures, history and technology found throughout the game has been keeping me busy. This game also hits on my love of dialog trees. Though I always have the feeling I’m making a terrible decision…

I’ve only done one story related mission since getting off the Citadel and I already have put 10 hours into the game. On the other hand my brother completed a playthrough in 20 hours so I may not be as far as I suspect from the end.

I think my obsession with Smash Bros. is winding down. Having all the characters and stages unlocked takes a big part of the motivation to keep playing away. Not having a serious number of serious players on hand also takes away part of the allure Melee had back in 2001. I still enjoy reading the little text along with all the trophies, and seeing what CDs and stickers I can find, but I don’t think I’ll be playing it for hours on end like I have this past week.

So here I am starting another RPG that I wont’ finish. I do enjoy them however!

Character creation is both very detailed and limited. You can change the structure of the face very intricately but you are stuck with one hair style, which is the predominant part of the head you will see during the game. Graphics are incredible except for some glitchy shadows and lighting here and there. Anything with planets and spaceships looks like CG from a few years ago. Heck in some cases it looks better.

So far gameplay involves a lot of investigating which is cool with me. I enjoy games that present a fully realized universe and enjoy discovering different aspects the designers have created. This game has a very rich backstory, with little text entries explaining the technology and culture of the galactic system.

Game play is cool so far, basically GRAW with an experience system. Nothing combat wise has been terribly demanding so I can’t say it will be good or bad at this point. I haven’t even really used my special abilities.