Gaming Diary

Just a quick go of this to see what it’s like. It’s like, er, Pac-Man, only not. It seems fun, if a little repetitive so far. Completed the first chapter and turned it off for now.

It isn’t technically a game. You play it, but it isn’t a game. It isn’t really a toy either, as it is too much like a game. Mind you, it isn’t really a musical instrument, as it’s more like a toy. There are no levels. No scores. No power-ups. No lives. No bosses. No killing, collecting, jumping, shooting or driving. Just “things” to press and move. And they vibrate. Or jangle. Or whizz or bang or tinkle or hum or …

Two more levels done today. I’m up to level 15 now (yes, that does add up if you know how Populous works). A desert level and an ice level today. The computer is getting slightly harder now, and can swamp, earthquake, and even volcano me. Sadly for him, he’s also a bit rubbish at watching his own back. Besides, volcanoing a few of my castles has little or no effect when I have some 60 of them (versus his three). …

I got this Master System game today as a competition prize. It was probably my favourite Master System game, but has long since gone missing. So, I was pleased to have it back again. Played through three levels, which took just over an hour. It is just a great as I remember. I could have easily done more levels in the same amount of time, but half of the fun is toying with the other “team”.

Hurrah! I have success! Limited success, anyway. I found that if I set up Windows shortcuts to change the input language from EN to JP (and back), then when I found I couldn’t type or access the menu within the game, I could swap language and it’d work. For a bit, and then I’d have to swap again. But it works! Then I realised that my joypad (a GC pad through a USB adapter) doesn’t let me go “full speed”. …

I downloaded the client for the beta test of the PC version last night. This evening, I have struggled and fought to get the bloody thing to work – and after two hours, I’m giving up. Firstly, I couldn’t type anything. That meant that I couldn’t even get into the game. Turned out to be something to do with Japanese language support. Then I could type, but it wouldn’t recognise the ID and password I was setting up. It seems …

Hmm. I’m stuck. Already. I managed to find my way “into” the second chapter easily enough, but no sooner had I begun, I became stuck. I’ve rearranged the way some candles are lit, killed some baddies, and now have nothing left I can try. A door opened partially, but I can’t get through it. None of my items do anything useful, and I can’t do anything else with candles as I don’t get any options to try anything. Bah.

I bought this game for £5 about two years ago, and it’s never seen the inside of my Gamecube. Decided to have a go, and see if I can make it my next game-to-complete. Wandered around the mansion a little as Alex, and found a key, broke a different key, and opened a secret room. Found a book inside, and it was time to become Pious Augustus in Persia, 2000 years ago. Seems easy enough so far, although I’m not …

More playage-and-testage of this game today. I now have three sets of levels for download, and I’ve also upped the editor. You can see all this, and more, in my new Run Baby Run section of this very site. Hurrah!

Well, less actual playing, and more designing new levels. Expect to see them, and more, and the editor, and other stuff, on my Run Baby Run pages on this very site. Soon. Probably.

503? Rubbish. Why can’t I get nearer the 2000-odd I used to score? I’m sure they’ve made it cheat.

After wandering around the Countess’ garden looking for a stick, and then a well, it was back to Paris briefly for a catchup with Nico and André. Then, we went to Scotland. As you do. Some action on the train there resulted in me gaining some plastic explosives, and then I arrived at a church. The Neo-Templars were inside, chanting. Then [spoiler]! And I won the game! Blimey. Two days play and it’s all over. That was quick!

Yes, more play this evening. George’s globe trotting has taken him to Syria and Spain now, via a few places in Paris. I’m now searching some Spanish Countess’ house and grounds for a hidden well. I have a feeling, I’m nearing the end. Not bad considering I only started playing it this morning!

More playage here. I’ve foiled (well, bungled a foiling) a robbery at a museum, done some juggling, and entered the sewers again. Ah – it seems the bits I recognised earlier were not what I thought. This is where some of the Sleeping Dragon game took place, and not that other bit. Probably.

I enjoyed the Xbox Broken Sword game, so thought I might as well give this GBA version a go (especially since I’ve bought it). And I’ve spent about two hours on it so far. Fears of not being able to see what I’m supposed to “activate” or “pick up” due to the small screen vanished when I found there was a button to cycle through interactable objects, which helps. No Splinter Cell bits yet either. Or crate puzzles. I’ve witnessed …