More Heart: ToHeart2, and other game pickups

(tags ToHeart, game, PlayStation Portable, Wipeout, Xbox 360, XBLA, Kimi no Yuusha, Dual Screen, PlayStation 3)

Just wanna say that I'm starting ToHeart 2 now, PSP version. I'm kinda annoyed it has the same music (but remixed) from ToHeart 1. 40 minutes.

Also I finished ToHeart 1, completely. Every picture unlocked, music mode, massage mode (Hocchan giving massages! well at least verbally). I think the best part was the unlocking of the shooting game. The last hidden scenario was not very interesting at all. Probably 25 hours.

I picked up Wipeout Pulse (asia version!) at Sofmap Nipponbashi South, after waiting for A-Too to drop the game's price (playing chicken with a shop just doesn't work). I felt like it was impossible for the first level, then I passed it and now I'm just sailing. 2 hours.

I even tried to get into my DS. I still have Kimi no Yuusha stuck in there. The last extra boss is really hard though. I cannot beat him, so I give up. 55+ hours.

I want to start playing Final Fantasy Tactics A for DS that I picked up a couple of weeks back during that Play-Asia and Visa card sale. 0 hours.

Man, this is starting to be a potpourri post.

Yeah, I also got some Xbox games like Ace Combat 6 and Bionic Commando for under 2500 yen, each. Nice (but used). I was playing the latter and I really like it the swing thing. It feels like Crackdown and you know I love games like Crackdown. It's the open environment jump-to-collect-them-all feeling. 7 hours.

Did I mention I picked up my first PS3 game? Motor Storm for like 1000 yen. I also saw the Atelier no Rorona limited edition (with laser etched crystal "objet") dropping in used priced down to 7500 yen, but that's still steep. The well-regarded Demon's Souls (US English edition) almost made it into my virtual shopping cart but well, I don't have a PS3 yet.

Um what else. I am not playing any PC games. Still waiting for StarCraft II to come out then I will make my last ever game PC. Oh I bought a ton of DRM free PC games from GoG's first anniversary sale including Duke Nukem 3d, but get this, I have not downloaded the bulk of them yet. WTF. I am still hoping they pick up Sinistar: Unleashed.

Uh, I am still scoping the Xbox Live Deal of the Week, and I recently bought yet another clear-3-colors game and the Sudoku clone. Hey, only 400 XBL points, each. You say the next deal is a cartoony golf game? 400 points? I'm there dood.

Not really my hardware: Xbox 360 Update locks out non-licensed memory devices

(tags hardware, Xbox 360, DRM)

Software lockouts seem to be a theme lately. There's the Apple and the Palm Pre synchronization battle, the Apple Store (also Zune, Android) approval nightmares. The latest one hits home: the November 2008 Xbox 360 Update will render my Datel Max Memory expansion cards useless, according to the official insider blog, Major Nelson. (Thanks Kotaku, Joystiq)

I used the first card of 8GB for all the DLC I bought including XBLA games and expansions. I used the second card of 8GB for Xbox official videos that are no longer available like the Prince of Persia (2008) video where the rock beast enemy thumps the wall in time with music beat change. I think it was an E3 exclusive release, but revised afterward.

I was mad at first, but I'm not really that angry anymore. So what if my game saves disappear? I let go of my saves from my Apple IIgs games, Mac games, and I sure don't have my Doom, PS1, PS2 saves backed up anyway. I haven't really accomplished anything worthwhile, except maybe my high scores. No 1cc replay data anywhere. Perhaps this is the feeling of not being able to take it with me. I bet the only things that will be saved in the next 10 years will be my YouTube videos about Bangai-O Spirits and this blog. Oh wait, I haven't backed this blog up recently. Uh oh.

Check Bayonetta out

(tags game, Bayonetta, Xbox 360)

I don't check out many demos on Xbox 360 because they are mainly disappointing. The recently released demo for Bayonetta is one true exception. I'm not talking about how the main character is woman (which is how I like my avatars anyway). And I'm not talking about how over-sexualized she is. Who stands like this?!

Yes I will check, thank you.

I like how this game reminds me of the fun I had with Devil May Cry 4. It's slick, 60 frames per second, timing dependent button pressing reaction gaming with plenty of action and reaction. The tutorial shows the combo list directly, encouraging me to try it out. The loading screen also shows this combo list tutorial, which is a step forward. The evade system rewards me with the bullet-time slow down. I like using this in my offline Unreal Tournament III sparring practice, because it makes me feel super human.

Other than that, it feels like a DMC. It's the same old same old. Enemies are strange, there are gory death effects, invisible walls impede my exploration, weird floating and glowing things to collect, completion ranks. The combo system and weapons systems are different, but I'm still mashing the X, Y and B buttons. Oh wait I like that part. Will they ever fix the polygon collisions? Also the leaves on the trees are faked using the old Doom like sprite rotating trick. I didn't notice it until my second walk through, though, so its no biggy.

Wanna get this when it comes out.

Can't win against Ayaka-ojousama (ToHeart 1 PSP)

(tags game, ToHeart, PlayStation Portable)

Instead of playing new galge, I'm still hacking on ToHeart on the PSP. It's just so convenient to relive my old PS1 memories through this portable machine.

I thought the Iincho/Hoshina scenario was my favorite, but it turns out the Ayaka Kurusugawa scenario is the more interesting story. It's too bad I have to finish the Aoi and Serika scenarios first to unlock it. Also, Serika and Ayaka are voiced by the same seiyuu, not just because they are sisters, but because Serika has so few voiced lines. It would be a shame to have another seiyuu for this essentially mute heroine. It's even worst because the seiyuu, Junko Iwao (岩男潤子 of Tomoyo from Card Captor Sakura fame), has such a lively, attractive voice. To hide this voice behind an unlock is a crime. However the Ayaka scenario does make up for it by being so positive and uplifting.

I've finished Hoshina, Akari, Kotone, Remi, Multi, Serika, Aoi, Ayaka. Now I only have Shiho and that ahoge musume. I think the Shino scenario is another tear jerker but I like her outgoing personality, so I'm looking forward to it.

Miku in my Chrome

(tags browser, customize, Hatsune Miku, Windows XP)

Google Chrome, as far as theming and skinning is concerned, is a big miss. Artist-created themes seem to have been released yesterday. 95 themes but none of the hit. This official Artist-created theme with Hatsune Miku, while somewhat stylish, is not very attractive or functional.

I mean the colors are garish and the contrast between background and text when hovering over links is not strong. Besides, other windows in Google Chrome are not themed!

I gave up and installed the default Classic and/or the Grayscale theme. They match great with XP Royale and Zune skins. Too bad my desktop look the same as it did 3 years ago.

Edit:

I missed the Good Smile Company one, which also has some adorable Miku. There are some games and anime as well, so my interests are well represented.