Super Mario 3D Land...finished!!

I under-estimated this game. I seriously didn't think Super Mario 3D Land was much of a challenge at all. Arriving at the last level with 100+ lives in reserve, I thought to myself, "I didn't really die at all." After this, however, is when I realized where people said it becomes a challenge. Once you finish the game, the number of levels double, and the second batch are crazy variants of past levels. It's these levels that saw my lives count drop one by one.

Is...is this what I think it is??

I'm already freaking out here at what I believe may be the small teaser to an actual sequel to one of my most favorite games to come out of Square Enix, The World Ends With You!! The game back then (now more than 4 years ago since I 100% the entire storyline) was such a well-crafted game for a non-Final-Fantasy title from Square Enix. Definitely for the multi-tasker ADD person in mind, The World Ends With You was a strong departure from the typical sword and armor faire, making the real world the setting for this modern-day RPG. This, along with many other strong points, made TWEWY such a fan favorite, even warranting its characters a special appearance in the latest Kingdom Hearts game, Dream Drop Distance. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the character designer for both games is the same - Tetsuya Nomura.

The countdown is set to end around August 27th, and you can be sure I'll be there at the ready!!

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance - Mark of Mastery Edition

That title is a mouthful, but I finally got the "Mark of Mastery" 10-Anniversary Edition of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. It's been a long journey so far: from Kingdom Hearts 1 on the PS2, to Chain of Memories on the GBA, back to Kingdom Hearts 2 on the PS2, to 365/2 Days on the DS, to Birth By Sleep on the PSP (Yes, I'm still omitting the Re:Coded game), the story has been stretched quite long.

At this point, you're either a fan or you're not. And with something like the "Mark of Mastery" edition in my hands, you bet your bippy I'm a fan indeed. Let's see what's inside.

Lollipop Chainsaw, and gaming in moderation

One of the biggest disadvantages any video game reviewer has is time. There's never enough of it when you need to play through the game enough to write an honest opinion of a gamer's experience. But in truth, hardly any gamer will sit down for 20 hours straight and feverishly play a game to its end credits. The time spent in appreciating a game, taking it in a couple hours at a time…that's when a gamer can truly give a more honest review. Now, take this thought process and apply it to a game - let's say Lollipop Chainsaw.

Deathspank: Thongs of Virtue...finished!!

Despite earlier concerns of game-breaking bugs and wiped PS3 saves, Deathspank: Thongs of Virtue is now complete! In fact, the saved game indicates I completed the game 100%, giving the entire ordeal of 3 replays well worth the time and effort. But why give this game a chance, when so many had decided long ago to abandon the effort in a huff?

Re-Play: Deathspank: Thongs of Virtue

Since the birth of my daughter, video gaming has become vastly scarce.  As a parent, of course my flesh and blood will always come first, but the moment they get some good rest, daddy's gonna get some time in.  So what better way to quench the thirst than a good few hours mindlessly killing enemies in Deathspank: Thongs of Virtue.  At least, that's what I thought.

Alchemy adventures with Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland

Alchemy game elements are more common in Japanese RPGs than you'd think.  While it's true that Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland (and, for that matter, any other Atelier games in the past) holds alchemy as a primary feature, other games hold the ingredient-mixing element close to their hearts.  And while the whole ingredient-fetching quest-and-grind is a little tedious and mundane, I still find it somewhat appealing now in this latest Atelier game.  And you know what comes to mind?  Facebook games.

Analog Gaming: Ticket To Ride

During the time I've spent at home tending to the newborn, I found more time to spend with the misses (GameritisGal).  The more time I found spending with her, the more I thought about playing some good board games.  This led to the eventual purchase of Ticket To Ride, a simple game about trains and routes.

Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep...finished!!

Taking care of a newborn is exhaustive work, and requires plenty of time spent at home to tend to the child's every need.  That being said, when Alexa's sound asleep, it's daddy's time to play!  And play he did...clocking close to 60 hours, the PSP game Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep is now complete!

Unlike Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days, this version is more canon throughout the game, referencing key points in the Kingdom Hearts universe.  I want to think that finally...finally...all loopholes have been covered.  Another thing that was missing from the DS game was any hope of a secret movie to unlock in the end.  Much like the other games before it, it's either unlocked by completing your collection list in Standard Mode (which is very challenging and difficult, despite my best efforts), or by merely completing the game in Proud Mode or higher (which is why I'm playing the game once more).  However, this game is more unique in its playthroughs.

You see, there are 3 main characters in this game, and you can only play with one character at any one time.  Their timelines intertwine like a braid, with characters crossing paths every once in a while, but the focus is always on your selected character at the time.  What does this mean?  This means you'll need to finish the game 3 separate times (each with a different character) to get a full understanding of the entire story.  And to tie it up in a nice bow, a final episode is unlocked after those 3 separate completions.

For anyone that's considering to get up to speed on the whole Kingdom Hearts universe, you'd do yourself a favor and play this game.  In fact, I'd say almost half of the content from the preview trailer for the upcoming 3DS game Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance (Oh...3"D"...really?) is in direct reference to the story in Birth by Sleep.  I know it's probably a lot to take in, but given the large span of time between games, it's probably worth spending it playing the games to catch up.

No E3 attendance this year, possibly ever

From 1999-2006 and 2009-2011 (conveniently missing the downsizing), I've been fortunate enough to attend and cover the happenings going on in E3, traversing the ground floor to provide an attendee's point of view on everything shiny and new.  And while I had already applied for my pass this year just because I could, I knew deep down that I would not partake in the festivities.  I have spawned a little one of my own recently, and I intend to care for her and nurture her - mold her, if you will - in my ways.

And despite not being at the yearly gaming mecca that is E3 in LA, I am somewhat relieved.  It's probably because of the many times I've attended E3 in the past that I've been jaded of everthing - of the large crowds, the long waits in lines, and the concert-like mob scenes that frequent around PR folk that toss free swag to the masses.  Being a spectator viewing the press events on TV now, after all these years, is something I can appreciate even more.

Who knows.  Maybe I won't attend E3 ever again.  Not because of my newborn daughter, but because I've lived that part of my life.  I'm less naive than I was back then.  In its core, E3 is an industry event, one where it's a business to prove to everyone else that they still have what it takes to make great games.  You tend to forget that everyone out there is vying for your attention, whether you give it or not.  It is video-game overload in the best and worst sense, and it can both entertain and wear you out physically and mentally.  But in the end...in the very end...I've had a great run.  Not many people in my position can say they've attended a yearly video-game event 11 times, and every time I've enjoyed every minute of it.  Now, I am content in enjoying the games that I want to enjoy, not what the press wants me to enjoy.

It's good to take the backseat this year, and just bask in its glory.

Alexa, my "player 3," has arrived!

In a sunny afternoon on April 24th, my daughter Alexa finally pushed start and began her game of life!  It's because of this, naturally, that I haven't been making any posts for the past 3+ weeks.  Every fiber of my being is spent caring for this adorable bundle of joy, and I gladly will sacrifice games to no end.

As a new father/gamer, I'm now presented with the challenge of balancing child and console.  I hope that, while being an awesome dad, I can impart some gaming fun into my daughter's life as well.  Above all else, however, my child will always come first.

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.