Mega Man 9 (Wii)

Hardest. Game. Ever!

Tried to get to Tornado Man today. Failed. Lots. Bah.

de Blob (Wii)

That's 5 levels down now (and another couple of "secret" ones). I still can't get over how much fun this is to play. There have been a couple of slightly challenging bits so far, but even when you fail a challenge you're not punished - you just have to start them again, only anything you've already done is saved: e.g. You have to paint 20 buildings, you paint 19, then run out of time. You restart and 19 are still done. Without this, I can see frustration, but thankfully, there's only Super Happy Fun.

de Blob (Wii)

Amazing! An absolutely amazing game! Fun to play, original, funny and excellent!

I've completed the first three levels, and one of the "secret" levels so far, and the difficulty ramping is perfect so far. It's still easy, but it's certainly getting trickier. I've spent ages longer on each level than necessary, simply because it's so much fun to colour everything in. It's almost a shame to go through the exit at the end of each level.

Mega Man 9 (Wii)

So! Very! Hard!

I know Mega Man games are supposed to be hard, but this? This is impossible. Maybe. I did, after many, many attempts, manage to beat Galaxy Man. Actually beating him wasn't an issue - I did it first attempt. No, the difficulty was getting to him in the first place. Hard? Like a diamond.

Duke Nukem 3D (360)

Episode 2 COMPLETED! Hurrah!

The last couple of levels were pretty short - the boss one especially. The boss himself was somewhat easy too, thanks to run-mode circle-strafe and a full compliment of rockets and devastator ammo. Excellent, though.

Duke Nukem 3D (360)

And another couple of levels done. Still enjoying it, still loving the level designs, still getting completely flummoxed every time there's a place I could use a jetpack as I keep forgetting such an item exists...

Must be near the end of the episode now though, right?

Mega Man 9 Demo (360)

Yes, I know I bought the Wii version this morning. I just thought I'd try it and see how it fares on the 360.

Of course, it's virtually identical. I'm glad I did buy the Wii version though, as the 360's pad isn't designed for digital control - the dpad is in the wrong place, and the stick has too much dead-area. As well as that, the added XBLA bits on the menu break the retro-game illusion too.

Duke Nukem 3D (360)

Completed another couple of levels on Episode 2 this evening. They're certainly longer this episode than last, and there appear to be more of them too - I've just finished E2M5, and the first episode only went up to E1M4.

I'm also further into the game than I ever got on the PC or Saturn :)

Mega Man 9 (Wii)

With Xbox Live down, the 360 dpad being crap, and Nintendo finally announcing that from next year you can store downloaded Wii games on an SD card, I bought this.

And oh my god is it hard.

After many failed attempts at all of the first four stages, I gave up (for now). It's a bloody nightmare!

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (PSP)

GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!

TOO BLOODY HARD!

HATE!

SMASH!

ETC!

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (PSP)

Grrrah! This hangman's noose trap level is bloody hard. I've tried six times now, and failed. It didn't help that I chose an underpowered knight accidentally for one try.

And because I'm cut off from the main bit of the map, I don't really have much chance of going away and levelling up.

Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (360)

Up to level 75 now. It seems the game has become a bit of a production line, master romancing species one after another, with occasional interspersions of pinata capture or tempting.

Managed to get a Rashberry (two, actually) resident today, and master romanced Lackatoads, amongst other things.

Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (360)

Level 74? 76? Something like that. Unpacked my Fudgehogs and master romanced them, then turned a couple into Parmadillos and master romanced them too. I got a few pinata variants, and "made" two Lackatoads, as well as send loads of pinata off to parties, including several for Langston's challenges.

Still no Kittyfloss. Again, it wandered round the perimeter of the garden a lot, but refused to come and eat a sparrowmint (which is all I need it to do).

Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (360)

Level 72 now. Mainly bumped up by master romancing Candaries and Sherbats. Also (finally!) got a Galagoogoo resident, and sent it to a party, which netted me loads of experience points.

Still can't get Kittyflosses into the garden. I have all the requirements - they just keep wandering past! Did get a Buzzenge to visit, though, and it ate some of my Candaries and Sparrowmints, but didn't become resident.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (PSP)

Well would you have guessed it. It seems the Cardinal is a traitor too. In fact, since everyone seems to be on the wrong side, but somehow, the same side as each other, it would appear that Ramza is actually the evil one causing unrest. Or something.

I've managed to rescue Mustadio (or whatever his name is) today, then rescued Agrias, all without too much difficulty. They've now joined my party "proper", rather than just be uncontrollable guest allies.

Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (360)

I'm now up to Bill and Ted's favourite level (69, dudes!), ranking up mainly due to master romancing Doenuts and Shellybeans. I also managed to make a few more pinata resident though - Fudgehogs, Crowlas and Sherbats amongst them - and sent loads of pinata to parties (including some of Langston's requests).

I don't seem to be able to coax Kittyflosses or Galagoogoos into my garden, however. I have a load of Mousemallows (for the Kittyfloss) and thousands of tulips and a Moon on a Stick for the Galagoogoo, but all they do is wander round the outside of my garden and never enter. Why?

Duke Nukem 3D (360)

First episode completed! Didn't find any of it especially hard, although did get a bit lost a couple of time meaning my completion time was something approaching far too long. The end of level (episode? world?) boss was a bit of pain too, until I realised you could use the raised bit of floor to block his shots.

Duke Nukem 3D (360)

Shake it, baby!

No messing around here - straight in, bought it, played it for an hour. And only completed as far as the end of the bit with the submarine. 37 minutes for one mission? I'm so slow.

But it is excellent. As it always has been.

Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (360)

A bit of a catch-up post this. I've played it a lot in the last few days, but haven't posted. I'm getting quite lax in posting these days, it seems. I'm thinking of packing in the gaming diary entirely and just posting updates on my blog. Maybe. Anyway.

I'm now on level 62-ish. I've played online quite a bit, both in other people's gardens, and also opening up my own. I did have one guy come in and ask "tchoutchou?", but I had no idea what he meant. I guessed it might be something about trains, so bought one and some track and he sat and played with it for a good half and hour. Amazing.

I've also been romancing a lot - Cluckles, Lickatoads, Newtgats, and a few others. I've managed wildcards for pretty much every species so far too. I've sent loads of pinata to parties (many for Langston's challenges), and grown pretty much every plant, flower, bush and tree available as well.

The Giant Xbox 360 Demo Update (360)

I played quite a few Xbox 360 demos at the weekend. Some thoughts:

Mercenaries 2
I found this too hard. I admit I wasn't trying very hard, but it did seem impossibly difficult. The explosions were nice though. Except when my jeep was what was exploding. Oh, and respawning enemies in this sort of game == badness.

RocketBowl
Dire. No, it really is.

Domino Master
Meh.

Feeding Frenzy 2
Rubbish.

Fracture
Space Marinezzzzzzzzz... Yeah, the raising and lowering land was great. But this isn't Doshin the Giant, and as a result every "puzzle" that required them seemed contrived. As a shooter, it's dull as anything.

Samurai Shodown 2
Aces, but marred by the 360's pad. The stick feels wrong and the d-pad just is wrong.

Shotest Shogi
Never really understood Shogi, but soon had it sorted. Then ran out of moves. I think I'd buy it for 400 points, but at 800 it's too much for something I'd not play much.

Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (360)

Breeding twin wildcard frenzy!

I decided to start breeding Syrupents, but to do that I needed Robeans. But, to breed them, I needed Bispottis. So, I got some Bispottis and set about romancing them. I managed to get a set of twin wildcards, which I named Chas and Not Original Dave.

Then I master romanced the Robeans, using the Bispottis, and then fed the Robeans to my Syrupents, and romanced them too. I got a set of twin wildcard Syrupents (called Robson and Jerome), and a single wildcard Syrupent I forgot to name. In fact, if That Rev Chap is reading, here you go, fella:



In the process of making Syrupents, I also produced a few Twingersnaps, including amazing twin wildcard Twingersnaps! I named those Bastion and Atreyu.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (PSP)

Is it me, or did this get "wicked hard" since I last played? I failed twice at the level where you rescue the machinist, and then failed (really, really failed) twice at the level afterwards. I didn't stand a chance against an archer who could do 50+ damage each go, and a pair of summoners who could do 75+ damage to pretty much my entire party every round. I think I need to go and level up a bit...

Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (360)

Only managed to gain one level today, although I did do quite a lot. I made a Syrupent resident, obtained some Mousemallows, master romanced Whirlms, and found a few variants and maximum-grew some more plants. I suspect they were all relatively low-level events so barely touched the "petals" required to gain levels.

Oh, and I managed to get myself a set of twin wildcard Whirlms! I named them Richard and Judy.

Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (360)

It was all about the Camellos and S'morepians today. I managed to make more of each resident, then Master Romanced both species. I made a fortune selling the Camellos once I'd done too.

I'm now on Level 51, and have wiped my garden almost clean ready for the next species!

Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (360)

I not only managed to acquire a cutlass today (to keep out the Ruffians), but I also bought all the remaining Tower of Sour blocks, meaning that (along with my Cunning Wall of Blocking Ability that keeps Pester out) no nasties can enter my garden. Finally, the game can begin properly!

So I bred Buzzlegums, so I could get the Master Romancer award for it, but also so I could entice S'morepians into the garden to eat them. I managed one! I also went for a Camello, but I need a coffee pot and for that I need an acorn, and for that I need an oak tree. Thankfully, Seedos was forthcoming with an oak seed, but my tree took ages to grow. It did, however, manage to bump me up four whole levels when it finally finished growing!

Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (360)

Played up to Level 34 today, mostly undisturbed by sours, ruffians and suchlike. Master Romanced custacians and redhotts, and grew loads of new plants and trees.

I have loads of money now (over 45,000) so I'm not struggling to buy anything I need any more, and things in the garden have finally calmed down. I just need to get hold of a few more blocks for the Tower of Sour, and a Cutlass, and things should be just fine!

Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (360)

After yesterday's rampage, I spent ages getting my garden back together. Looking back, it probably would have been easier to start again from scratch in a new garden, as there was nothing left worth keeping (a few flutterscotches, whirlms and bispottis was about it).

With much rebuilding, I finally had a garden full of stuff again. I suppose it's about time I started concentrating on romancing various species, but with sours coming in every five seconds (not to mention Professor Pester - who I managed to keep at bay with a walled area), I think I'll have to wait until I have the tower of sour complete.

Level 25 now though!

Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS): COMPLETED!

Well, hand cramp or no, I completed it this afternoon. It had to be done in three sittings as it hurt so much, but eventually I managed it.

So, yeah. Not a bad game, just not really suited for the DS. And the track list is, aside from a few songs, somewhat worse than other Guitar Hero games. But I only paid £12 for it, so I'm not going to complain too much.

Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (360)

Played up as far as level 21 today. I had loads of stuff in my garden, pinata aplenty, and then two sours came in at once and left a pile of hemlock seeds. Which multiplied faster than I could get rid of them, and soon 90% of my pinata were dead or dying, and I had no money to use to "sell" the weeds, or cure my pinata. Disaster!

In the end, I had to dig a river to cut off the spread of the hemlock, then gradually pick away at the land surrounding it to create an island. Since the hemlock seeds that spread landed mostly in the water, they couldn't instantly plant themselves, so I could finally wipe it out for good.

It left my poor garden a complete wasteland, though :(

Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS)

It's Guitar Hero! On the DS! With added hand cramp!

That's right - hand cramp. It's pretty much all the DS version brings to the game, actually. No matter which way I hold it, I get cramp on my little finger and wrist. Not that my little finger is of much use, as I can barely reach the blue button with it, meaning I have no hope at all with the harder difficulty levels.

But I persevered with it, and it is really just more of the same. Actually, the way you strum (with a pick-stylus) is probably better than in the "grown up" console versions, but that doesn't really make up for the hand cramps... Oh, and the track list isn't all that great.

Anyway, I made it to half-way through the third "level", which, if the menu screens are anything to go by, is half-way through the game.