I have been very sick. Oh, so very sick. Got a stomach virus, got better for a week, then got infected AGAIN. It seems this frikkin' virus is almost a pandemic, sweeping across Massachusetts and the rest of the counrty. It has been nicknamed the boom virus; you can probably imagine why. Me, I don't have to. :S
My poor wife also got this virus from hell, and there was a period of time where we were both deathly ill. Not a good predicament to be in. At least we have no kids that would also have gotten sick. That would have added to misery.
We are gradually getting better. Enough of this *bleep* is enough.
I have been playing games when I have not been puking or worse. Started Persona 4, good game so far but it starts real slow, at least for me. It was a good three and a half hours before I actually got to go dungeon diving. The story is great, it's just the setup seemed to take forever. Really not a knock on the game, I am after all the impatient type, and very eager to see where the games' story takes me. Plus great music (and the game comes with a bonus music disk, niiice.), graphics and delightful persona splicing. Looking forward to more...
Also playing Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. Good game, although at this point my thoughts for this game could be summed up as "Um...". Gameplay mostly consists of going on missions, beating up on Heartless, rinse and repeat. There is a panel system where every single weapon, magic, action, even level you earn must be placed, which at this point is very frustrating to me. Plus I could care less about any of the main characters, even Roxas. Despite this I do like the game, which will likely get better as I'm only about 10 hours in. Oh, and the camera sucks...but that's standard to most Kingdom Hearts games that I have played.
Finally, just got Thor for the DS. It rocks, it's by Wayforward, nuff said.
Hope everyone is well. I suggest lots of Purell, you DO NOT want to get the Boom virus. Take it from me, I know.
Showing posts with label PS2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PS2. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Shadow Hearts:An underated JRPG trilogy
Among the many, many great JRPGs for the Playstation 2 are three great ones that are very unique. Mix an RPG with horror elements, humor, a unique battle system and general wierdness, and you have the Shadow Heart series:the original Shadow Hearts, Shadow Hearts Covenant and Shadow Hearts From the New World.
Shadow Hearts could be called a "spiritual successor" to Koudelka, a PS1 JRPG that was part survival horror, part RPG. I own and like the game, but it has some problems, not the least of which is that the developers put save points after, not before, major boss battles, leading to a lot of frustration. Shadow Hearts is a definate improvement, adding one of the best ideas in the form of the Judgement Ring.
Imagine a stylized clock face, only having one hand that spins around very quickly. In order to fight, use an item, or use magic in battle, you have to hit one or several pie shaped highlighted sections on the ring. Miss one or more and you lose your turn (in attacking, if you do miss one of three sections, you still get to attack, you just don't get as many hits in.) In addtion, there are tiny slivers of red on the judgement ring that, when hit, cause more hit or magic damage, or in the case of healing spells or items, more hit points back.
It takes a short time to get used to, but it's an awesome addition to standard turn based battles. And it's not a matter of fast reflexes, just a matter of getting the timing right. Instead of just hitting attack and targeting an enemy, you also use your own skill with the judgement ring to cause damage, making battles more interactive. Do you try to hit the red section to cause more damage, or lose your chance to attack?
Shadow Hearts Covenant brings this idea even further, in that you can link judgement ring attacks of different party characters. As long as you keep hitting the right spots, you can get a chain going and beat the crap out of a monster (almost all the enemies and bosses you face are monsters, which get weirder and more groteque.)
Add to this a main character in the first and second games who is a harmonizer, or a person who can transform into 20+ demons once he defeats them, each with their own special attacks. (In the third game, there is a character who can also transform into demon forms, except it is a she this time.) Other party characters throughout the series are a vampire wrestler, an old man named Gepetto who attacks with female dolls, a cat who knows martial arts, and a ninja names Frank. Told ya this series was weird.
The games also hit all the other marks:great graphics wonderful sound and engaging stories. I really can't recommend these games enough. I managed to find SHC and SHFtNW at Gamestop for reasonable prices, and found Shadow Hearts at Blockbuster. Amazon or Ebay are probably the best bet to find these wonderful games. I would probably buy a PS3 if they ever came out with a fourth gamein the series, but with JRPGs being in the state they are in, that will probably never happen. One can dream...
Shadow Hearts could be called a "spiritual successor" to Koudelka, a PS1 JRPG that was part survival horror, part RPG. I own and like the game, but it has some problems, not the least of which is that the developers put save points after, not before, major boss battles, leading to a lot of frustration. Shadow Hearts is a definate improvement, adding one of the best ideas in the form of the Judgement Ring.
Imagine a stylized clock face, only having one hand that spins around very quickly. In order to fight, use an item, or use magic in battle, you have to hit one or several pie shaped highlighted sections on the ring. Miss one or more and you lose your turn (in attacking, if you do miss one of three sections, you still get to attack, you just don't get as many hits in.) In addtion, there are tiny slivers of red on the judgement ring that, when hit, cause more hit or magic damage, or in the case of healing spells or items, more hit points back.
It takes a short time to get used to, but it's an awesome addition to standard turn based battles. And it's not a matter of fast reflexes, just a matter of getting the timing right. Instead of just hitting attack and targeting an enemy, you also use your own skill with the judgement ring to cause damage, making battles more interactive. Do you try to hit the red section to cause more damage, or lose your chance to attack?
Shadow Hearts Covenant brings this idea even further, in that you can link judgement ring attacks of different party characters. As long as you keep hitting the right spots, you can get a chain going and beat the crap out of a monster (almost all the enemies and bosses you face are monsters, which get weirder and more groteque.)
Add to this a main character in the first and second games who is a harmonizer, or a person who can transform into 20+ demons once he defeats them, each with their own special attacks. (In the third game, there is a character who can also transform into demon forms, except it is a she this time.) Other party characters throughout the series are a vampire wrestler, an old man named Gepetto who attacks with female dolls, a cat who knows martial arts, and a ninja names Frank. Told ya this series was weird.
The games also hit all the other marks:great graphics wonderful sound and engaging stories. I really can't recommend these games enough. I managed to find SHC and SHFtNW at Gamestop for reasonable prices, and found Shadow Hearts at Blockbuster. Amazon or Ebay are probably the best bet to find these wonderful games. I would probably buy a PS3 if they ever came out with a fourth gamein the series, but with JRPGs being in the state they are in, that will probably never happen. One can dream...
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Knees and JRPGs
Sorry I have not blogged in while, my wife just had major knee replacement surgery, which she has been wanting to get for a while. We wanted to make sure insurance paid for it, which it seems it will. Two accidents severly damaged her right knee, and arthritus destroyed what was left. The knee has been caused her considerable pain for years; so the operation is a very good thing. The flip side is that it may take a while for her to walk on her own, and she will need some rehabilatation. The knees are the most important joints in the body after all!
After this I am going to get myself checked out, as I have pain in the left side of my back, shoulder, and hip. I think it may be crushed spinal nerves, kinda afraid to find out. Getting old sucks!!
In the meantime, I have been playing Atelier Iris:The Azoth of Destiny on the PS2. I love this game so much I want to give it a hug! Great sprite graphics, wonderful combat, good story...the kind of JRPGs they don't really make anymore. Plus it's fun finding recipes and making stuff using alchemy. This game is both fun AND funny, and better yet I also have the sequel, AI 3:Grand Phantasm. Now if I can just find the first game...
Anyone else enjoying a sweet JRPG?
After this I am going to get myself checked out, as I have pain in the left side of my back, shoulder, and hip. I think it may be crushed spinal nerves, kinda afraid to find out. Getting old sucks!!
In the meantime, I have been playing Atelier Iris:The Azoth of Destiny on the PS2. I love this game so much I want to give it a hug! Great sprite graphics, wonderful combat, good story...the kind of JRPGs they don't really make anymore. Plus it's fun finding recipes and making stuff using alchemy. This game is both fun AND funny, and better yet I also have the sequel, AI 3:Grand Phantasm. Now if I can just find the first game...
Anyone else enjoying a sweet JRPG?
Saturday, September 17, 2011
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Well, I'm trying not to get any more games for awhile...but while I was out and about with my wife we came by a Blockbuster Video that was closing, so everything had to go. Kinda sucks that,as that was the last Blockbuster within a 15 mile radius of where we live. Got a lot of cheap games and movies from that rental chain. Anyway, I did get two used PS2 games from this Blockbuster for only 3 bucks each:Rogue Trooper, a game based on a UK comic, and Tomb Raider Anniversity Edition, a PS2 remake of the first Tomb Raider.
I haven't played them yet, hope they work, although that is moot, since for obvious reasons they can't be returned.
Also got stategy guides for Kingdom Hearts II and Golden Sun Dark Dawn for 6 bucks each at a closing Borders bookstore. That's nice, but does make me sad as although there will still be Blockbuster Videos that will remain open across the counrty (except anywhere near me). All Borders are closing, victim of the Kindle, internet and the lousy ecomomy. Yeah, and the irony of the internet being a cause is not lost on me, this being a blog post and all.
I haven't played them yet, hope they work, although that is moot, since for obvious reasons they can't be returned.
Also got stategy guides for Kingdom Hearts II and Golden Sun Dark Dawn for 6 bucks each at a closing Borders bookstore. That's nice, but does make me sad as although there will still be Blockbuster Videos that will remain open across the counrty (except anywhere near me). All Borders are closing, victim of the Kindle, internet and the lousy ecomomy. Yeah, and the irony of the internet being a cause is not lost on me, this being a blog post and all.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Disgaea:The tiny version
Been playing Disgaea DS (aka Disgaea:Hour of Darkness) recently on the DS (duh!) I got this game for the Playstation 2 a while ago, but did not get that far as I was overwhelmed by how many things you can do in this strategy RPG. What I played was great though, and as I do with far too many games in my collection, promised myself I would play this game again. Still haven't gotten back to that version....
I liked the game enough that when I heard there was a DS version out that was a port of the PSP version with the new Etna mode, I wanted to get it. I somehow managed to get a copy sans booklet and case at Gamestop (I was lucky to find even that; I don't think I have seen that game used since.) I had the booklet from the PS2 version for reference if I needed it. I figured since I could play the game anywhere, I could get into it more readily.
I'm still ttrying to figure out a lot of Disgaeas' nuances, but damn if it isn't fun:quirky, imaginitive, and often hilarious. The only problem I have is that you can't save mid-battle, only at the castle.(At least as far as I can tell.) Not good for a portable version of the game.
At this point, I'm pretty much grinding a few maps to power up some of my characters, as I was soundly defeated by a mid boss (who is called, appopriatly, Mid Boss.) Plus I need to level up some created characters because as of right now, they fall over in stiff breeze.
Oh, and I do plan to go back to the PS2 version. There is so much to do in the game that I'm sure I would have a totally different experience from the DS version. Now, if I could just find that illusive Disgaea 2....or maybe I'm getting way ahead of myself there.
I liked the game enough that when I heard there was a DS version out that was a port of the PSP version with the new Etna mode, I wanted to get it. I somehow managed to get a copy sans booklet and case at Gamestop (I was lucky to find even that; I don't think I have seen that game used since.) I had the booklet from the PS2 version for reference if I needed it. I figured since I could play the game anywhere, I could get into it more readily.
I'm still ttrying to figure out a lot of Disgaeas' nuances, but damn if it isn't fun:quirky, imaginitive, and often hilarious. The only problem I have is that you can't save mid-battle, only at the castle.(At least as far as I can tell.) Not good for a portable version of the game.
At this point, I'm pretty much grinding a few maps to power up some of my characters, as I was soundly defeated by a mid boss (who is called, appopriatly, Mid Boss.) Plus I need to level up some created characters because as of right now, they fall over in stiff breeze.
Oh, and I do plan to go back to the PS2 version. There is so much to do in the game that I'm sure I would have a totally different experience from the DS version. Now, if I could just find that illusive Disgaea 2....or maybe I'm getting way ahead of myself there.
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