Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days...finished!! And self-imposing Kingdom Hearts catch-up challenge!

In an effort much like my self-initiated challenges for Final Fantasy XIII and Disgaea 3, I've begun the progress to get myself up to speed on the Kingdom Hearts saga.  I've already completed both Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 (secret movies unlocked for both) and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (on the GBA, not the PS2 remake).  Now, I can add Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days to that list of completed titles!

Uncharted 3...finished on crushing!!

Back when I finished Uncharted 2 on Crushing Mode, I really didn't think much about it.  Sure, the game was harder, but not by much.  Uncharted 3, however...I knew at least 3-4 key moments in the game where I would have extreme difficulty.  Sadly I was wrong; there would be more moments than that.

Kid Icarus: Uprising arrives

Even though I've played Kid Icarus when I was young, and enjoyed his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, I really didn't know what to expect with Kid Icarus: Uprising for the Nintendo 3DS.  The original Kid Icarus was very much so - a platformer with Zelda-like dungeon qualities in-between with the finale as a side shooter.  Kid Icarus on the NES was a unique game ahead of its time, and its 3DS incarnation is set to do just the same.

Purchased Journey, went on journey...finished!!

While the release dates from ThatGameCompany are lengthy and sporadic, their games are ironically not.  Given their track record of Flow and Flower, however, you can safely assume that whatever they create will be breath-taking.  After what seems like a lifetime, their laitest game piece of art, Journey, was recently released on PSN, and I finally got a chance to experience it.

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational, with something missing

I've always enjoyed the Hot Shots Golf series on the go on my PSP, and am happy to get Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational on my PSVita.  But compared to the PSP versions, one thing is lacking from the latest iteration - background noise.  Gone are the incessant whirs of the UMD disk as the game loads between levels.  Apart from that, it's the same old golfing game I've come to play and enjoy...which is not a bad thing.

Games, movies, and favorite parts

Playing some Uncharted 3 over the weekend through my second (and most difficult) playthrough, and it occurred to me how much fun the game was.  Gone were the manual labor searching for treasures (well, not for the obvious ones, anyways), the cautious walking to anticipate surprise attacks, and the need to pace oneself.  I was playing the game as it was meant to be, all along - as a movie, chuckling to the same parts that made me smile, and getting worked up on all the exciting action scenes.

Super Dungeon Explore: Gateway to miniature gaming

Not all gaming requires staring blankly at a glowing thin screen filled with moving graphics.  Some of the best games are the classic board games played on a table.  And then there are tabletop figure games like Warhammer or Heroclix.  Then there's Super Dungeon Explore, a game I played just this past weekend.

Getting into financial rhythm

Last year's E3 was a mental checklist of games to look forward to purchasing in the coming months, and Rhythm Heaven Fever and Fortune Street were both near the top of that list.  So, when the opportunity finally arrived, I scored both in one go!

Rhythm Heaven Fever

I'm a music game fanatic.  I rank the Ouendan games, Elite Beat Agents, and Rhythm Heaven for the DS to be probably the games I replay the most, so getting Rhythm Heaven Fever is a no-brainer for me.  The game is widely known for taking one- and two-button pressing into a flurry of rhythm games that are both a visual and audio treat, and Rhythm Heaven Fever doesn't disappoint.  One of my favorites has to be the Monkey watch game, where the simple second-hand ticking is absurdly described to be a monkey giving high-fives to monkeys along the watch's edge.

Fortune Street

THIS IS NOT A MARIO PARTY GAME!!!

Or at least that's what the box art should've included as one of their quotes.  So many misguided reviews of this game simply because they were expecting a bunch of mini-games to play as they go around the board.  Think of Fortune Street as a "Monopoly 2.0," but with dynamic playing boards and more ways to earn coins from other players.  In fact, that's what makes the game more dynamic - more ways to earn extra coin.  Does a certain region have most of their properties sold?  Purchase stocks for that region!  Landed on a property that you wish you had?  Muscle it out of them for 3 times the property cost!  And their version of "community chest" and "chance" cards are more random and impacting.  Some are just losing money for each property you own, to one that just closes all properties for one whole turn - which means that no one will have to pay you rent if they land on them during that turn.

Of course, these games are meant to be played for a longer period of time, so make sure you have some dedicated friends over to play.  Or a wife that's stuck at home with you.  

A new challenger emerges!!

So, with permission from Mrs. GameritisGal, I can make this announcement on my blog.  We're expecting a GameritisBaby on the way!  (I think I need to find a better moniker for it...)  I can already imaging my child ready to "press start" on its new life soon, which is almost 2 months from now!  With this announcement, I can finally share my first thoughts of the early ultrasound, in particular to the 3D-modeled embryo of our child.

The Simpsons Arcade Game downloaded....and finished!!

Back when Konami was making its mark in arcades with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Simpsons was getting a lot of attention into its second season, the two combined forces and spawned a cult phenomina simply called The Simpsons Arcade Game.  Based off the same engine and art style as the TMNT arcade game, The Simpsons Arcade Game was an instant fan favorite, eating quarters from kids everywhere.  And now, it finally makes a home in the console market.

Look what's arrived...PSVita, anyone?

Following suit with early adopters, a PSVita has landed in my possession, along with a starter kit that comes with case, memory card, screen protector, headphones, and game case.  And what's this?  Uncharted: Golden Abyss?  Don't mind if I do!

Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Strategy Guide arrives, cat is curious

Just in time to play, Final Fantasy XIII-2 and the "collector's edition" strategy guide by Piggyback have arrived!  And what's this?  A curious cat that would not get out of the shot no matter how many times I shoo him away?  Go away, Lenny!  I'll pet you after I start playing!

Final Fantasy XIII...finished!!

Much like Disgaea 3, I never thought I'd ever see this day.  But now I can finally say I've completed a Final Fantasy game - Final Fantasy XIII.

Pushmo: A deceptively-complex puzzler

Very rarely will I purchase digital content for my portable gaming devices (not including my iPhone).  There's always the price to consider, the content delivered, and whether I will dedicate the time to play it enough.  Then again, there's always the outcry of players enjoying the game everywhere that will get my attention as well.  Such is the case for Pushmo on the Nintendo 3DS.

Overcoming gamer's block: Earning a second wind

We've all been there before; you've played that one particular game for a while, but just can't progress further.  In a time when games are constantly begging for your attention, it's hard to maintain focus and, eventually, you move on to another game.  But how often do you return back to that game and try again? This, my friends, is my tale of conquering a gamer's block of my own - Final Fantasy XIII.

Re-Play: Final Fantasy XIII

This week's Re-Play is on an RPG of a series I've yet to complete a game in, Final Fantasy XIII.  In the past when I first received the game, the linear direction of the game was a definite plus for me, keeping me focused on my goals.  I really had a high hope that this would be the first game where I don't get bored and break off.  I was wrong, and I even lost my game save because of my laziness.  Will the second time be the Phoenix Down I need?

Re-Play: Little Big Planet 2

I've praised Little Big Planet 2 for so long being the type of game that only gets boring if you lack imagination. Never has that been more true than when I tried to replay the game once again in a speed-run attempt to recover all my building materials and supplies.

Adobo's Big Adventure

If you want to know where your NES childhood went, look no further than Adobo's Big Adventure.  Touted as the "ultimate tribute to the Nintendo Entertainment System," Adobo's Big Adventure pits this Double-Dragon character across many different NES game settings, beating up a multitude of popular NES characters, and even adapting to different styles of gameplay in search of his son, Adoboy.

Re-play: Rock Band 3

In a series of blog posts aptly titled "re-play," I'll be going over games that I've completed or not in the past that have seen little to no action since.  Of course, most of these will be titles for which I'm gradually recovering the broken shambles of my lost PS3 game saves, but they'll broaden to other older titles.

Unless you live with a family that loves to rock out each night, having a full Rock Band 3 set will attract dust faster than a Swiffer.  While I still enjoy a good jam session with plastic instruments (sometimes on my Fender Stratocaster as well), the game becomes a solo affair almost 95% of the time.  It's no surprise, then, that this game only gets some love on occasion.  But is the replay worth the effort?

Batman: Arkham City...finished!!

With Batman: Arkham Asylum, the game offered so much more gameplay after the core game was over that it really felt like you're in the billionaire's cape and cowl.  All the extra Riddler trophies and side missions made the game more meatier, allowing me to use Batman's arsenal of toys to the fullest.  Batman: Arkham City does at least ten times as much of side missions and content, enough to make me think twice whether or not I would be able to complete them all.