JewWario

An update on Saturday June 26th

2010-06-26T11:50:00.003-06:00

Well, we will soon be moving everything to a new place. Eventually, when I can get a hold of Mike Michaud, I will have a definitive website at 'youcanplaythis.com'!

And, I am tired of waiting for SharkRobot. I want to work through them, but you all want t-shirts! So on Monday I will be going through one of the t-shirt groups (ZAZZLE or Printfections) and getting you what you want.

I have also decided that I will try to attend an anime convention this year. I was told by my good friend Mark Fujita (known as Psychotaku) that I have been ignoring that group and focusing on the gamers... where I also need to think of the people that like 'Japanese things'. So I am trying to get a panel at 'Nan Desu Kan' in Denver Colorado n September. So if you would like to see me there, send them a message and request me. I have also put a petition in for a panel. We will see what they have to say. Here's hoping!

And I'm going to do a bit of time on USTREAM on Monday. Let's see what kind of crowd we can get. The time will probably be in the morning sometime, but we will see.

EDIT: 06/27/2010
Ok. I got the domain and on Monday at noon I will be meeting with him again to get server information so I can get everything transferred. SO EXCITED!

The French not only like Jerry Lewis... they like JewWario!

2010-06-22T23:27:00.000-06:00

An interview from a wonderful French language site. I was honored to be asked and I hope that you will enjoy the interview.

JewWario at E3 - 5th Cell - Super Scribblenauts

2010-06-21T14:25:00.000-06:00

JewWario is at E3 admiring the new Super Scribblenauts area and a kind gentleman comes up and asks him if he would like to know more about it. That person is Brett Caird producer of Super Scribblenauts! Woot!

Hello, my friends.

2010-06-17T14:28:00.002-06:00

Ok. I have not had any internets for some time and so I was not able to share my videos and reactions with you all. But here is one of the most informative videos I have taken all week. Please enjoy, and I will share more soon.

E3 Is a-coming! Tell us the questions we should ask!

2010-06-11T15:26:00.001-06:00

Join JewWario & Shuuki at E3 all day every day from June 15th through the 17th. We're going to be posting as quickly as our little fingers can type. And The boys will be doing a nightly 'Gaming Pipeline' to talk about their experiences and their thoughts on one of the biggest Electronics Expos in the country.

Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Konami, SEGA, XSEED... the list just goes on and on. You only THINK you know what to expect, but even I am surprised at the emails I have been getting on an hourly basis. But we're not going to E3 just to have fun... we're here to write for you! So, if you have a question you would like us to ask the staff at one these fine fine companies, post it here and we will be sure to get it asked for you! Just put it in a question in the comments are and we'll find out together.

Also, if you happen to be wandering around the E3 expo yourself, come up to us and tell us 'Hello'. We would love to meet the people who visit our site for the latest in exclusive articles, interviews, and videos.

Many thanks to Jonathan Mann for making the killer theme song for JewWario's E3 nightly vlogs. Please visit him at ROCK COOKIE BOTTOM and listen to his ambitious undertaking of a song-a-day.

You Can Play This 3.8 - Hokuto No Ken

2010-06-11T08:03:00.002-06:00

YCPT - 3.7 - Splatterhouse Wanpaku Graffiti

2010-06-06T22:42:00.002-06:00

You Can Play This 3.6 - Yokai Douchuuki

2010-06-02T22:08:00.000-06:00

Big thanks to Mark Fujita for helping with this video.

And check out the PSYCHOTAKU at SpeedGamers!

the Gaming Pipeline - Killer Apps

2010-06-01T23:08:00.002-06:00

JewWario and Shuuki discuss console games that really defined specific systems. Games that were most likely purchased because of a system or specifically for a system.

Let us explain. See, there are certain games that were released primarily for one console and was a game that defined that system. Like it or not, love it or hate it... these were the games that you just got. And they were n't always the games that CAME with the system. Super Mario Bros. might not be considered the 'killer app' for the NES... Super Mario Bros. 3 might.

So continue the discussion below. What do you think were the 'killer apps' for the various systems?

Mario Monologues - DK

2010-05-26T02:37:00.003-06:00

The original is here. It was filmed at a place called the BUG THEATRE. on the last Monday night of every month they host an event called the FREAK TRAIN! For $5 a person gets 5 minutes on stage to do whatever they want.

I did some segments where I told a story as Mario and I put a moral at the end. So the DK moral is to be kind to people and say 'thank you' when someone does something nice. I always tried to have a moral.

The DragonQuest IX US release... will it be butchered?

2010-05-21T23:41:00.004-06:00

It will have been exactly one year since DragonQuest IX would have been released in Japan that there will be an official English translated one here in the States. People will rejoice and there will be dancing in the streets. There will be the sounding of drums, but will it really be called for? What will the dreaded changes be for this long awaited title?

Well, the cover for one. Now I shouldn't be too surprised about his change as it is customary to change box art when it is regoinalized, but the box art looks so very serious. The characters look super cheesed at something happening just at the area where you open the DS case. Is this because he knows something that we don't? Or is it just because the companies releasing the game thought that this game wouldn't appeal to people if it had a youthful look and of people making merry? I love how companies underestimate their customers.

In Japan, there is a popular feature that allows map trading with others online called 'Tag' mode. It appears that it will have this feature reduced and only work when in local-wireless mode and not just when the DS lid is closed as is the case in Japan. This Reducing the 'Tag' feature to local wireless only isn't much of a setback as that feature is more popular in the densely packed Japan streets, but taking away anything so popular from a game almost feels like neutering it. Otherwise, it seems that the game will be a fairly accurate representation of its rising-sun counterpart.

With more and more people gaming on the go I suppose that it is not a surprise that we are seeing this title being a must-import. Let's just hope that people haven't been too soured by Final Fantasy XIII and want to give an RPG another try. So far, DragonQuest has been a fairly successful series and warrants a following. It found its way into the Guinness Book Of World Records for the most people meeting in the 'Chance Encounter' mode, so let's see if that just builds interest. Being touted as the most difficult of the series won't hurt a bit either.

You Can Play This - 3.5 - Eyeshield 21

2010-05-20T17:00:00.002-06:00

WTF Is Up With Kickassia???

2010-05-17T14:09:00.000-06:00

Jew Wario/Psychotaku Crossover - Super Sentai part 2

2010-05-04T14:30:00.003-06:00

Gaming Pipeline - Top 5 Sequels

2010-05-01T19:03:00.004-06:00

A wha???

2010-04-30T15:13:00.002-06:00

Ok. I saw this on the Angry Video Game Nerd's new video and thought OMGWTF? A Nintoaster!

I mean, sure the joke about the NES looking like a toaster has been around for quite some time.. but I think it must be sheer brilliance that someone actually MADE one of these things.

Not only that... he did a SNES version as well!

WAAAAH! I WANTS ONE!

New Link GET!

2010-04-29T10:06:00.002-06:00

I have been trying to find links that are interesting to me... and are Famicom related.

First off, we have F*ck Yeah Famicom! which is a blog about everything Famicom. The guy there seems very nice and seems to have a passion for the Famicom.

Then there's a link to 101 PC Engine secrets! Now, I have a PC Engine, and love it... and some of these 'secrets' are more of 'didja know's than anything else. But some of them are very interesting and worthy to read.

The next one is a link to my girl in Japan, J-Idol and Famicom/retro game collector, Haruna Anno. Her love for games is really remarkable and she is making it a side-job of her's to write articles for Japanese magazines and websites about her passion.

And, I can't tell you how cool it is, but she's following me on Twitter! Now, in all honesty, it's probably because I subscribed to her Twitter first... but I can still hope that sometime she might actually go to one of my subtitled videos on Nico Nico... and shoot me an email.

Finally, here's an oldie but goodie. This is the scanlation of the old Famicom Disk manual. All I have to say is that Takashi is a choad!

Jew Wario/Psychotaku Crossover - Super Sentai part 1

2010-04-27T00:27:00.000-06:00

Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love Review (PS2)

2010-04-20T14:55:00.005-06:00

All I can say is: It took long enough!

The Sakura Wars franchise has long been a Japanese only game series with plenty of fan-boys begging for the title to be released overseas. And, after 14 years, it has finally happened. But the question now is, will people who were begging for the translated dating sims of Japan be disappointed, or will they want more? SEGA is hoping it will be the latter and so packed this copy of their popular Sakura Wars series with a large instruction booklet, a poster of the cover art, and a supplemental manual of characters, images, and layouts of the theatre where your headquarters are hidden beneath.

In Sakura Wars you play as young Lt. Shinjiro Taiga, a 'samurai' in training, who is sent to New York to lead The New York Revue Star Devision which is the team that protects the city. You meet seveal teammates along the way and begin to learn your way around the New York of the game... which is a sort of exaggeration and anime-esque version of the real thing.

When meeting and chatting with characters you will have many automatic responses, but sometimes you may notice that the dialogue box will be split into several different, sometimes quite cheeky, responses as is par for the course in Sakura Wars games. But be careful. Your responses are timed, and your responses are what endears you to your fellow soldiers. Get on their bad side, and they might not fight well beside you. Become dear friends with them, then they become powerful allies when you do enter combat. And don't feel like the middle path is the correct choice. Sometimes you may find that you get on someone's good side by being a little brash or curt with them. Each character reacts differently to specific choices that you make, and it's a very refreshing change to the usual RPGs where you will be sent on a specific path no matter what you say.

And that is one of the most entertaining parts of this RPG/Non-dating game. There's no grinding to raise the levels for your characters, it's all based upon how your relationships with them grow (or fail to, as the case may be). This will all help you when entering battle.

Now when it does comes time to kick some heads in, the combat system is actually quite enjoyable. You take control of one of the iconic steam mecha that is popular to the series and lead the team against enemy mecha. As always, the giant robots are beautifully designed and really bring the feel of the Sakura Wars genre to us. And the combat is fast paced and enjoyable. The controls are not stiff and are quite easy to get used to. There aren't a ton of sub-menus to choose from and so gets you going to the action quickly.

But should combat get a tad long, you can pause in the middle of a battle and save the game from the exact point you left off. Not many games of this genre have done this in the past and it is really refreshing to see someone finally take the lead and think about the players and things that may happen while playing a video game.

Unfortunately there aren't as many battle sequences as you might hope for making the need to forge tighter bonds with the other characters a bit confusing. This is where I actually would wish for it to be an actual dating simulation and not the non-dating simulation that it is. I mean taking out the grinding aspect to have your characters get better in battle seems silly if you don't go into battle that much. I personally would have enjoyed more combat opportunities and see exactly how powerful my relationships could get my crew. I would have to go back to my other Sakura Wars games, but I honestly think that those games had more combat opportunities than this version. But the choice menu does keep you busy by also allowing you to perform actions that will determine your skills in the game as well. Memory is key here as is skill with the controller.

As is usual for this series, it's the story that is the driving feature of the game, and is what will cause you to continue to want to play it. Thankfully, this is one story this is actually entertaining and enjoyable... if you like anime. The dating sims of Japan do not usually do too well here overseas as they are story driven and can get quite silly at times, and this one is no exception.

Now, with the ages of the characters, it is understandable that it is not a dating simulation game as the others of the series were, but just a relationship simulator. After all, the tender age of a few of the characters would be frowned upon should your character want to date them. But I think this was a necessary change to bring this overseas and try out their chops on a North American/European audience.

This is, however, a very good portal into the mindset of the Japanese dating-sim genre and, if you take it as such, you won't be disappointed. But the story, as good as it is, is completely silly and unrealistic. With gangster gunfights going on in the middle of the city and you unable to do anything to prevent it except “watch your own back” this portion of the game may lead to some people having a difficult time suspending their belief and just enjoying the game for what it is.

The voice acting in this title are not the worst I have heard. In fact, they're pretty good by normal standards. It appears to me that the actors are old hat at this and everything sounds good. The women don't go too over the top as is usually heard in these kinds of games and the male actors do fine work as well.

But, should you be a purist like me, then you can easily switch to the second disk that comes with the game and listen to the dialogue spoken in Japanese. Unfortunately you cannot switch between the two disks as you may want to, so make sure you choose your language preference ahead of time, because you're stuck with it for the rest of the game. This really makes no sense and is a problem that could have easily be fixed with a tiny bit of foresight. But the point really becomes mute if you are not the kind of person who likes voice acting and chooses to turn the voices off at the menu command.

Unfortunately you cannot turn off the music which is something I would have desired. The soundtrack is like that of the early Sega Saturn renditions of the game: hokey, embarrassingly short, and endlessly looping. It almost seems like they're using a midi track for most of it and it really brought my experience down a notch. With the disk space of the PS2 I would have thought that the developers would have put as much dedication to the background music of this game as they did for the voice acting, but it really seems like this game would have felt just at home on the Sega Saturn as it would on the PS2. I am all for Staying true to a series, but this game truly deserved much better music.

As always there are plenty of lockable to discover and these are, as is popular in dating sims, images of the characters and new outfits. In fact NIS America gives us the opportunity to unlock a lot of images and costumes from codes provided on their own site. Sure, it might seem to defeat the purpose of unlocking thins yourself, but given that it will take you quite some time to even get to that point, I think it's definitely something people will want to play just to get to that point.

So, what's the final verdict? Well, I would have to say that this is a must-own for any anime fan. The translations were done well and the storyline is something that is interesting not only to a Japanese player, but to those of us overseas as well. The team were very diligent in making sure that the Japanese was translated to the 'T' but this also results in some words that just don't feel natural for the characters to be saying, whatever time period that they might be living in.

Don't feel bad not trying out Sakura Wars out if anime is not your thing. This is, unfortunately a game meant for a pretty specific group of gamers. But if you are a fan of anime, an avid RPG player, or even someone who has a curiosity about the dating-sim genre then this will not disappoint you at all. Chock full of full-motion cut scenes, an enjoyable (if not ) combat system, and a entertaining relationship simulator all make this title a great amount of fun. Previous fans of the Japanese series will not feel slighted at all as it stays true to the other games in the series, but new players may need to give it the old 'college try' before realizing that there are some games out there that are good games not because of the combat system, but for a meaty storyline like this one.

Blogger is GO!

2010-04-15T21:35:00.010-06:00

Hey all, I'm going to start posting again and keeping up on this blog. I thought it might be nice to have an area where I can post all of the things that I work on... kinda' "centralize" it.

So, I will be posting my TGWTG videos, the Kokugamer articles I write, and other stuff. I'll also see if I can't put a link to my Twitter to the side-bar there.

ON the other side, my wife is very happy that I am back home from my vacation. I cannot wait to show you all what I and several others have been working on.

Also, I am working on my Sakura Wars review which should be up either on Friday or Saturday... so look for that.

Sushi Go-Round Review (Wii)

2010-04-15T20:16:00.002-06:00

Sushi Go-Round is one of the latest games coming from the SouthPeak developing group for the Nintendo Wii and DS, and is based off of the popular web-game of the same name. Following the trend of Japanese Anime, the web game had American Animeish characters along with a sushi theme. Because when you think anime, you think sushi.

Now, when I got the game, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had not played the online game and am not really a big fan of American drawn anime characters. But the gameplay surprised me and I quickly ignored the character designs and I was quickly drawn to the challenge.

The Object is to serve the customers of your sushi bar as quickly as possible. And instead of taking years to learn how to make sushi correctly, the game assumes you know these skills already. In fact, it appears that yuor sushi bar is the only place for miles around as people flood into the place as soon as one of your customers vacates their seat.

As soon as you serve the customers sit down, the game starts. You have to serve them a menu and, a few moments later, a small image bubble will appear over their heads requesting some of your mighty-fine sushi. Memorization is the key here and is imperitive to being good at the game as there are several kinds of sushi to prepare and serve. But, if you do forget a recipie, there is a sushi guide at hand to tell you the quantities of each ingredient to make something. But, you will loose time shuld you need to look at the book, so make sure you know how to make what.

Part of the challenge comes from the sushi being served on a conveyor belt. See, even though you make someone their particular sushi, a customer who decides to order more from you may request the same kind of food, and will snag that piece before the first customer can get it... making them a bit impatient.

Also, you run out of some ingredients fast and when you're busy you can't afford that. So you need to call in to make sure you are re-stocked quickly. You can get a rush re-stocking, but that costs you money and you lose some of your profits. But when you need nori wraps (dried seaweed) you need them now.

And, should one of your customers begin to become a tad impatient, you can always satiate their palates with one of the two sake bottles you are given at the beginning of the game. You only get so many at the beginning of each round, so use them sparingly.

There are plenty of new gameplay modes that have been added for the Wii version that will bring existing fans running to this version with Time-Attack, Puzzle, Endless Day, and Forbidden Modes. These are all a plus and, while there could have been more content, possibly even a sushi making tutorial to learn how to make REAL sushi, these are good bonuses to the game and fill it out a bit more than I personally was expecting.

All-in-all, the game is fun and creative. It's no wonder why they got a port ot the big-time consoles. The DS version is just a better version all around of this online game and comes with several extras and additions including the ability to use the DSi camera. The Wii game, however, is not not without its flaws as this kind of game really wasn't meant to be on a powerful console as the Wii.

The music is repetitive and annoying after a while. Now, even though they were trying to keep the feel of the online game, not creating more music for the Wii port was really a mistake. I found myself turning off the sound and even the sound effects within a few levels of the game. Perhaps getting some J-Pop music in there would have helped the game and might have warranted a soundtrack release. I mean the online game did have over 60 million downloads. Fans of the game would certainly pop out a few extra bucks for some good music.

The character designs are certainly a boost from the simplistic sprites from the webgame, but these look more like flash images and, while that isn't always bad, they do not look that great. When you make a game for any system you should really try to exploit the power of that system. If you don't feel that you can, then it should go to the portable hand-held. But, in their defense, the character images are not terrible and do have quirky actions to make them interesting to watch sometimes.

So yes, the best console to own this game on would be the Nintendo DS as it fits the idea of a portable game that can be accessed quickly and then put away on the fly. That's the whole point of this title anyways, and this game was made for that. Putting it on the Wii is a bit of overkill and doesn't feel... correct. It feels more like a shovelware title for the Wii than anything else, which is a shame.

But please don't let that keep you from buying the game for your portable console. It's a good and addictive game and drew me in right away, and I think that with a few tweaks it could have been a viable title for the Wii if they had taken a chance and strayed from the online game in a few aspects. And this is also not to say that people who were fans of the online game will not like it. In fact, I think they will really get a kick out of this version.

Was I entertained? Yes. A great deal, as a matter of fact. However, I just think that the game was a bit slap-dashed together and really could have used a bit more noodling-over before thrown into the market. The market changes so quickly that I can understand the desire to strike while the iron is hot, but for online games, the iron stays warm for quite some time. The evidence is there with PopCap games, and Sushi Go-Round really is no exception.

Zhu Zhu Pets Review (DS) NOT FOR ADULTS!

2010-04-15T20:15:00.007-06:00

Zhu Zhu Pets may be relatively new on the market, only having come out in 2009, but they have created quite a stir in kids all over America. So it was only natural for there to be a DS game to come out for the cute little purring and cooing critters. But would it be any good? Well Cepia LLC teamed up with Activision to bring out Zhu Zhu Pets for the Nintendo DS and it's a cute little game.

You start with one Zhu Zhu hamster, but, after some playing around, you quickly start to unlock more furry little friends along with more games, more items for their home... does it ever stop?

The Zhu Zhus will wander on their own, if left alone, but to take them to the bathroom, to the food bowl, or even to the racetracks, you just need to place the DS stylus on them and move them to the area that you wish. And the little guys will let you know when they need something too, so there's no guess-work like there is in Tamagotchi. And all the actions are quick, so even sleeping takes just a few seconds. This way, you can get back to the action as soon as possible.

For a kid's game, Cepia really worked hard at making the Zhu Zhus look like little animated versions of the toys. The characters are cute and the animation is not choppy at all. Some of the items are a bit too plain for older players, but everyone will know right away what is the water bowl and what is the food dish. Sure the sprites of the characters may look plain, but they aren't trying to be something that they aren't. This isn't a thrilling tale about pirates or an alternate world with wizards. It's hamsters. So, really, the bright and friendly colours are all that is needed here.

The music is not a big part of this game and is mostly just so you can have something going on in the background so the game doesn't become boring. And, for the most part, the music is actually ok. Parents won't be cringing every time their kids turn on the game and kids probably won't be turning the volume down.

The voice actress, however, is a bit annoying. Ok, a LOT annoying. Even kids agree that her sugary voice (my words, not theirs) is just a bit too much. I think companies really need to look back to the days of the 'big purple monstrosity' and remember that talking to kids in a condescending tone doesn't work. And yes even though this game is aimed towards the younger kids, kids know when something is 'genuine', and this voice is not.

Usually for kids, games with hidden secrets in them can be complicated and confusing to understand and unlock, but not here. In fact the instruction booklet tells you everything you need to know on how to get more toys for your Zhu Zhus and how to get more, and different, hamsters. Even for the littlest of players, it is never too tough to know what to do for any of the many areas of the rooms. And, with more rooms unlocking all the time, there is plenty to do and it will never get old.

Some of the rooms do get more difficult and really help with that ol' hand-eye-coordiantion thing people like to talk about in video games so much. Well, it's true here. Parents might even enjoy trying their hand at getting Nibbles to the goal in time to get a gold trophy cup, while still trying to get as many coins and carrots as they can.

One of the missed opportunities of this game is that, with the internet connectivity of the DS, that compatibility with the online Zhu Zhu Pets website could have been possible. It would have been a nice addition to the game to be able to bring things you have unlocked on the website into the DS game.

Even bringing in your own hamsters that you had put in their respective codes would have been a nice touch.

Otherwise, this is a decent game version of the toys and I think that kids will enjoy this version a lot. And the addition of a baby Zhu Zhu will surely cause this game to fly off the shelves when collectors, young or old, get near.

On a Kid's 1-10 scale

Fragile Dreams Review (Wii)

2010-04-15T20:14:00.004-06:00

'Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon' was released for the Nintendo Wii by XSEED games, a relatively recent company that has translated and released several top-notch Japanese games to the US public. The American version of Fragile Dreams is a direct translation from the Namco-Bandai produced version and comes out a year after the Japanese one was released in 2009.

In Fragile Dreams, you take control of young Seto who is, we are led to believe, one of the last survivors on Earth after an unnamed catastrophe has wiped out the majority of civilization. Throughout the game you fight ghosts whose spirits are locked into this world and will attack you if you get too close. You can collect weapons and items to help you out along the way, and several items have no other purpose than to be a link in the deep storyline that is presented to you. And yes, the story is deep, and it will be quite the challenge for young Seto as he looks for companions in this post-apocalyptic world.

Seto is controlled by pointing the wiimote at the television as if it were his flashlight... and since the majority of the world is in darkness, the game acquires a chilling feeling found only in horror games. By pressing forward on the nunchuck, he moves toward the point of light of his flashlight. This isn't the easiest of controls to use, but it will soon become second nature after just a few minutes of play. Turning around is a challenge, however, and this is the only fault of the movement system. Several times I found myself trying to turn around quickly but unable to do so quickly.

This is where the game excels. The animeish characters look enchanting and are really memorable. And while the eyes and mouths are not overly emphasised, each one displays a range of emotion just through their body language. The backgrounds are memorable and well crafted... and even though you can't interact with everything, it does show a desolated world with great success. Even the outside looks so vibrant that you can almost smell the dew and chill in the dawn air.

Now one of the great things that XSEED has done here is not ruin the backgrounds by erasing the Japanese kanji and ruining the background by putting in English... but instead they made subtle subtitles that appear when you look at words on a wall or on a sign. A class-act move. Now, every once in a while I did notice a floorboard or wall-spot flashing a brighter shade than the rest of the area, for just an instant for no apparent reason, but honestly, that's a truly minor complaint as the rest of the graphics are astounding and, dare I say, beautiful.

The music is just as lovely as the graphics are, and is another high-point for this title. The music fits perfectly with the story and it never gets old. I usually get tired with music in games as they repeat, but throughout this game I left the volume up, not only to hear the characters speak, but to listen to the music as it brings you deeper into the game. The music didn't try to become a bigger element in the title, but was content on only enhancing it. And if video game soundtracks are your thing, then you'll be happy to know that you can purchase the official soundtrack on iTunes for a very decent price.

Seto, Ren, and the personal frame were all done by amazing voice actors. Their recital of the lines felt natural and it was well worth listening to. But one of the problems was the lengthy pauses that were placed throughout their speech patterns after commas. And, as a personal plea, will someone please tell these gaming companies that it really is ok to hire children to voice children? I am so tired of listening to women do their best little girl voice and failing miserably.

While Fragile Dreams has an incredible storyline and amazing graphics, it is the gameplay where it falls desperately short. Combat is simple and unimpressive. There is a great deal of hand-holding at the beginning of the game compared to other RPGs. The enemies are not too challenging at the beginning of ther game, but get brutally difficult later on. Now, some of the tasks that Seto must fulfill are sometimes a bit confusing, even though there is a map on the screen, and it can be simple to get lost in what you need to do next. Luckily, picking up the wiimote and holding it like a telephone will sometimes enable one of your companions to give you a hint as to where to go next.

Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed this game. Its story-line, while a bit slow at times, really made you feel isolated and kept the feel of the game dark and foreboding. It made you feel quite alone while successfully keeping the spooky factor high. The characters were a complete draw-in for me and I felt true emotion for them. And if a game can make me feel emotions for the characters... then it's a game that usually sticks hard into my memory.

If you like story driven JRPGs and don't mind exchanging a complex combat system for amazing characters, visuals, and a deep storyline... then 'Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins on the Moon' is a game that will entertain and amaze you. XSEED has quickly become one of the companies that I consistently watch to see what they are bringing out next. Their dedication to gaming and accurate translations make them a heavy-hitter in today's market.

Nico Nico video with comments

2009-12-08T00:07:00.002-07:00

Here are the two links to my Wai Wai World videos that were posted on Nico Nico video.

These links allow you to see the comments that people in Japan have to say. As a note (because I didn't know this myself) when you see 'wwwww' that means it is 'laughter'.

Part 1
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/video/niconico/sm8733415

Part 2
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/video/niconico/sm8865319

YCPT 2.4

2009-08-01T00:20:00.001-06:00

2009-07-30T08:31:00.000-06:00

I am over the moon.

2009-07-15T22:23:00.001-06:00

Got this email from Japan today:

Dear JewWario

My handle is Koiwai, and I am a Japanese.
I have been your fan since I found the Kai No Bouken video on NicoNico.
Doraemon is also very nostalgic to me.
I am not good at English, but I enjoy watching other YouCanPlayThis videos on YouTube and TGWTG.
You love kitty! Yanki J has colored nails! lol

And I have suggestions for you.
Would you do review Konami WaiwaiWorld and WaiwaiWorld2?
They are my favorite Famicom games that I used to play with my brother when I was a kid.
Waiwai2 is less popular in Japan and easier than 1.
But I think it is also a fun game, especially two-player mode.
(And this password is not in Japanese. YCPT game.)

This is my first time to send e-mail in English.
I hope you understand:)

I'm looking forward to your next video. Please keep up the great reviews!
日本から応援してます。これからもがんばって下さい！

Koiwai

I will have to think about doing that game, now.

2009-07-02T19:08:00.001-06:00

http://www.jjgames.com/page/retro-game-championship-2009

YCPT Translated into Japanese

2009-06-12T14:25:00.005-06:00

For ChaosD1

2009-05-28T10:54:00.007-06:00

This is a post for my friend ChaosD1 from the That Guy With The Glasses forums. I realized my replay was WAAAAAAY too long for a normal PM. So I posted it here.

His letter to me was this:

Since you do seem to be the most active, sane and helpful poster/contributor of the site...

I was wondering how you went about making the scripts for your videos. Do you do them in movie script format, or do you do like Yahtzee and Linkara, where you basically just write out a review, and then read it aloud to the camera.

I was thinking about approaching the latter format, but I felt it might turn out sounding unnatural, as well as not being able to properly mark the places where I wish to add certain footage. (Although I've been repeatedly told I talk exactly like I type. Typos and everything.)

I guess what I'm saying is... I need a foothold on where to start, and was wondering where you place your "ground level."

My idea has, and is being actively done (probably better) by a guy on Youtube already, (Hooray for my procrastination gene.) but that doesn't mean I'm not willing to give it a shot. I didn't pay for Fraps for nothing.

Am I rambling again? I always seem to do that...

(laughs) No problems.

You know, I was thinking of putting up a video on how I do my videos so people can see... kinda' like a 'CRIBS' episode.

But lemme write this down. At the end of this message is my latest script. Don't let it out until I have posted the video, but have a look at my video when I post it next week. Then compare what I did to what the script is like. Maybe that will help you.

First I choose a game. Sounds simple enough, but it's really difficult. Not only do I have to like the game, but I have to have played it a lot before and have to have something I want to say about it.

Why do I like it? Key points. What specifically do I think of the graphics? Are there any difficult parts that I think could be out or are just fine?

Then I start on a script. I write it in a way that looks like a movie in my head. I usually have an idea by this time.

Then I go over the script over and over and over and over until I feel good about it.
*Was there anything that's repetitive?
*Is there anything misspelled? (even though I'm reading it... it helps)
*Does the script make sense?
*Does it flow well?
*Is there enough to keep interest?

Then I start filming the game scenes. I hook up my (then Dazzle) to the computer and TV in the computer room and play for about 30-45 minutes. I look at my script while I do this. Is there anything in my script that I need to specifically show? Then I mark that out in the script on my computer in gray background (to show that I have done it).

Why so much footage? I want to show more than just the first level. I want to show a wide variety of things. Maybe I need to show things that you only see in later levels. Maybe I play and I find something cool along the way that I forgot about... that way I can add it to my script.

Then I put it into Final Cut Pro.

Then I set up my cameras. What angles do I want for this video? I usually do a straight on and a 90 degree shot... to mix it up and keep it interesting. I have these marked on my script in bold,

Now I have my script on my laptop and put it in front of me. I used to (before the laptop) print out the whole script and have a Sharpie right next to me. I would tape every page to the table just under the camera and then get up and flip it as I needed it.

Those were my cue cards. Printed out in BIG 40 point type. Anything said on camera was bold. Anything said off-screen was not. But now that I have the laptop, I just place it to the side.

Then I position, white-balance, and focus the camera. Every. Single. Time. I don't know what might have happened before, but EVERY shot is different. Always be prepared.

Then I hit the record button, take my place, and start reading.

Note that I haven't memorized the script? But it's in my head... so I know what I want to say, I just need cues.

So I will look at the script, memorize a sentence or two, and then look at the camera and speak. Then I FREEZE! Have my eyes be the only things that move, look at the script, read another line... OH this one I do part on camera and part off... at the word "buzz" (or something)... so I look back at the camera and start reading again and when I hit the word buzz I can look straight at my script and read everything.

Remember, I know what I want to say... I've worked it over and over. I know how I want to sound. Just do it that way.

Then I take all that footage (usually 30 minutes or so... because I never hit stop even when the phone rings, when the dogs are noisy upstairs, or I flub a line or want to re-do it. This way I have several takes.

Then onto the computer and onto Final Cut Pro.

Then it's just editing. Cutting out pauses and mixing them together. That just takes skill. I have made 12 YCPT videos, 1 PPC video, 4 Ludus videos (my first videos), and 1 rock video (for the Infendo contest) and so I have learned what sounds good and what does not over the montha and months of doing this. Now, it's just your computer skills.

So that's how I do my videos. I hope that helped you. ALWAYS feel free to ask questions. I wouldn't have gotten this far without my best mate Max (Shuuki) who knew the tech and gave good ideas for angles and shots.

If there's anything confusing here, let me know and I will try to clarify it when I do my "How I Do This" video when I shoot this latest video.

Cheers,
JewWario

**********************
SCRIPT
**********************

JUSTIN: (takes off reading glasses and puts down newspaper)Hello, and welcome to a new season of You can play this.

You know, Some of you thought that I go into too much detail in my reviews. So, for those of you out there who like fast straightforward reviews, here you go.

(Speeded up beginning)
(Justin as Deter speaking Sweedish)

J: Meurke meurke braugh (Very very good) Buy it.

(speeded up ending)

J: And now, for the rest of you...

YOU CAN PLAY THIS!

J: (holding paper) See this? This is the list of games I planned on doing this season. Now, watch. (tears it up) Yup. There. Know why I did that? Because I got so many good suggestions for games that I decided to make this whole season user-suggested.

So, we're going to start off this season with a suggestion made by 'retromanpresents', and one of my personal favorite games: Pop'n Music.

Pop'n Music originally came out in the arcades in Japan in 1998 and then onto consoles for the Dreamcast and Playstation 1. From there it has spawned several sequels and add-ons and is now onto its 14th version on the PS2.

Now to play it you need a special controller. You can play it with the normal controller, but it's much more difficult when you start playing the higher levels.

(Justin as Deter)

J: The controls are like bongos.

(Regular Justin)

J: … … ...

(gameplay)

Even if you are color-blind, and I have some friends that are, you can easily play this game as not only are the buttons arranged by color, but are in order from left to right.

Navigating the menus is super-simple as you just use the buttons to back and forth and up and down the options.

(back to Justin)

And of course there is the infectuous music. Each version brings a wide range of various tunes (gameplay) from J-Pop, to Russian Pop, K-Dance, and even Neo Folk Rock.

And there are different characters to represent each genre. They all have their own style and their own animations. The art style is not realistic, but cartoonish and light.

(back to Justin)

Now gameplay is much like a mixture between playing a kettle drum, piano, and bongos. (gameplay) You can start off at a low setting, and, as you get gradually better, you can increase the number of buttons you can use.

Now, navigating the menu will not be challenging at all since all the menus and sub-menus are in English. Many of the menu explanations, mini-games, and special areas are in Japanese... but this game is playable without those extras, so feel free to pass them over.

(back to Justin)

Now some of the more difficult songs will place the pop'n characters very close together. It may not seem the correct move, but the best way to play these is to speed the song up.

(gameplay)

You'll soon figure out the best speed for each song as you play. The way to get to those controls is to press both yellow buttons at this screen. When you have changed the options to your liking, press the red button to start the song.

(Justin)

Now, let me stop here for just a second and address something.

Now, some of you have asked me why I don't review bad games. Well, I'm about to.

You see, in 2008 X-Box live came out with an American version of Pop'n called Be-- (starts to throw up in mouth) Beat 'n Gr--- (same thing but takes a drink of water) Wow. Excuse me... Beat'n Groovy.

(gameplay)

And wow is it bad. I mean, look at what they did to my precious pop'n characters!

Why Americans insist on changing Japanese things to reflect an American ideal, I have no clue. The games are fine the way they are.

They took out the two main characters for crying out loud! My bunny girl... and my kitty girl.

(Justin)

KITTY! (glee)

(gameplay)

Now, while the gameplay is just like pop'n, the music is nowhere near as good as the worst pop'n music song.

So while I will tell you to go out and give this version a try if you must, I will in the same breath tell you to give this one a pass and just import a pop'n game.

(Justin)

So... as we wrap things up... let's enjoy one of my favorite songs. “Scotland” “Dream Parfait” from Pop'n Music 11.

(gameplay)

Audience – Music game enthusiasts will get the most out of this game, but that's not to say that there isn't something for everyone else. If you like hitting buttons and listening to groovy J-Pop, then this is the perfect game for you

Difficulty – With lots of songs for all levels of play, you can definitely grow with this game. Earlier versions are, however, more difficult as Konami was really getting the feel for the genre.

Graphics – Kiddy graphics make this not too spectacular to watch, but it's a music game. You should be concentrating on the game, not on graphics in the background.

Language Difficulty – 1 out of 5 – Even with Japanese extras in each game, I think that this is one game series that can be played by anyone and everyone without any difficulty.

Controls – The controls are basic and simple. As you play longer and get better, the controls will become second nature and you'll see patterns that you didn't see before.

Replayability – With infectuous songs for every version, this is one title you will play over and over and over and over....

Cost – The first games on the Playstation and Dreamcast don't run that much. You can purchase these for fairly cheap. The Playstation 2 games run a bit more, but nothing that isn't affordable. Konami Best versions are even cheaper.

(Justin)

Now out of all the versions, I think that Pop'n Music 11 is my favorite version and the one that I would recommend beginners start with. It's got a great set of music and

Also, if you're interested in making a controller for these games, check out my own pop'n music controller builds.

And as always, thanks for watching. And be sure to leave comments about what you thought of this episode, or of other games you might like to see me play in the future.

(Justin waves)

(cut to Justin in Deter clothes)

Now is the part of You Can Play This where we dance.

(music starts)
(people dancing)
(credits)

You Can Play This!

Starring
JewWario

Written and directed by
JewWario

Sweedish Consultant
Santa Luchia

Edited by
Two Poor Sods

Episode 2.1
'Pop'n Music'

Pop'n Music 1-14
© Konami
1998-2009

Music:
Funk Fujiyama
© Kome Kome Club

K-Dance
From Pop'n 10
© Konami

Scotland
From Pop'n 11
© Konami

Neo Folk Rock
From Pop'n 11
© Konami

Elegoth
From Pop'n 11
© Konami

(credits cut off suddenly)
(funny thing here)
(credits end)
Fin

That Guy With The Glasses

2009-05-22T09:39:00.004-06:00

I'm happy to be a part of the Blistered Thumbs group on That Guy With The Glasses.

If you're a new visitor, feel free to comment at their forum HERE or on the comments area below this post.

YOU CAN PLAY THIS!

2009-05-22T09:38:00.001-06:00

Can you dig it?

2008-08-15T08:41:00.001-06:00

CAAAN YOOOU DIIIG IIIT???

And then, something funny...
click the image to see it full-size

Metal Gear NES

2008-07-25T07:31:00.002-06:00

Well, this weekend I am coming out with a new video. It's going to be a "My First Time" thing where I play the classic NES title: Metal Gear!

I'll be posting the finished video here and on YouTube.

On another note, my favorite Japanese television programme, Game Center CX, is coming stateside under the title: Retro Game Master.

Let's see how badly the bungle this translation up, eh?

"The World Ends With You" Homemade Pins

2008-05-10T13:44:00.002-06:00

Hey all! I'm selling The World Ends With You pins.

These are the pins from the FANTASTIC Nintendo DS game. I'm really surprised nobody has made these before now...

Visit my auction HERE!!!

LET'S BRAWL!!!

2008-03-20T10:18:00.002-06:00

4596-9263-4114

Post your codes in the comments below

Ludus Challenge #3: Myst

2008-03-14T12:32:00.001-06:00

Myst III: EXILE - Completed

2008-03-03T09:53:00.003-07:00

Well, I didn't hate it as much as I expected to. In fact I quite enjoyed it. Saavedro was truly an interesting character and I feel like the good ending really said it all. He has been redeemed. I also, for the first time, feel like the Atrus/Catherine ending really made me feel more at peace with my accomplishments that was experienced in Myst and Riven. I really hated those endings.

"Thanks... bye."

I held a grudge for Atrus for quite some time. I must admit that when I was watching Saavedro wax on about Atrus and his uncaring... I was agreeing with him!

"Dude, you don't know that half of it. I save HIM from exile on D'Ni and what does he do? He says I can have his island. Send me home? 'Don't bother me, I'm writing' he says.

"And then... THEN I save his wife, capture his father, and save Riven what does he do? 'Oh, this Myst book will take us back. Thanks.' and he links out letting the book fall into the star fissure... leaving me stranded on Riven. I guess "US" meant him and Catherine. Sure the fissure took me home, but I didn't know that. I thought I was going to die in space. Saavedro, I feel your pain, man. Now... um... put down that hammer and let's find a way off of Narayan.

"What? You have tried combinations and they don't work? Let me tell you something... I was sent to Myst and finally decided to get myself off of it. By the end of the day I was in D'Ni. Yeah. Four Ages in one day.

"Riven had five islands. I had saved Catherine, imprisoned Atrus' father Gehn, and ventured everywhere in 3 days.

So Saveedro, my friend... if it takes me more than 2 days to solve the way to bring down this forcefield... I DESERVE to be captured here. Now get that hammer out of my face so I can think."

Notebook page 1
Notebook page 2
Notebook page 3
Notebook page 4

Professor Layton, Myst and Riven

2008-02-28T13:59:00.001-07:00

So for the past several weeks I have been playing three games. One, for the Nintendo DS is: Professor Layton. The other two (for the PC/MAC) are Myst and Riven. I have really been enjoying them as I really like puzzle games.

All three are also games I never thought that I would like.

Professor Layton at first glance is a cartoony boring story game... but it, in fact, is filled with puzzles. ALL SORTS of puzzles! Playing five minutes into it got me hooked... and I knew it would become one of my favorite games on the DS. It is an adventure game with puzzles, murder, intrigue, mysteries... and great DS animation. Yes, animation.

Don't walk... RUN to get it. It is worth $30.

As for Myst and Riven... I love them both, but I can see why people don't...

For one thing, you are not told what to do. No rules, no goal. Nothing. So part of the game is trying to figure out what to do. That's actually not as hard as it may seem... it just takes time.

But Myst and Riven are both unforgiving in that they rarely tell you if you have done something right. You have to search and deduce... and many people have started Myst and never played too far into it for that reason. So I can understand being frustrated.

Luckilly, I LOVE puzzle games and am pretty good at them, and so I fell in love with the series. I have just started Myst III and was pleasantly surprised to find one of my favorite actors playing a role in it: Brad Dourif!

I would really suggest these games as well as they are thinking games that let you take your time and not rush. They're also fun games to play with others as you can all suggest ideas and wrap your minds around them.

To help you all play (those of you that never got too far out of frustration) I give you this help for MYST... without spoilers:

IDEA: You have found a strange book and have been transported to this new island. Inside of the library on the island are two books~ a red and blue one. Both tell you to find pages to add to them. There are other books that link to other worlds (called 'Ages') that you must find to get these red and blue pages... but you must find these books as they have been hidden around the island. Touch paintings, read journals, push buttons, be curious, and keep notes of everything you find. When something changes... look around. Something may be different and the island is small enough to discover even small differences without too much work.

The game journal I made during game play is below... but it is LOADED with spoilers.

SPOILERS ABOUND

MYST
mystjournal1.jpg
mystjournal2.jpg
mystjournal3.jpg
mystjournal4.jpg
mystjournal5.jpg
mystjournal6.jpg
mystjournal7.jpg
mystjournal8.jpg
mystjournal9.jpg
mystjournal10.jpg
mystjournal11.jpg

I didn't know what I would need, so I left room for as many Ages as I could. You can see that I didn't need all of it. That would change with the Riven game.

RIVEN
mystjournal12.jpg
mystjournal13.jpg
mystjournal14.jpg
mystjournal15.jpg
mystjournal16.jpg
mystjournal17.jpg

OGR: Umihara Kawase 01

2008-01-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

So we got to thinking that we could do better video game reviews than the majority of the YouTubers out there.

So we did.

Woot.

Lemme know what you guys think.

And Umihara Kawase is coming out for the PSP March 19th (well, in Japan...)!

Fun Times

2008-01-07T22:25:00.001-07:00

It's not often that you see such dedicated work from people when it comes to gaming history. Check this stuff out!

* Famicom Disk Cartoon Manual (translated)

* Howard & NESter Comics

* Beggar Prince (translated and for sale)

So much fun.

Samus Unwrapped... so to speak

2007-12-13T09:20:00.004-07:00

Ah, the "Justin Bailey" code to Metroid. When we find out that Samus Aran was actually a hot lookin' girl.

So today I was browsing through a webcomic favorite of mine (Dueling Analogs) and I came across today's comic...

I began to wonder about the "hot girl" images you can find in the games (being the dirty old man I am) and so began to look for the elusive images for this babely video game figure's figure.

METROID-NES/FAMICOM
The Nintendo Famicom (the Japanese NES) had Metroid as a disk game. Yes, the whole game was on a floppy disk. So the elusive "Justin Bailey" code was ONLY in import games that didn't use a save-state as the disk did.

What is the Justin Bailey code? The Nintendo Famicom (the Japanese NES) released Metroid as a "floppy" disk game. Yes, the whole game was on a floppy disk. So the elusive "Justin Bailey" code was ONLY in non-Japanese games that didn't use a save-state as the disk did.

Who was Justin? Well nobody really knows for sure... it might be a fluke of the password code process, it might be a reference to an actual person... nobody really knows, and Nintendo ain't talking. All we know is that if you input the code, you get to play Samus in a purple leotard.

Well after this code there is another rumor that if you play fast enough and long enough into the game, she continues to remove clothing. This is a falsehood... especially with Nintendo of America's staunch conservative beliefs. I'm actually surprised that the leotard got through.

Now the endings were even special as well. This was quite the stretch again for Nintendo of America. Nintendo of Japan wouldn't have minded at all, but Japan is a completely different monster when it comes to showing skin. The first is for beating the game in under three hours. The second image for beating it in under 1 hour.

METROID II-GAMEBOY
The sequel that came out on the Gameboy handheld system even threw it's shoe into the fray with its own "special" ending.

SUPER METROID-SNES/SUPER FAMICOM
The Metroid go into the Super Nintendo realm kept the cheesecake factor as Samus, once again, would show some "skin" if you went through the game under three hours. She actually changes very fast and such work for under 3 seconds worth of virtual sexiness is a bit too much even for this dirty man.

METROID FUSION-GAMEBOY ADVANCE

With the Gameboy Advance system, Metroid Fusion (a very fun game if I may say so myself) went even further offering MANY different shots depending on how fast you completed the game. The main shot would stay the same, but the scan still-shot would be different. The main shot was the tight suit:

And if you beat the HARD MODE then you got these (with a special America only image shown last here):

WOW What a lot of images to put into a game! Those wacky... dirty... old men!

METROID ZERO MISSION-GAMEBOY ADVANCE
The second Gameboy Advance game featured even more sleek pics and the first inclusion of the now infamous Zero-Suit. Once again, the main picture was the same:

With the rest of the scroll-shots being different. You even got a gallery at the end to view them:

You can see how Samus has become a "cheesecake" icon while keeping her bad-ass-fighter demeanor.

The GameCube and Wii versions have taken out this semi-erotic feature. So now, they just show Samus changing into her Zero-Suit, but not in a sexy way. Why? I think they now are focusing on enjoying the game as much as possible and trying not to deal with people speeding through it to see a hot girl in a tiny swimsuit. It quickly becomes cliche, and a "Yawn, oh well" gimmick. That's my theory anyway. Take the endings from Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2, and Metroid Prime 3 and you'll catch my drift.

To me, METROID features Samus Aran in one of the rare instances where a powerful female character in video games keeps her femininity intact without being too overtly sexual. She is comfortable in her skin while not showing too much skin... especially as the games progressed.

Sure there are inevitably hentai and dojinshi comics that contradict this, but I believe that Nintendo has done well to keep her strength and beauty together in a non-degrading way. Unlike Laura Croft who from the game-get-go shows way too much T&A for a strong female character to show, Samus only gives you a PG glimpse and only to those who prove themselves "worthy".

Thanks to Wikipedia, Metroid Database, and Video Game Museum for the images borrowed.

Twilight Princess 49 hours 36 minutes

2007-11-26T09:26:00.001-07:00

MAN! What a great game! And the ending? Stellar! Best ending of all the games!

So here I gush (spoiler warning!):

There is so much to say about the game that I really cannot express it without giving too much away... and much of the Zelda experience for ANY of the games is the surprise factor. But I will say this...

The Wii is the ONLY way to play this game. If you have a GameCube version then sell it AND your GameCube, sell some of your blood/plasma, take out a bank loan and get a Wii and this game.

Playing with the motion sensitive controller is so much fun and brings a whole new aspect to the game that would be lost if you played it on the GameCube. Your arms do not get tired. Trust me. Well, fighting Gannondorf last night really did make my hand ache... SHEESH! I just wanted to yell out "WHY WON'T YOU DIE?!?!"

And then came the best part of the game: the ending. I love Zelda endings, and this one did not disappoint. "Midna" was fantastic.

The graphics rocked and the storyline was deeply involved. I plan on going back and finding everything I missed.

I give it 5 farewell Warios.

So now, I say goodbye to my original quest to play all the Zelda games before I played "Twilight Princess". What have I taken from this experience? Have I gotten anything out of this other than a good time playing video games? I think I actually have!

I have learned to think in new ways when playing games and when tackling obstacles. My eye has been sharpened to look for things that I may have missed. I have gotten a new appreciation for the stories Nintendo tells. Sure, that may seem fanboy-ish, but these games have a story to tell and they tell them (for the most part) well.

Link, Zelda, and Gannon have a link to each other and it's always exciting to see the climax when you play. You begin to care about these characters and look forward to seeing them again even if the plotline is to "rescue Princess Zelda". The Legend of Zelda games will always hold a place in my heart now as I go forward in my gaming... and I'll always look forward to the next Zelda game.

What is to come for my future gaming? Who knows? But it will not be as exciting and as enjoyable as my experiences in Hyrule.

Show Your Stash

2007-11-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

So I finally took recent pictures of my whole "C.H.E.E.T. Museum" collection.

View it HERE.

Twilight Princess 44 hours 55 minutes

2007-11-19T09:38:00.001-07:00

This game is more vast than I could have hoped for. It's wonderful and fun. I just got the last piece of the mirror and am on my way to the desert to get it set in. I don't know how close I am getting, but I am not intending to rush it.

Halloween 2007

2007-11-01T12:21:00.001-06:00

Well, another Halloween has come and gone and I am happy. I didn't "BUILD" a costume this year, but I did make a 'Mario' costume. But don't fret... under THIS hat...

... was my REAL hat!

The Mario Monologues Part 1: Donkey Kong

2007-10-30T14:03:00.001-06:00

Last night in Denver I performed at the 'Freak Train'. I did a thing called the "Mario Monologues". It was a hit. I had people telling me all night "Thank you, Mario". It was fun.

Last night: Donkey Kong
Next month: Mario Bros.

Resident Evil / Twilight Princess 25:27

2007-10-23T20:02:00.001-06:00

Continuing in the sries of Horror Survival games, I pick up Resident Evil. Produced in 1996 it was called "Biohazard" in Japan. This game has been ported and adapted for many different systems. Tonight I play the "superior" GameCube version that not only has better graphics than the Playstation version, but new areas. Many have considered this version to be the best of them all, so this is the one I will play.

Plays Game

Ok. I can only go 50 minutes before I have to turn on a light... (GOOD LORD, I'm a WUSS!) but then, in the light, it quickly becomes not scary anymore.

Much like last week's 'Silent Hill', this game really makes good use of music and camera angles. It's scarier right off the bat from Silent Hill in that it is deadly right off the bat. I died several times here just trying to get a friggin' gun!

The graphics in this were also a major scare factor in that they make good use of the GameCube's processing power. The action doesn't slow down and you feel yourself falling into the game headlong.

When attacked, you don't know if the baddie is going to stay down or what. There are fewer power-ups (I found shotgun shells, but no shotgun), and a limited inventory (that blew big time too). But all of this makes the game SO challenging it's not even funny... and I chose the easy setting!

Buy it. That's all I can say. Buy it, go into a dark room, make sure there are no outside noises to distract you, and play away. Scares-ville, daddio!

On the Zelda side, I am really enjoying this game. Not only is the story interesting and the characters intriguing, but I love the controls of the game. I can't imagine how you would play it on the GameCube with a normal controller... you WANT to swing your sword!

I have gotten the Master Sword, the ability to switch from Link to the wolf, and I have just defeated the long desert dungeon (but just). This game is SO much fun... but I fear it will be long if I let it be... but I want to play this game at my leisure... so I don't want to rush.

I know this is old... but MAN is it funny!

2007-10-23T14:01:00.001-06:00

I'll post the horror game tonight along with the Zelda progress too. Got lots done during my week off.

Silent Hill

2007-10-16T20:14:00.001-06:00

So here I go to the next platform up from the SNES (and since the N64 had no real horror games for it) I pick up the Playstation 1 classic (borrowed from a friend) Silent Hill.

This bad-boy came out in 1999 and scared a lot of people. Heck, even just booting it up it states that it has some disturbing scenes in it. I'm sort of excited. It is one of the games that, even though produced by Konami, it came out in the USA before it was released in Japan.

(plays game)

Ok. 1 hour and 27 minutes into the game I have to stop. If I want to be able to have a restful sleep tonight and NOT have nightmares, then I have to stop.
This game scared the PI$$ outta me!

I start off the game and am not scared. At all. It's a little jumpy to have things pop out at me so quickly, but it's not scary. Though the skinless dogs do kinda' creep me out a bit.

I search for three keys to make my way through to the school and I begin to LOVE the map system in this game as it marks things for you so that you remember what is at certain places and where you are.

The moving system is a bit strange to get used to at first. One really needs to use an analog controller just so that you can have an easier time walking about... and so you can know when you are hurt (as the analog controller makes a "heartbeat" in your hand when hurt... which is creepy in and of its self).

So, when did I start to get scared? When I got to the school... and saw the kids... or monkeys... or whatever the frack they were! Good lawdy, they scared me! And the worser part was when they didn't die after they fell down from shooting. You have to put one more bullet in them to kill them all the way.

That, along with being in the dark, AND having the house creaking on me for some reason tonight, made for a really spooky game. I got the gold medallion from the waxy hand in the school, but then I saved the game in the Nurse's office and turned the game off.

This was the first game that I have been REALLY spooked. I'm probably not going to play this game in the dark again... (EVER)... but I would like to play it some more and try to get one of the many endings... see how I do.

But not tonight! SHEESH!

I am a super hero! I defeated... the highest bidder!

2007-10-15T22:33:00.000-06:00

Yup, I got a screaming deal on a Twin Famicom and games. I shopped victoriously!

Scary video game review tomorrow of Silent Hill for the PS1.

Clock Tower: The First Fear

2007-10-09T20:30:00.001-06:00

Tonight I went to the next platform up from the Famicom/NES... the Super Famicom/SNES! (please forgive my lack of reporting skills)

Clock Tower The First Fear was never released in the US and it's a shame because it's one of the better SNES games out there. Yes indeed. Tonight I am using my SNES USB controller that I got from RetroZone... and the emulated game translated in English that I got from DGEmu.com.

So I turn off the lights and sit through a pretty eerie introduction scene. I talk to all the girls twice and begin to play.

(PLAYS GAME)

Ok. MUCH creepier than last week's 'Sweet Home' by FAR! It's not pee your pants scary... it's more like a scary story that's being told while camping out scary.

There are some scenes that I had to go back through (because I died) that certain things didn't happen again. The first time through, I looked at the weird painting in the background here (just after I turned on the TV)... and the eyes started to bleed. I didn't notice it until I was walking out the door... and it was pretty spooky.

The second time through, nothing.

So with things that can or won't appear at times, that makes for a pretty good spook-factor in my book. Good replay value as you're gonna need it. You can continue, but you can also start over and try different things.

Playing in the dark REALLY gave me shudders at times. I know I jumped more than once and really felt like I had no idea what to do next. Then something would happen and I jump again!

It's really a shame that this game never saw the light of day in the USA because it would have been very popular. But this was also the time they (Nintendo) didn't want to show blood... and there's a lot of deaths in this game... I mean, all your friends are dying left and right!

I will definitely be playing this game again (in the dark) as the 16 bit graphics won't scare you otherwise. The soundtrack that turns on and off is fantastic as I forget it's there and then it startles me by turning back on.

But you can't go out and get an FAQ... if you know where the scares are going to come from then it won't be scary... or as much fun. This is a fun game. Also, see if you can make the emulator full screen... or at least big. The bigger the spookier.

The controls were a bit tough to get used to... and I really got frustrated at time trying to figure out how to use items you collect (A button, select item, then click on where you want to use it). Having it not gory was a plus, and I felt bad for the character when I didn't make the right decision and she got killed.

Great game, folks. Definitely get it and play it. A fun and not too scary Halloween game.

Legend of Zelda Timeline??

2007-10-08T12:20:00.000-06:00

Twilight Princess: 5 hours 47 minutes

2007-10-06T23:21:00.001-06:00

You know, My friend Eric really didn't like this game, but I am digging the crap out of it!

The Wiimote controls are almost like the N64 controls, the graphics are wonderful, and the storyline kicks arse. I just got the first bit of armour from the forest dungeon... and I only have 4 and 4/5 hearts... just got the boomerang... and the boss was pretty darn easy. That's making this game feel like it's gonna take quite some time, but all-in-all I really like it.

Here's hoping the rest of the game is just as fun.

The Minish Cap Quest was a Success!

2007-10-04T08:51:00.001-06:00

I beat it! No really, I did. Click the image to see one of the closing credit screens (kind'a dark, but it's there). This game doesn't say "The End" so, it was nerve racking to get a picture... especially at 11:35pm. So official time was 23 hours and 4 minutes.

How do I feel about this game? Right off the bat I liked the humor and how it reminded me of Wind Waker. I really liked the searching for holes and ways to get through cracks... that feature was lots of fun. BUT (and this is a big but) I hated how it took forever to advance to a place JUST BECAUSE you had to trigger an event. And with events maybe activating after a dungeon or from talking to a Picori on the other side of the world... that was greatly annoying.

The game engine was tight... but to tell the truth (compared to all the other games) the ending was too easy. I really hate saying that because I really hate it when other people say that about games... it makes them sound smug. For me (who just finished all but the most recent two Zelda games) the ending could have been a bit tougher. In fact all the bosses were easier than I had anticipated. Which was ok... I really hate tough games that are tough just to be tough (koff)majorasmask(koff), but to defeat the enemies was just to wait them out and attack when you can. It's a good game, but I really think a line of code or two could have made it better.

The figurines were a great add-on and I enjoyed collecting them... but I wish I could have looked at them at any time from the menu.

But I still liked it. A lot.

So, for a really interesting game that I wouldn't mind finding all the hidden things... but despise the searching around the whole game world to talk to one character to open the friggin' library... I give Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap four Picori Warios.

Onward ho... to the game that I have been waiting most of a year (literally) to play... and ignoring/avoiding all information about the storyline and gameplay: Twilight Princess on the Wii!

SWEET HOME

2007-10-02T10:41:00.001-06:00

So I begin my month of horror video games by going to the first ever horror game: Sweet Home. The idea is not to finish the games, but to rate them on scaryness.

Now, I hate scary movies (rarely see them) and I have not played any scary games... but this is October and I am feeling very brave as of late... and it seemed a fun way to pass the time since I'm not working on a big costume this year. My value of how scared I get may be MUCH different than yours, so I will try to be very specific when I rate them.

I'll also try to record myself playing them, but since it's in the dark (and me with a normal digital cam-corder) it might be tough. But I'll only include the parts that made me jump so you can see my expression.

Now I have actually had this particular game cartridge since 1990 (when I started collecting import games) but I never played it (having, at the time, no ability to read Japanese). This time I can read Japanese but I am going to play it in English on an emulator. I couldn't find a good download for the English patch so I went to DGEmu.com and found it no sweat.

And I'm using an official NES controller via the USB adapter that I bought from RetroZone.

Come to find out that there was a movie released at the same time in the theatres... and it seems that they were based on each other rather than one coming first. If you would like to buy the movie, my "sources for obscure movies" found it for sale, but I'll just play the game for right now. You can also watch a strange shot-by-shot synopsis here. I have not yet gone through this yet as I don't want to have "spoilers".

So, in the words of Arino-sama: "Kachou ON!"

(plays game)

The scariest thing that happened this evening was when my dog "Kitty" started howling out of loneliness upstairs. All the lights were out in the house, I was downstairs, Jen was out... and halfway through my gameplay she starts howling out her sadness...

Bit creepy that.

But as far as the game goes, I was more jumpy by the unexpected things that happen during the game like the falling chandeliers and flying chairs that come out of nowhere. It is a bit frustrating to get anything done as you're constantly switching characters... but since each character has their own "item" then it makes it more challenging. And the barrage of powerful monsters that attack you from the get-go... and keep occurring and occurring...

The frescoes that you're supposed to find looked pretty spooky I guess... but there was this evil doll that popped out of nowhere and gave me a jump. I personally hate dolls. But I really wasn't scared per-se... by any of the game. Perhaps I'm just jaded by the graphics and CD quality of the games today... but to tell you the truth, it was a pretty groovy RPG as RPGs go. There's really no way to heal your HP and so you have to be very careful how you proceed. That's tough. There's interesting puzzles and hidden items.

Very much like the board game Arkham Horror where stuff just keeps popping up and you don't have time to think... that's what 'Sweet Home' is like.

You can definitely tell how the company tried to think of what might be spooky in a game and how they tried to make it so with the fade-ins. This was a brand new genre and the NES pulled it off well and I think that they were the only ones who could do it in the time of 8-bit games.

My suggestion: if you have a NES emulator, play this game. It's pretty good. It's not gonna scare the pants off of you, but it will be a good RPG with interesting horror aspects. Try it out.

I couldn't get the video camera working correctly for this week, so perhaps for next week.

Next week I'm going to mix things up by playing Clock Tower: The First Fear for the SNES... since it will show how horror games progressed from 8-bit to 16 bit. Then, the following week, I will play Resident Evil Code Veronica.

Minish Cap: 15 hours 56 minutes

2007-10-02T09:00:00.001-06:00

This game is going FAST.

I have 14 hearts and am almost through to the Wind element. Unfortunately I have been... collecting figurines.

So sue me. I'm a collector.

Tomorrow I start my month of horror.
Also, tomorrow Phantom Hourglass comes out... but I'm not plying/buying it until I'm done with Twilight Princess.

Otherwise, I'm kinda' liking Minish Cap... for all the looking around I'm doing. Seriously... it's WORSE than the first Zelda. I think 6 hours have been JUST looking.

Minish Cap: 4 hours 16 minutes

2007-09-28T09:03:00.001-06:00

...

...

...

What?

...you haven't had to make a wish lately.

Yeah. So?

...

...WHAT?

...I'm... I'm lonely...

...aw fer craps sake...

This game is bugging me in that "where the frack do I go now" way. I really despise that of this series. But, having played almost all the games, I am used to it and have a better idea of where to look for things.

So far I have 9 hearts, 2 elements, and I JUST got the Pegasus Boots. I have also been enjoying the figurine collection... although I don't like gettign to the place to do it as it takes a lot of time.

Into the swamps I go!

Ok. So where do I get the bow?

... You're... you're making a wish?

What? Yes.

Go to Castor Wilds, Go north, climb some vines.

Thanks.

No problem. It's good to be back, eh?

Yeah. It's good to be back.

Minish Cap: 1 hour 35 minutes

2007-09-26T09:39:00.001-06:00

So far so good... but I am a little concerned. This game is fun, but many parts of it seem dumbed-down. It's actually a bit distracting in that sense.

As for the gameplay, the superior GBA graphics are like a warm breeze to this handheld game. I enjoy looking at it... which means a lot. Some of the finding out "where to go" is hard to determine, but I figured the first one out.

The only sad sad sad thing is that I think I have gotten so used to 'Ocarina', 'Majora's Mask', and 'Wind Waker' viewpoint and gameplay... that the 2/3 view is... old. NO! I must not think that way! 2/3 view FOREVER!!!.... maybe.

OCTOBER IS FRIGHT NIGHT!!!

2007-09-25T09:21:00.001-06:00

For the month of October I am going to make Tuesday nights my "FRIGHT NIGHT".

So each week I am going to play a video game alone in the dark and see how I fare. I am not going to play all the way through the game, just for a few hours.

The (suggested) itinerary is:
* October 2nd: Sweet Home for the Famicom.
- This was the first ever horror video game to come out for any gaming system. It was so unique that it inspired the people who made the next game on my list...

* October 9th: Clock Tower for the Super Famicom or for the PS1
- This game series started in Japan and didn't come over until its second game was released on the PS1. I am sorely interested in playing the first one but think I might get more scare-effect from the PS1 game (if I can find it).

* October 16th: Resident Evil: Code Veronica for the PS2.
- I haven't played the game nor seen the movies. In a kind-of backwards way I am actually going to view the movie on October 4th and then play the game two weeks after.

* October 23rd: Silent Hill 2 for the PS1
- Another horror game that I have not seen the movie nor played the game. So on October 25th I will watch the movie but after I play the game (unlike Resident Evil) since it is closer to the actual game... and I don't want spoilers.

* October 30th: Fatal Frame for the X-Box.
-I have been duly warned about playing this game in the dark. I'm gonna do it anyway.

If you think I should play something else, then let me know!

Really Fun Game

2007-09-24T09:01:00.001-06:00

And it is done. I figured out the pattern and finally defeated Gannon. Total time: 42 hours and 16 minutes!
Spoilers abound.

For all that I received from the game in gameplay, storyline, adventure, and what-not... I was a bit disappointed in the ending. But That aside, it is a spectacular game in my view.

The ocean sequences were long and drawn out but, in retrospect, they really needed to be. To have treasures hidden all over the oceans and to have the islands diverse enough, they really needed to be THAT far apart. Getting the cyclone power helped immensely.

The side quests were extremely enjoyable even though I wasn't able to finish them all. I want to go back to my copied-save (before I went into Gannon's Tower) and try to get all them completed on my own.

I loved Ocarina Of Time, but this had a different feel. I don't know if it was because of the character styles, the non-linear gameplay or what... but I like Wind Waker just as much as Ocarina but for different reasons. To me, Wind Waker FELT like a Zelda game.

All in all when I sat down to play I knew I was going to have a fun time.

So for giving me such a great game in a way I was not expecting I give "The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker" 5 Zombie Warios.

Now wait a sec... it looks like this has my highest rating!?!

Onwards and upwards.

I am skipping (for now) Four Swords as I feel that even though it is a Zelda game that it was meant for 4 people. So I shall call it what I did the BS Zelda game: "Bonus Game".

The last Zelda title for the GBA: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. I don't know what to expect from this game but I have high hopes. I have three wishes again for this one so.. let's-a begin.

Wind Waker: 37 hours 1 minute

2007-09-22T20:53:00.001-06:00

Almost there. I am fighting Gannon right now. But I'm doing very well for not having used any wishes! Well, those were mostly used up from having the Nintendo Power map (I suppose).

I have done quite a bit but have not finished all the side adventures. But...

This makes me feel good. I have almost everything... although I don't know what is the missing item in this spot.

I copied the game before I started fighting Gannon so that I can try to complete more later on. This game is really worth it.

Wind Waker: 5 hours 47 minutes

2007-09-10T15:57:00.001-06:00

This game is really fun. The graphics are enjoyable and it's quite the challenge.

Let me re-phrase that...

It's FRIGGIN' TOUGH! This is NOT a game for beginners to the series. I just got the floating leaf and entered the second cave... six hours later! But I do like how the game gives you a few minutes and then gives you a hint if you seem to be stuck. THAT'S well needed!

But I can see taking the time to really dive into this game. I will say that I will avoid doing any of the side-ocean games/tasks until I get a bigger rupee-holding sack. Pulling treasure from the ocean and then not getting it because your purse is already full SUCKS.

I am taking away one of my "wishes" because not only do I have the Nintendo Power map but I have the GBA hook-up to talk to Tingle.

Seasons: 26 hours 34 minutes FINISHED!//Wind Waker: 2 hours 13 minutes

2007-09-05T11:06:00.002-06:00

Man, has it really been THAT long? Well, I made it through "Oracle of Seasons" and forgot to take the screen image. I'll try from my save area and take one later on... but onward I venture to "Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

As for "Seasons", it was a pretty good game. Being on the GB AND the GBA was a neat twist as certain things were available in the GBA version that weren't in the other.

All in all nothing really surprised me though. The seasons were fun to work through and finding ways to get to areas unavailable in 3 of the 4 seasons was quite the challenge.

The story was lacking greatly though, in my opinion. From Ocarina and Majora's deep and entertaining storylines to go back to a 1 dimensional pattern was very disappointing.

But my love of the 2/3 view of the original will never waver, I feel, and it was great to have another game that harkened to the one that started it all... although the difficulty was not very difficult at all and that was a bit of a disappointment.

So, for all its retro fun and all its faults, I give Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons one snowball Wario and one spring Wario... for the seasons of winter and spring. A good game if you can find it, but don't expect much out of it.

Now, my journey is drawing closer to the Wii... but first, I have two more games to complete. The first of these is the Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker for the Game Cube.

I will be playing this game on the Game Cube as I have been attempting to play all the games I get on the actual systems.

Already a few hours into it, I love the cel-shaded look of the game and the fun storyline. It's gonna be easy to get back to being used to a joystick instead of a D-pad.

GOT ITEM!

2007-06-05T19:09:00.001-06:00

Yup, my hard puzzling work has paid off, and I have received my first two leitmarks!

You see when Season 1 of Perplex City was going on, the points you made from solving cards was added up. When you reached a certin amount of points, then they would send you a leitmark.

Well, even though Season 1 is over, they are still awarding these little tokens to people who complete the point requirement for season 1 cards. Cool, huh?

DIG IT!

Perplex City... gone?

2007-06-03T20:26:00.003-06:00

Well, it seems that the game that I have been SO gung-ho about lately has had some troubles. They let several of the storyline writers 'go'. I have heard that this was for the ARG (Alternate Reality Game) and not for the card game.

I got into this game at the beginning of April, and was so excited about the Season 2 cards that I bought all of the red-purple Season 1 cards as well. I love puzzles and had subscribed to Games Magazine from 1981-1991. So I love Perplex City, but perhaps for a different reason than the British players in that I love the cards.

Being in the States I have a very small chance of winning any treasure hunt happening in Great Britain. So in all honesty, the ARG was not that important. In fact, it was really just a fun thing to watch... but the cards have always been the first factor for me.

I love having a story, I find the mini things on the backs of the cards of season 2 EXTREMELY fascinating and have come to care for the characters of Sente, Viloet and Caine (my favorite)... but the ARG means nothing to me or the friends and family that I have gotten into the cards.

I will buy the next waves as soon as I can to support the company and I will probably buy the kids puzzle-toys (which they are announcing) when they get made for my cousins Michaela, Jeremy, and Miranda... and for me. Because I love puzzles.

I hope the storyline does come back but if the Season 2 hunt/ARG is lost forever, then I will still support the company. They make good puzzles and that's good enough for me.

As for the last stories of Violet, Kurt, and Scarlet... they were sad indeed. Kurt's was truly touching (and many people have speculated that the Nicholas he talks about was Nicholas Hawksmoor.

For those of you in England who enjoyed the ARG, I really hope that you find other games. I really feel bad that the carpet has just been pulled from under you like it was.

But for those of you like me who like the puzzle cards just for being puzzles, then all I can say is: "See you for some trades in wave 2!"

2007-06-03T20:26:00.001-06:00

Soup of the evening... beautiful soup

2007-05-23T20:43:00.001-06:00

So Jen and I were watching the 1999 Hallmark/Jim Henson version of "Alice in Wonderland" tonight and I began to think of the many versions we own and which characters were my favorites. I must say that my favorite characters all come from (almost) the same version of the film: Through The Looking Glass done in 1998 by the BBC.

This version is by far the most accurate in that it keeps almost all of the words from the story and adapts the whole very well onto the screen. This version has my favorite renditions of the Tweedles, of the White Queen (although I hold Carol Channing dear in my heart), the Jabberwocky poem (where a young boy in cardboard armour is truly the vision of true youth), and of Alice (Kate Beckensale... even though she's older than 7 1/2). But my favorite character from this version must be the White Knight played by Ian Holm.

In this veersion he recites a poem I had never heard before entitled "A-Sitting On A Gate". I must say that the poem is not the best poem I have heard but it is indeed the way that he recites it that pulls at my heart. It is deep and meaningful and the visual of him as a Charlie Chaplin-ish character makes it even more meaningful and artistic. I tear-up every time I hear his reading of "A-Sitting On A Gate".

If you are interested, you can find this DVD in Entertainmart for fairly cheap. I would highly suggest it as it stays true to the book and even adds in the "missing chapter" of "A Wasp In A Wig".

On a side-note, I have contacted the good people at Mind Candy (the makers of Perplex City) and they are sending me some swag to share with my friends. If you haven't started playing Perplex City, then expect to get some cards from me very soon. (smile)

On a more personal level, I am currently ranked 138th out of 2500+ people in the world in the game.

Majora's Mask: FAIL

2007-05-21T11:49:00.001-06:00

Ok. I can't finish it. I can't. I have tried to kill this boss made of bats (his name doesn't even respect mentioning). I know I have to shoot the green orb and then hit him with my sword, but he turns on the scythe of pain and hits me into death every time. So, I'm done. 6 (yes six) hours spent trying to kill him is enough for me.

GAWD I hate failing this game. I was really enjoying it until this damn mini-boss in the stone temple. So, I really hope that I can get some sort of hint and re-visit it so that I don't feel like I lost this game. This is really my favorite game even above Ocarina of Time.

So, I start on the next game in the series: Oracle of Seasons. I have had a much better average with the handhelds... so here we go.

Weekend Goodness

2007-04-23T11:14:00.000-06:00

Well my wife has been a bit down on herself lately, and it's been a very tough couple of weeks. This week was a difficult one as well.

So, my mom came down to go to tea with us and to a Sky Sox baseball game, but my mom was concerned about the weather (with the HUGE gray clouds rolling in) and didn't want to go see the ball game. Little did I know that THAT hit Jen really hard... but she, being the sweetie she is, didn't tell me so that we could have a good day.

When my mom left at 5:20pm (the game started at 5:05pm) she really got sad. I finally got her to tell me what was wrong (like pulling teeth, I tell you), and she said how sad she was to not see the game. So, letting her know that we didn't miss much and trying to boost her up, I got her in the car and we took off for Sky Sox stadium to see the game ourselves.

We had (as per usual) a great time. We only missed the first three innings and still had plenty of game to enjoy. It didn't rain, and was quite fun (Sox won 7-1).

Sunday we went out to get my hair cut and she wanted a change herself. So, she got a perm. I haven't seen her so happy for (literally) MONTHS! What a change it did for her own happiness. And here I thought that she couldn't possibly look any more beautiful... but here she is! MAN! She looks like she's from Italy or Greece. Gorgeous!

On a personal note (not that my wife isn't the most personal person in my life) I finally got the USB/NES and USB/SNES adapters I ordered from RetroZone... and they look and work like a charm. Well worth the wait. With these two beauties and my new camcorder... that project shall be getting off the ground shortly.

Then, even better, I got this email from Cliff Johnson:

Justin,
Next year, I'll finally be able to do another April Fool's day contest — congratulations again on your 4th place win.

And... I truly appreciate your show of support in pre-ordering this game — thank you!

A quick recap, I’ve tracked down the Macromedia Director/Flash memory bug and I am in the process of re-wiring/re-working the couple dozen Flash programs. Then, a final beta test. And then DONE!

This April, or thereabouts,
I shall ship your copy of The Fool and his Money.

Your name shall be immortalized in the Compendium of True Believers inside the game as:

Justin Carmical — see a preview of your name.

This weekend Jen and I have been going over his game "Three in 3" again (since I didn't finish it the first time). She seems to be enjoying the puzzles and (most of the time) is faster on the draw to figure them out than I am.

I love her so much... and I'm SO glad she's happy again.

Majora's Mask: 26 Hours

2007-04-20T10:14:00.001-06:00

Finally, I am at the last temple: the Stone Temple.

I face the entrance and feel a lot of pride for having gotten so far on my own. I know this is only a video game, but I think about the amount of flack that video games have gotten over the past several years (especially in the shadow of the recent shootings)... and here I am having just reached this area... and I don't feel any need to shoot-up a school, night club...

I just feel pride for having gotten this far and being so close to saving the world. ;)

Who's the more foolish: The fool, or the fool who follows him?

2007-04-18T15:33:00.003-06:00

So I just made a BIG decision today: I will wait on a bigger TV.

Why? Well, one Jen and I really need to save for our trip to England next year. A big TV would be fun... but I can't afford it. So I'll save... but it'll still be a while.

And two................ um... I bought a game. Not a Wii, DS, PS2, or any console game... but a Mac game. A Fool And His Money.

Lemme explain my reasoning behind this almost $50 purchase.

So I love puzzle/logic/cryptogram games almost more than anything else. Really. I love them. I started when I got my first issue of Games Magazine, and I never looked back. Hell, I even made my own Meta-puzzle game for here in Colorado (which nobody has won yet). I was the first person to crack the language of the little alien Prospero in the comic PS-238 and one of only 14 people to decrypt the Legend of the 5 Rings RPG Hare Clan adventure's puzzle.

I discovered "A Fool's Errand" when I was living with Collin (along with the great title "Heaven & Earth"). I didn't play it until I moved in with Jen in 2002/2003. WOW! What a great game! I immediately jumped into his other classic game "3 in Three" and STILL haven't finished it. Man, that one's tough.

So for years, now, I have been waiting for Cliff Johnson's sequel to The Fool's Errand... and waiting and waiting and waiting (for 3 years... as it is pushed further and further back). I have refused to pre-order because I always expected it to be a hoax (hence the name)... but deep in my heart I knew it was "real".

So, with that game in mind, I went to the site and just decided to go through with it. Hopefully it ships this month. If it's HALF as good as Fool's Errand was, or even three-quarters as intense as his 2005 April Fool's Day Challenge was (in which Jen and I placed Fourth Place by a mere 5 hours... there's a GREAT story to go with that as well) I'll be satisfied with this purchase.

You can download "Fool's Errand" and "3 In Three" for free from his website HERE. Please play them. They're MARVELOUS games and WELL worth the play.

My interview with GameJew

2007-04-18T08:56:00.000-06:00

YAY! The interview is up (Son Of Cheese Podcast #45), and it's not as bad as I thought. It was my first interview and I was VERY nervous... but it came out pretty well (great googally moogally was I giggly). Thanks again to Derek for allowing me the chance to interview GameJew on his show.

SO ENJOY!

Song Link:
Snow Fort

Majora's Mask: 23 Hours

2007-04-16T13:19:00.001-06:00

Well, after being FOCED to use the new Google Blogger (grumble grumble) I post this weekend's Majora's Mask update.

So I didn't get much done since I have been working on a new project for the Gamer's Haven Anachronism Card Game crowd... but I got quite a ways for the few hours I played.

Perhaps I'm just getting better at figuring out things, or this part is simpler... or it may even be the ninjas giving you hints (which I especially like), but this part of the game seems to be swimming by quicker than I thought it would. I am eager for it to end (as I really want to give that mask-kid his come-uppance).

Camcorder, Interview, Majora's Mask

2007-04-09T10:01:00.001-06:00

Well, the interview with GameJew (Jonathan Mann) went along really well. He's sincerely one of the nicest guys I have ever talked to, and it was a pleasure to have my first interview be with him. Great guy. I'll let you all know when the interview is to be posted on Derek's site. It will be either this Wednesday or the next, I think.

Ordering the camcorder from online tonight. Very excited.

Now, onto Majora's Mask info: Majora's Mask: 21 Hours 15 minutes

So finding Epona was a chore and a half. I am quickly realizing that the Zelda games are meant to be enjoyed and not zoomed through (as I have mentioned before) bit I really am enjoying all this running around although these hint-less Zelda games are getting a bit tiresome. Very soon I can just sit down and enjoy Twilight Princess... but for now, Majora's Mask calls.

I hope to have this game finished by the end of the week so I can delve to the GameBoy Color for the next games... and one-step closer to Twilight Princess.

GameJew Sketch

2007-04-05T19:13:00.001-06:00

GameJew has been growing his beard out recently and wants to get it very big and thick to make the GameJew persona have something more than just the hat, overalls, and no-shirt.

Then, recently, he has teased about shaving off all his head hair. Bald.

Wow.

So what would GameJew look like bald? Well, I'm not very good at sketching/caricatures... but here's what I sketched quickly this afternoon.

Ok... I couldn't do it. I took one look at the sketch with him bald and I thought: Jewish Redneck! I just HAD to put on a hat. I really did. If I didn't, all matter in the universe would have imploded should GameJew have seen it.

Ok... if you clicky the image, you can see he 'bald' version.

I'll try to do a better sketch of him this weekend. I can do better... ;)

GameJew and Majora's Mask update

2007-04-05T12:38:00.000-06:00

Well, GameJew has a STELLAR new song on his (now pseudo-daily) blog/videocast site. Give it a listen because it's typical GameJew tunes. Great stuff. He also talks about shaving his head. I can't wait to see what comes from that.

Another weird thing is that GameJew's birthday is on Monday the 9th. Mine is on Wednesday the 11th. Very groovy.

Now, to the Majora's Mask update: 14 Hours 56 Minutes.

The game is quickly outracing to become a better game (in my own humble opinion) than Ocarina of Time. I just really enjoy the three days thing... and (so far) NOT having that darn side-quest that's imperative to winning the game. You can play the main game and win just fine or you can search for everything. Love it love it love it!

Now to find Epona...

Majora's Mask: 5 Hours

2007-03-27T11:32:00.000-06:00

Luckily, the tricks and tactics I learned in Ocarina of Time have helped GREATLY while playing this game. I have beaten the swamp boss, collected the 15 faeries of that area and am working on getting into the mountain area.

I am thoroughly impressed at how this game works. The three days that you re-live over and over and over have SO FRIGGIN' MUCH to do! I sometimes really need to focus on my objective and try to avoid some of the side-quests (I can do those when I'm almost finished).

If you have played Ocarina... I think you need to pick up Majora's mask.

What a fan-TAS-tic ending!

2007-03-23T15:01:00.001-06:00

So I go home from work on Thursday sick. I'm tired as hell, but when I lay down my eyes are glued open. So what to do... what to do... might as well try to finish this game...

And just as the 35th hour rolled around, I defeated Gannondorf. HURRAY! Then I needed to escape the tower.

"Huh? Strange ending..." I thought. Then... I realized that it wasn't over... and I had to fight GANNON! And what an epic battle it was! That I had the uber-two-handed sword made it that much easier... the trick is: (SPOILER ALERT!!!)
...
...
...
...
...
...
Attack the crotch.
...
You heard me right. If you stay facing his 'package' you can eventually slip between his legs and hit his tail. He can't hit you if you're that close to him.

And then I enjoyed the fruit of my labors: the ending (at 35 hours and 46 minutes). And what an ending it was! Truly, one of the top three best endings from any game I have played (best one still being 'Kingdom Hearts').

Review time!
It took me some time to get used to how Ocarina of Time wanted me to think as opposed to the other games. It was different and annoying at times, but I enjoyed the game all-in-all.
The graphics were really good. And while they were very much Playstation 1 graphics genre... I loved having no loading times. I'll pay more for no loading times. The princess (grown-up) was absolutely stellar. She was well-rendered and quite beautiful (for a video game character) with her eyes that spoke volumes... (dreamy sigh)

The only bit I didn't like about the game was the expected venturing about. I did discover that the game map helped out more than I thought it did in that every location had a circle. If it was flashing, something there was unresolved. If it had an arrow, then the main side-quest had something there next.

For giving me such a fun game and for a really wonderful ending, I give Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 4 Driving Warios

Now, I have the cart for Majora's Mask and a RAM expander for my system. I'm sick at home this weekend (and pretty tired right now as I type this) so I'll start when I feel better.

Ocarina of Time: 30 Hours

2007-03-22T11:51:00.001-06:00

13 and 3/4 hearts, 5 sages found, the UBER two-handed sword, all but 2 seeds planted, and 4/5 of the Desert Dungeon cleared, it's night, I'm on Epona, and I'm wearing the silver gauntlets.

Let's roll.

Zelda was right!!

2007-03-19T12:23:00.000-06:00

So, the comic of Wario wondering how the doors open when torches were lit was very funny... I wondered that myself...

But I'll be damned if an ancient inventor didn't figure it out!

Heron of Alexandria made many cool devices including the world's first VENDING MACHINE! And one of those inventions (I sh*t you not) was a door that was opened by lighting torches.

Ocarina of Time: 27 hours

2007-03-16T16:15:00.001-06:00

Ok... this is rediculus. The dungeons are great. The story is fantastic, and the characters are really intriguing.

"GETTING THERE" SUCKS @$$!!!

To find the Din's Fire spell I had to go to an area that was a dead end in a place that I would never have gone. To get to the Water Princess I needed to show a letter to her father... but the letter specifically told me not to.

So many hours later, I'm changing the rules. YES! You heard me right. These N64 games are completely different. They're not even like RPGs... they're relying on you spending tons of time wasted looking around. they don't even give you clues. "Look for Din's Fire to light all the torches". I would have even accepted "I hear that there's a spell to make a circle of fire. I've looked everywhere except on the way to the castle."

How hard is that, folks?

So... rules change...

"Because of the requirement of playing the game in a swift manner, if in Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, or Twilight Princess the player spends more than 2 hours looking for an entrance in vain they may refer to a walkthrough."

Ocarina of Time: 22 hours

2007-03-15T13:26:00.001-06:00

Ok, I have been sick recently so I have gotten little gaming in while I rest my aching head... but I have come to a realization:

WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN!

Let me explain.

I am finding that things that I have encountered before in the game will be revisited... no matter how small. This is upsetting. In fact, it's downright frustrating.

So folks... when you play a Zelda game make sure you write down everything people say. Make sure you write down interesting features around the land so you can re-visit it later on.

Me, I'm screwed. I'm gonna have to go all over the land TWICE (now that I can time travel). Anyways, I'm working on the Ice Dungeon.

Ocarina of Time: 17 Hours

2007-03-12T11:03:00.001-06:00

Ok. I figured out what was wrong with my playing this game. I was playing it thinking it would be swift like the previous games. Well, swift in that I could do it in less than 24 hours. I also forgot that this was SUPPOSED to make you venture around and enjoy the game that way.

Now, I am 7 years older in the game and the familiar side-quests are gone. That's when I knew that this game was different than the rest... and that's when I really started to FEEL this game. I'm gonna slow down and try to think differently now (a little too late). Perhaps I can reconcile myself with this game.

GameJew sings to Miyamoto

2007-03-12T10:58:00.000-06:00

'THE' Miyamoto. As in Shigeru Miyamoto. As in the creator of Mario, Link... yes THAT Miyamoto!

CHECK THIS OUT!

That's all there is to it: GameJew is groovy. I'd really like to meet him someday.

Ocarina of Time: 7 Hours 20 minutes

2007-03-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks again to Psyguy for letting me link to the Wario-in-Hyrule comic 'Greed'.

Well, I played more Zelda last night and i'm getting pretty frustrated with how this game plays. It's becoming too much like II and IV for my taste.

I am getting used to the controls, but this "figure this out on your own with no hints" is getting REALLY OLD REALLY FAST! I can't buy bombs, the Goron guy won't talk to me... and he hates both my songs (Zelda's lullaby and the Sun song), I can't get into the spinning pot although I could land on it when it wasn't spinning, and what the hell are all those bomb-flower thingys? And why do I need to talk to people three times to get information out of them? I don't want to talk to them three times... THEY TALK TOO LONG AND YOU CAN'T SPEED UP THEIR TEXT!!!

And why does that irritating bunny-eared/winged faerie thingy keep interrupting my travels?

"Hey! Listen! Let's brag to Saria about us saving the world?"

"Listen! She'd be impressed! Let's tell her!"

"LISTEN!! YOU'LL GET LAID IF YOU TELL HER!!!"

(swat) (flutters to ground)

THERE! Now you're a floor-rie!

A Wario comic!

2007-03-07T15:47:00.001-07:00

Ok. This is just too weird. A comic about Wario... who goes to Hyrule!

Too cool.

Looks like he's having the EXACT same problems I'm having!

Ocarina of Time: 4 Hours

2007-03-05T11:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I can see how this game would have been revolutionary at the time the N64 came out, but I'm just 'not feelin it'. Personally, I LOVE the 2/3 view from the last few games that I have played. This just does not feel 'Zelda' to me. Eh, we'll get some more playing in the next few days and see if I'll be inspired to be a fan of this new way of playing.

I am amazed at how Nintendo continues to push people's minds with the series. That's the challenging part of each game in that you have to figure things out for yourself... no hints. Thinking to use the stick to make a torch to burn the web is not something arrived at very easily. It makes for fun (but frustrating) play. Well, the Doku Tree level is done so now I head off to the castle. Thought it would go faster... this one's gonna be tough.

To be honest, I have been more excited about SNES games than this one. (sigh) But complete the challenge I must.

BS Zelda (Bonus Game): "Weeks 2-4"

2007-02-26T11:03:00.000-07:00

So I finished the other three hours of play for the Bonus Game of Legend of Zelda: The Ancient Stone Tablets and I am very impressed. I was not expecting such an effort to be put into making a new adventure that felt familiar but not too familiar. I used every trick from the SNES game and then some. I still encourage people to play this emulated game. You won't be disappointed.

Now, onto Ocarina of Time! I can't wait!

BS Zelda (Bonus Game): "Week 1"

2007-02-20T08:37:00.001-07:00

Week 1? Yup, I speaks da truth. This game comes in four one-hour installments.

See, BS The Legend of Zelda: The Ancient Stone Tablets was a game only released in Japan and only via the Super Nintendo console peripheral called the Satellaview. 'BS', in fact, stands for Broadcast Satellaview. You downloaded games for the SNES (well, the Super Famicom in Japan) and played them. THIS particular game came in four installments and was played in REAL TIME! They even got actors to voice the movie-like scenes.

So anyways, people eventually got a hold on the ROM of the game and have been working night and day (quite literally from what I have read) to make this game playable. It is now about 90-95% done and people can play it now (for the most part) and really enjoy it. You only have one hour... so you have to be quick! More information can be found at the BS Zelda Homepage. It's actually REALLY interesting.

Last night I got a hand held gaming controller from Target for $10 and plugged it into my Mac and booted up the first week. Long story short (nobody likes a play-by-play) I got everything except the last piece of heart.

The game is interesting in that to help you speed up your game play, they only allow you access to one part of the world map. You can't even see the rest of the map as it is clouded over. Also to help speed up play, the game will occasionally send you faeries or cause enemies to blow up as if you used special powers.

Simultaneously, the overworld changes. At certain times there is fog or even rain. So what, you may ask? Well, in rain... BOMBS DON'T WORK! I guess that their fuses are doused. And certain areas (that you can see in the unclouded area of the maps are not accessible until certain times as well. One guy wouldn't even speak to my character (you don't play as Link in this game) until the last 10 minutes of the game!

I am SO excited to be playing this game as a side-quest of sorts... and would highly suggest it for anyone who might like something short and fun to play. ESPECIALLY if you are a fan of the SNES game.

BS Zelda Headquarters has all the files and links to the emulator on their site. And UBER-THANKS to the moderators there as well for their letting me link to their site. One of the guys there made the spiffy GIF at the top of this post as well.

Yowza Yowza Yowza!

2007-02-19T09:14:00.002-07:00

Without using another wish and with a level 1 sword (still don't know where the damn power-up is) I beat (what I am suspecting to be) shadow Ganon! 18 hours and 20 minutes. Wow! That was a tough game!

Now, the review.

Placing the small GameBoy cartridge into my handheld, I became apprehensive at what I was about to experience... that's $5 speak for "What am I getting myself into?" I was worried that having gotten used to the graphics and gameplay that the SNES gave me that I would be poorly disappointed in this GameBoy sequel. Needless to say that I was pleasantly surprised.

I really enjoyed the storytelling of this game compared to other GameBoy games... and that's the first thing that comes to mind when rating this game. I really liked how it gave you a story and made it enjoyable. Cut scenes, movies, and pauses in movement really brought across a wonderful emotional story.

As for the graphics, I couldn't be happier. Game transitions (like Super Mario Land to Super Mario Land 2 where they tried to incorporate Super Mario Bros. 3 graphics) for the GameBoy usually do not succeed. However, I was amazed at how they really gave the game the FEEL of the SNES cart for the handheld.

As for the actual gameplay... it was difficult. I was able to get through with just one wish (see previous reports) but the whole rest of the game was really tough to decypher. Making something tough is one thing... not telling a player a vital thing (using two items to make a third item) is really bad.

But, for making such an enjoyable, but difficult game, I give The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening three Nixon Warios. I AM NOT A CROOK!!!

Now, I prepare for the highly lauded Ocarina of Time. Nuff said. I will be working on the BS Legend of Zelda Ancient Stone Tablets before that... so look for my next review to be on this 4 hour game.

Link's Awakening 15 hours 45 Minutes

2007-02-17T22:02:00.000-07:00

Wow. This game is a decent challenge. The whole trading this still leaves a sour taste in my mouth as it all culminated to getting a magnifying glass.

Otherwise, the game is at a higher difficulty level than I would expect from a GameBoy game. I am in the eighth dungeon... and I am happy with the funny storyline and the interesting gameplay.

Link's Awakening: 6 Hours 15 Minutes

2007-02-12T10:40:00.001-07:00

I have a theory that the Zelda games are like the inverse of the Star Trek movies in that every other one (every even one in the Trek movies and every odd one in the Zelda series) is stellar while the others are just 'eh'.

Right now, Link's Awakening isn't impressing me. It's very much like the third one... and while I actually enjoy the storyline (they had a movie scene with Link and the little girl watching the ocean together that was very cute) they seem to want to try new things with every other game.

Case in point, this game allows you to have the 'A' and 'B' buttons do different things... not just item and sword. You can do item and item too and they work together in different ways. They don't tell you this in the book nor in the game.

So imagine my problem when I had to use a wish.

: Heya. Um, in this game I can't seem to get over this big opening. One of the clues that the game gives me is to "Run and Fly", but I can't get across. I keep falling.

: So how do you run?

: With the Pegasus Boots.

: And how do you fly?

: ... by... running off a cliff?

: How do you jump over pits right now?

: It's a wish, Genie. Don't make me cram you back in that bottle physically!

: (sigh) Use the Pegasus boots and the Feather together.

: Aw.... SON OF A...!!!

Also, the addition of side-quests is interesting, but a bit unenjoyable. (Non-spoiler example) To open a gate you must get a key. But the guy with the key needs honeybread... to get the honey you must defeat a goblin who wants a flower. Then you find the flower and forget what the F*** you were doing in the first place! I just don't like it when games get too complicated with a "get this to get that" thing.

But I'm at the fourth dungeon and just got the flippers. So it's actually going pretty fast.

GREAT GAME!

2007-02-08T09:01:00.001-07:00

So last night I finally faced off against Gannon for the first time (well, it IS "Link to the PAST"). And all I can say is that I WISH there were a Master Game set up in this cartridge because I would play it almost immediately (yes, even with this challenge going on). SPOILERS ABOUND AHEAD.

So after getting to the last door of Gannon's tower, I decided to go straight in. After getting my butt almost handed to me, I finally prevailed only to see Gannon's spirit leave his form and go elsewhere. A flute in the distance called to the bird which took me to the pyramid in the Dark World. This is where I saved and made my last two wishes.

: Ok Genie. Wakey Wakey! I am almost at the end, but wish to have a bit more of a 'completed inventory' than I do now.

: Ok. Lay it on me, mah main Jew ah Jewenstein.

: Ok. My second wish is to waitaminute... did you just call me "Jew ah Jewenstein"?

: .... sorry. Um... it sounded clever in the lamp.

: Second wish - To know where that 4th bottle is. Third wish is to know where the remaining 5 pieces of heart are.

: I shall tell you in verse - (ahem)

The bottle you seek is in the dark lands
Where the smithies would be, if you will,
The chest can't be opened, so take it to light
The silent man sits in the desert.

Go to GameFaqs, for there you will find
a list of the hearts.

: Wow... that didn't even rhyme.

: ... yeah, I'm not very good at poetry.

So after getting the bottle and one more piece of heart (and not wanting to spend too much time searching for the others) I go forth and fight Gannon. Emerging victorious (after three attempts) I smiled as the credits ran pleased that all was right in the world, and enjoying the music greatly.

For those of you in the know, my final stats were:
Total Games Played: 048 (1, 2, 3)
Game Play Time: 15 hours 30 minutes
Life Hearts: 19
Sword: 4
REVIEW:
That I have never played this game before is a real tragedy as this is surely one of the best games I have ever played. Nintendo went back to a plan that works with A Link To The Past after the previous Zelda II game.

The graphics are truly reminiscent of what majesty the Super Nintendo system brought to the world. Crisp colors and clever graphics make for a great game. The animation is pleasant and never confusing.

The game world is well mapped out to give a challenge to both the novice and the seasoned gamer. There is just enough puzzle in the world to have a youngster make it through (more-so than the first and second titles) and the addition of the world map made it easier still. But don't think that knowing where things were made the difficulty of getting there any cake-walk. The difficulty still forces those grey matter cells to pump furiously as you try to determine how to proceed. A terrific challenge.

Then we get into the storyline which is very detailed for a game that is not really an RPG. The history is deep enough so you feel bad when things happen to the townsfolk, but distances its self enough so that you don't feel like you have to follow too much of a path (harkening back to the first Zelda game's non-linear play).

As endings go, this was a truly satisfying event for me. Usually, the titles just pop up and that's it. But the game drew you into the ending and resolved many things that were just floating about. Then, when the credits did roll, the music was haunting and pleasant. A truly enchanting experience.

So, for giving me so much for my time and making me wish it never ended, I give The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past five Disco Warios!

Now, I start the fourth game of the series, this time on hand-held! The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening came out in 1993 on the GameBoy Color to an audience ready for more fun. Not being satisfied with being repetitive, the gameplay changed slightly and more features were added. I am now on my way to play the fourth game in this incredible series.

Link to the Past: 13 Hours 15 Minutes

2007-02-05T09:20:00.001-07:00

I got the 7th dungeon down, the princesses unlocked the magical barrier, I have 18 and 3/4 hearts, 3 bottles filled with red healing potion, silver arrows, a level 4 sword, red armour, and two wishes left...

...let's roll.

Link to the Past: 10 Hours

2007-02-02T09:29:00.001-07:00

Sixth dungeon down... seventh one to go. I think I'm actually going through this game faster than the other two because this one (Link to the Past) gives you the locations of the dungeons. Had they not, then I think the game would easily have doubled in difficulty.

If I get down to the last part and still have two wishes left, I think I'll make a wish to know where the other heart containers are (so I can have a full length of hearts) or where the fourth empty jar is (I got the one from under the bridge and the one from the 'swami' in the town).

Link to the Past: 8 Hours 50 Minutes

2007-02-01T10:12:00.001-07:00

Just two hours last night and I got so much accomplished!

I keep on trying to think of how young you would be to enjoy the game and find the secrets hidden within. To tell you the truth, it's actually pretty challenging to figure the tasks ahead and what to do. From playing the first game I can figure out where hidden things may be... but kids may have a tough time ahead of them. There's still so much to do in the game, but MAN does it get challenging.

Luckilly I have only used one wish (and even THAT I should have searched harder) and I am working my way into the sixth dungeon. One more up in the mountains and it's on to the last battle (I am assuming).

I cannot tell you all enough how much I like this game. Please, for the love of Link, if you have a Wii and points for the virtual console... BUY THIS GAME! You will not regret the 800 points.

Link to the Past: 6 Hours 50 Minutes

2007-01-30T08:56:00.001-07:00

I didn't get much play time in last night for the third of this marvelous series, but I got a lot accomplished. The third and fourth dungeons have been cleared and their bosses defeated. Now, it's on to the fifth dungeon to rescue another princess.

The storyline is interesting as each princess tells her own tale. Knowing that this was the prequel makes the story that much more exciting. I probably won't be able to do too much tonight (a project that I am working on... that you'll hopefully see in a week or so) but I plan to take out dungeons 5, 6, and possibly 7 before Friday.

Also, Advanced Media Network Wii has a groovy article on the "evolution" of Zelda. Worth a look-see. It's exciting to see that I'm playing Zelda at a time that it is getting a resurgence in popularity.

Also, you can now get the Game & Watch Legend of Zelda game for your keychain!

Link to the Past: 5 Hours 45 Minutes

2007-01-29T08:38:00.001-07:00

I love this game. It's so well done.

For those of you that have played the game I have gotten to the Dark World, I have 13 life hearts, I am at the third dungeon (a bugger of a dungeon) and I am LOVING the game! I did have to use one wish though, as I couldn't figure out where to get the Hammer... (the genie being played by Paul Drager again)

: "What can I do you for, my friend?"

: "Link to the Past... I believe there's a 'hammer' that I need to proceed. Where is it?"

: "AH! That's in the first dungeon in the Dark World."

: "But that's where I am!"

: "Then start looking harder."

: "(Sigh)"

So I found it and moved on... but wow... this game is quite challenging. I guess it's a reoccurring theme for the Zelda titles for you to look EVERYWHERE to find something.

Link to the Past: 30 minutes

2007-01-26T08:31:00.001-07:00

So I didn't get to play much last night, but what I did play was actually pretty impressive. I really got excited seeing what I interpret to be the Legend of Zelda on SNES. I mean literally the Legend of Zelda. There are so many similarities that I completely forgot about Zelda II. THIS is how Zelda II should have been.

I'm excited to play some more this weekend. Until then... enjoy this ukulele song... which is different than the one on the Emerald Hierophant Page.