Swift and sure: Mirror's Edge

(tags game, Mirror's Edge, Xbox 360, action)

I bought Mirror's Edge from A-Too on Friday night, and beat the story mode on Normal on Saturday night. :-( I even got the No-Shot Fired Achievement, though I died a lot, of course. Swift, for sure.

I need to go back and find all the bags and try out the time trial part. I still can't get through a stage without dying, though. One thing that is amazing is that it feels like a movie when I do all the right moves and chain them together. The flow, live it.

Gritty portable action: Contra DS

(tags Dual Screen, Contra, action, game)

I can't recall what blog I read that makes Contra Dual Spirits (魂斗羅 Dual Spirits) Easy mode out to be the approachable difficulty level for normal DS gamers. Maybe it was DS Fanboy. Paraphrasing: "Passing the first stage on Easy is something to boast about."

Well I passed it on Normal, where is my fricken' "Godlike"? :-)

Seriously though this game is pretty hard, but I'm not yet frustrated with it. I was surprised that I could level up the weapons. The controls require more dexterity than my current squeeze, the menu-fighter. Alas, if I want to get the hidden characters its not going to be a cakewalk, huh.

I used my old DS because it's too heavy to use as a DS TV One-Seg. It feels "phat". The Select and Start buttons are in the "wrong" places, sheesh! And I warmed up with Mario Kart DS. I haven't even unlocked all of the courses on it. I haven't done the same with the GC version, either. I feel guilty.

This makes me feel good about DS gaming again, so I think this month's Bangai-O Spirits is a GO.

How much more do I have to do this: Earth Defense Forces 3

(tags game, action, Earth Defense Force, Xbox 360)

Just one more thing tonight then I'll sleep...

I played Earth Defense Forces (地球防衛軍3) yesterday for a total of 3 hours but it wasn't very much fun. I mean sure, shooting buildings and giant enemies is killer for a while until diminishing returns sets in. Graphics are great? I don't know anymore. I turned off camera shake with the quickness. And I'm playing at Normal difficulty because Hard requires more effort than I want to put in now.

WhoTF designed the HUD!?! The reload shouldn't cover the crosshairs. What is up with the heli controls!? Pickups animate like in Doom 1, ie 2d icons that rotate toward you. The variety of weapons don't make sense. I just use the automatic rifle and bazooka all the time. Whine whine whine. :-/

It's not all bad. I have to admit, it reminds me of how Japan really looks like. And it really is satisfying to shoot things, lots of things. The dialog from your comrades is funny too. "E! D! F!"

I am on track to playing this more until I get my Im@s L4U.

Resume purchasing: Kimi Kiss, EDF, TCs

(tags game, PlayStation 2, gal game, Kimi Kiss, Xbox 360, action, Earth Defense Force, telephone card)

I couldn't stop purchasing a game before Idolm@ster Live For You. I'm sorry. :-/ :-)

Friday rolled around and I was like omg Kimi Kiss (キミキス), okay, yeah I want it but I'm not in a PS2 mood. But then I somehow went back to Sofmap Kobe again because I couldn't resist the telephone card. The set was only 4000 yen (3500 yen without TC), and I've been meaning to get it ever since it came out (2006?!). I didn't know it also came with a DVD-ROM which collects various radio shows and some software. On Friday there were 3 TC-sets, but on Saturday I nabbed the last TC-set. Bah.

I suppose I was enthralled by the currently running anime, which I give five star ratings on each episode. It's the only torrented anime I'm watching live now besides Hayate no Gotoku. I am apprehensive though because the game is a different thing, right? Also I've also been reading some of the manga in Champion Red Ichigo semi-monthly magazine, and the manga there ranges from meh to greatest. I skipped one of the stories because it was too close to the anime, though.

I hooked up my PlayStation 2 previously for Street Fighter 3 Third Strike, but I've got guys in FFTA to level up, so...

And today was the release of Burnout Paradise (with announcer Ryu, who is pretty entertaining actually) and Space Invaders Extreme, but I resisted! Yeah me! Except, Earth Defense Forces 3 was sitting there used at around 2000 yen with the original cover, um. One Xbox 360 pal recommended it, and I know he digs action, so this can't be a bad purchase. I do want him to sell me his copy of the English (Asia region?) Burnout Paradise. How can I pursuade him. Oh wait, I need to play Im@s L4U first.

Also every 21st of the month, the Gamers point exchange Di Gi Charat/Koge Donbo telephone card comes out, so I picked it up. Somehow zettai ryoiki doesn't work with Dijiko, but the red iris scheme is looking better and better because of the red wine fashion.

Did not get a Stylish: various Xbox 360 demos

(tags game, Xbox 360, action)

I'm not a Devil May Cry follower. I remember trying to level up in DMC1, but it was taking forever so I didn't finish. Plus it was really visually dark. Still, seeing the demo at a store made try it out at home. I like how you can just mash buttons without thinking. Of course, doing just that doesn't get me a "Stylish" rank combo. I really like the "badass" acting, but what's happened to Dante and his arm? Or is this another guy?

Because of that Burnout Paradise demo I also played some Burnout Revenge for the Xbox 360. The load times are heinous and the graphics aren't a step up, just competent. I don't see myself playing this unless I'm desperate for Achievement Points. I really want to play BP now, though.