Whatcha Playing? Too Many Games

Dead Space: I haven't gotten too far into Dead Space just yet, mainly because I'm too scared to play it at night by myself. Which is sad considering the game isn't even that scary, it just has a few shock and panic moments. Other than that I'm pretty pleased with the game so far. It's kind of like a combination of Resident Evil 4 and Bioshock, so you can't go wrong with that formula. The game's atmosphere is what really sells it though. The game has amazing sound that makes each area feel intense and it really makes you feel like you're in a desolate space station. I'll hopefully have more impressions of this soon.

Disgaea 3: I finally got around to starting up Disgaea 3 not too long ago and I'm glad that I did. The game really does seem to be quite a bit better than 2, but I'm not quite sure if it can manage to beat the first game overall. I'll say one thing for certain though, is that I like a lot of the changes they've made to the game. Overall it seems easier to progress through the main story, which is a good thing since it was pretty fucking hard to do in the first two games without leveling up a bunch. The new Class Room system is neat, with you being able to assign your characters to different clubs to gain benefits like Stat Growth, and more Experience. The game's story is a pretty good one, though it's a bit more silly that usual (and that's saying something to be sure). There's a whole bunch of great story characters, including a nice selection of bonus characters.

Like every Disgaea game there are short cuts to leveling. While it might not be as easy as it was to obtain a maxed out character as it was in 2, but it still seems pretty easy in this game. There is of course a ton of bonus stuff to do and it requires some pretty beefed up characters in order to survive. I've seen Jerry do a bit of the bonus stuff and it looks like a mix of awesome and difficult. Needless to say I can't wait to start maxing out characters, but with so many other games - who knows when I'll get around to it. The only real problem I have with the game are things that are staples of the series. Mainly Geo Effects, and the Dark Assembly. Geo Effects are a double edged sword, as they can be really nice (ie: power leveling) but they can also make maps really hard and complicated. The Dark Assembly though, I hate it. Having to pass all the clubs, side quest, and characters can be really annoying. Still, Disgaea 3 is a really awesome game and I'm sure it'll rank nicely on my GoTY list.

Dokapon Kingdom: I was pretty interested in this game when I first heard about it, even if Jerry wasn't. However since we started playing it we both seem to enjoy it well enough. Basically it'sa Board Party Game mixed in with RPG elements. You start by making your character and picking one of three starter classes, than you roll a spinner and move around the board. Landing on different spots will allow you to win items, or fight random encounters, or even fight against other players. If you kill another player you can steal their items, play a prank on them, or forgive them. I've pretty much just stolen from every character I've killed so far, but it might be fun to pull one of the pranks. My only real complaint with the game so far is that players have the option to "sell their soul" to a demon guy and they get turned into a demon themselves. This results in some of the gayest bullshit I've ever seen in a game. The demon player will pretty much be able to move anywhere on the map, kill anyone he wants, and just fuck with everything in the game. He doesn't gain anything from it, he just gets revenge I guess by ruining the game for everyone else. It's pretty stupid, but other than that little set back - a pretty enjoyable party game.

Dragon Quest VIII: I actually haven't touched this one for about a week now. Just so many other games to play. But after beating Dragon Quest IV DS, I was inspired to pick this up again since I never really got into it before. The game is good, and I do plan on finishing it at some point, but I'm too swamped with actual new games to really be playing and old one right now.

Fable 2: Here's another game I haven't played enough of yet, but that's okay since it just came out. I'm a huge fan of the original Fable, and this one certainly doesn't look to disappoint. I've completed the first few quest and the game still feels like the Fable I know and love. Your new Dog companion is an interesting addition to the game, he can be quite useful in finding treasure, but sometimes his tagging a long comes off as somewhat annoying. I can't wait to play this game co-op with Deac, as this is certainly a game where two players could have a blast just fucking around.

Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility: It's been a while since I've gotten into a Harvest Moon game, but I am a fan of the series. Luckily ToT seems to be one of the better installments in the series with a large island to explore, full of people, and a ton of things to keep yourself occupied. There's also a main quest line that helps progress the game along and provides a little variety to your everyday chores. I'm only nearing the end of the first Spring, but I'm having a lot of fun with it. There's always so much shit to do in the first year, what with trying to woo over your future spouse, start up your crops, and gathering materials to upgrade your house and build onto the farm. Fun Stuff to be sure.

Infinite Undiscovery: I haven't played much of this recently, and to be honest I'm still not sold on the game. With so many other quality RPGs to play, it's really hard to invest time in this one. I did make a little bit of progress though and have access to a wide number of characters. However that was only after going through one of the worst fucking dungeons in a game I've seen. Firriann said he didn't start likeing the game until the end of the first disc... so christ. I dunno. Well, here's hoping.

Warhammer Online: I haven't been playing a lot of WAR lately, mainly because I got back into WoW (more on that in a minute). Sadly I think that'll be the case with many people who switched over to Warhammer from WoW. Of course there are others who are content to stay. Anyway, I got my Sorceress to 17, a level 9 Black Orc, and a level 8 Magus all on Praag. After going back to WoW, I appreciated some of the things WAR does - like being able to queue for RVR anywhere, and the PVP in general. I'm sujre I'll play more WAR at some point, but again - so many games.

World of Warcraft: Yep, with Patch 3.02 Live I've gotten back into WoW. Still waiting on Lich King, but in the meantime I'm getting some last minute gear on my Shaman, and still trying to level my 65 Warlock. There's a lot of cool stuff in the patch for both of my characters, and I even picked up a couple of the new Glyphs. Sadly there is one glaring flaw with the patch - Ret Paladins are retardedly overpowered. Not only do they still have the ability to fully heal themselves, bubble, stun, and wear plate - but now they do an absurd amount of damage. They're slowly getting nerfed, but it needs to happen faster, and harder. Sad that I currently do have any friends or a guild playing on my server, but I'm still having a lot of fun soloing stuff.