Games of 7/18-7/19

Today we start with Muramasa: The Demon Blade, which I picked up Friday as part of Gamestop's Buy 2 Get 1 Free sale (other acquisitions: .hack//Mutation and Wario Land: Shake It!).

Now, I didn't know much about it going in. I knew it was some form of 2D action game with swords as a main focus, supposedly gorgeous hand-drawn graphics, and that it was probably set in a version of feudal Japan. Beyond that... nothing.

So I pop the disc in and fire it up. Difficulty level and character choices present themselves. There's two characters but no real description of the differences between them, so I arbitrarily opt to start with the one on the left, Monohime. Difficulty-wise the game presents the options as easy and hard modes. Longstanding habit prevents me from choosing easy, so action-based we go into.

First thing I notice after the tutorial teaches me how to fight - a lot of these areas seem to exist simply for the sake of existing, with no enemies or anything that I notice. Maybe this changes later on, or maybe it's something for the other character. Regardless, it seems a very empty game world, with occasional groups of ninjas forcing me to slice and dice until they die. Eventually I make it to a group of priest-types who seem very put out with Monohime, and then she gets possessed by some evil spirit and has to fight a giant statue of some kind. (I'm a bit hazy on the details here.) After I win, I level up for the first time, which is a surprise since I didn't realize there was such a thing in this game. I also learn to forge new swords, which I gather is gonna be pretty important later on.

Then it's time for some Wii Play while some Pokémon trading action goes on. Platinum and SoulSilver both get filled with starters due to some generous friends, while I set new records in laser hockey and pool. Once that's done, full attention goes to SoulSilver. Another generous friend has blessed me with an Articuno, the better to deal with the dragon-type gym and move on to Kanto as quickly as possible. Because I'm impatient, that's why. And then the gym leader has the nerve - the SHEER UNMITIGATED GALL - to suggest that just because I was able to beat her is no indication that I deserve a badge from her. So she sends me into the dragon training club's secret hideout, where I tell her grandpa exactly what he wants to hear and in turn he grants me the badge - and with it, permission to take on the Elite Four of the Pokémon League. Suck on that, bitch.

But before we can get started on claiming my rightful place on Indigo Plateau, the random kimono dancers who've stalked me all through my travels - and how creepy is that, I ask you? - summon me to their own secret hideout, where they demand I defeat each of their Eeveelutions in turn. Which I do, because my critters are just that awesome. Except Farfetch'd; he's only here to fly me around and cut down trees. And the kimono girls give me a bell and send me to the Whirl Islands, there to confront Lugia, lord of the seas.

And then they do a dance while I ring the bell to summon this beast. What the hell?

So now I'm saved in front of Lugia with a low-level Drowzee hoping desperately for Quick Claw to activate so Lugia can be hypnotized, the better to catch it with, my dear.

And today I went back to Gamestop, acquiring Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree, Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity, and .hack//Outbreak - another B2G1 even though that sale had officially ended... they forgot to take down one of the signs on the door. Sonic Riders didn't seem to work, or else press + to start doesn't actually mean press + to start. .hack 3 is on hold until I finish 2, which is on hold until I finish 1. And Big Brain Academy... well, there's not really a lot to talk about there, now is there?

I did play some Wii Sports Resort. I've really fallen in love with just flying around the island; I really wish the reward for finding all the info spots was a free-flight no time limit mode. That little house with your face on it just doesn't seem enough.

This is a new thing I'm doing.

Kinda like the idea of chronicling my progress (or lack thereof) through the many games I play. Just one of those things, I guess. I mostly play via Wii and DS these days, though I also possess a PS2 and (for a couple more weeks) an Xbox 360. It's sometimes slow, and sometimes frustrating, but I do enjoy this hobby, so I keep at it.

And that, as they say, is that.

Some favorites:
Final Fantasy X
Dragon Quest VIII
Super Mario Galaxy
Kingdom Hearts
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Diddy Kong Racing
SoulCalibur III