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[Kogahazan]

Finally beat Recettear on the first loop. Got really lucky with a buyer boom on the last two days. Probably not gonna touch new game+ for a while (or maybe never at the rate I'm playing other games), but I intend to keep playing on Endless mode to unlock dungeons and see the story for the rest of the characters and stuff. I doubt I'll fill the encyclopedia ever, but I'll keep it around and chip at it. Still love this game.

Otherwise, I got the Telltale Back to the Future games from a Steam sale. I'm a bit into the first episode and I already love it. I love the movies and this definitely feels made for the fans. Even if the point-and-click genre isn't everyone's cup of tea, if you love the movies than you'll love the story for the game. I seem to like those games with a great story/storytelling/atmosphere and sorta bad/broken gameplay (this, Shenmue, hopefully LA Noire which I don't have yet).

[mikigirl18]

I remember hearing about the Back to the Future game once last year.  I'm about to playthrough Tales of the Abyss for the ps2 to record footage for my fandub.

[Wildwurger]

Been playing Dark Cloud 2 lately. Goddamn, how did Level-5 fall off SO BAD after this? Okay, Dragon Quest 8's a good game (insofar as when it's good it's GREAT but when it's not it's that sort of "why does this even exist in video games anymore?" frustrating), but Rogue Galaxy and White Knight Chronicles don't approach the level of enduring charm and fun that Dark Cloud 2 has. WKC isn't bad, but it's indecisive about whether it wants to be a genuine JRPG or a tutorial for the multiplayer. Phantasy Star Universe has this same problem, sans pause button (I think).

I'm not going to say "it's because there's no fishing mini-game", but it certainly couldn't have hurt WKC to have one. They could hire some people from Capcom's disbanded Breath of Fire team to put one together. Although, that'd add another 100 hours of grinding for materials into WKC, and that's not fun. Man, Dark Cloud 2 doesn't even have that many synth components, so you can pretty much always find what you need, or just buy it, and they're not stupidly-expensive in a giving the player the middle finger and saying "find them one by one you dickhead" manner. It's worth making those items, as opposed to Rogue Galaxy having maybe half a dozen items worth making (if that), and for the most part you were just sticking to the weapon-synthing. Actually, if there was a way to combine Rogue Galaxy's weapon-synthing (and ability to have a party, albeit one with better gender- and character-balance) with Dark Cloud 2's everything else, that'd be amazing.

[DuskShark]

Now I'm adding Final Fantasy IV for the DS to the mix and considering getting rid of my PAL copy of Xenoblade now that it's been announced for a US release.

[Kogahazan]

Now I'm adding Final Fantasy IV for the DS to the mix and considering getting rid of my PAL copy of Xenoblade now that it's been announced for a US release.

Speaking of that, does anyone see the parallels to Shenmue II as clearly as I do?

1) English version released in Europe first
2) Has a hardcore fanbase in NA
3) Anyone within said fanbase who really wants to play it now could import it

I'm getting a total Shenmue II vibe from Xenoblade and expecting American sales to tank. I mean, for Nintendo's sake they better hope I'm wrong.

edit: 4) Since said fanbase can import it, that will bite into the sales of the NA version. My friend for example says he won't buy it. I know that's not indicative of everyone but still.

[Wildwurger]

Xenoblade better not goddamned tank. I don't even technically OWN a Wii and I'm getting it. I mean, it's my folks', and I just have Samurai Warriors 3, Arc Rise Fantasia, and some GC games for it, and the damned GC controller needs replacing since the analog's busted.

Working on Dynasty Warriors 7's platinum. It's all busywork outside of dealing a 50-hit combo. As soon as I get everyone's skills, all that's left is to max out bonds and get a million fame (which most people think is a superfluous stat that was included as trophy-bait). And that'll be my first platinum ever. Too lazy to platinum Dragon Age, as it requires a lot of backtracking into your savefile to pick the option you don't plan to pick as a quest outcome. And you have to beat two bosses on Hard. I'm not really the kind of player who plays stuff on Hard (except Agarest and Cross Edge, but that's IF's fault for requiring Hard to get platinum on 1 and Zero; you can platinum CE on Normal but it probably takes longer). Well, you also need to play on Hard to get 4th and 5th weapons in Samurai Warriors 2, but at least for most of them you can get a second player to help you out. There are a couple that you have to do alone due to wonky event triggers, though.

[Kogahazan]

Finished Back to the Future Episode 1. I'm getting massive nerd boner at how much it feels like a continuation of the movies.

Also a friend got me L.A. Noire and I'm liking it so far. Just a couple of annoying things about it that I don't like. I can't follow the game's train of logic sometimes. There was this one case where you have to bust a woman on a lie, but you don't even know that she's lying until you accuse her of it. I'm gonna be vague to avoid spoilers, but it's still dumb either way. The Fallen Idol case for anyone that wants to know. You ask her about someone, she tells you who they are. The only vague hint is "what more can I say?" In that situation, I would doubt her, but that's wrong and Cole doesn't push the person in the right direction for more info. You say she's lying and you give her evidence that doesn't disprove what she said. Maybe it's some stupid "not the whole truth so it's a lie" thing. Also doesn't help that even if you can pick up on facial tells, they can be stupidly stone-faced and you don't know.

It's a silly game at times, but I like the atmosphere and story telling and all. I'm not as sucked in as I thought I'd get, but it's nice nonetheless.

[leon.dx]

Replaying Arc The Lad Collection now, one of my favorite series ever on the psx.

[Bartlebycs]

Replaying Arc The Lad Collection now, one of my favorite series ever on the psx.

Anything by Working Designs is automatic gold

[ShinigamiRyukuu]

Dropped SH2 PC due to the numerous bugs present in that version, at least, until I get a better PC. Bought the original Silent Hill off the PSN, which serves to avoid damaging the original disc, and to ease my boredom during the time a friend is borrowing it, who apparently has yet to experience gaming altogether.

Still on with Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (PSP), now having finished all Tales (save for the last, of course.), I've started to hit the Challenge Dungeons and grinding for level caps.

Won't be gaming that much, due to the holiday season. Gotta visit parents overseas.

[leon.dx]

Anything by Working Designs is automatic gold

Indeed; oh how I wish they were still around, gaijinworks blows and xseed doesn't even compare imo.

[Wildwurger]

"If there is a god of destiny, he is fond of plot twists...and so am I!" ...and this is why Ghaleon is AWESOME.

Also, in the bloopers: "I AM ZOPHAR, MASTER OF SH-*foghorn sound*"

Been playing Atelier Iris 3. I can't say I'm too fond of Rorona. It's too much of an alchemy sim. I really do prefer stuff like Mana-Khemia and the second and third Atelier Irises, because they're genuinely-good RPGs with a generally non-frustrating alchemy system. I really don't want to dig through 20 Unis to figure out which are the "good" ones, and then fight enemies in a battle system that won't even show me the damn turn order.

I want a third Mana-Khemia, or just a return to "packrat inventory" alchemy with a well-thought out battle system.

[Cless]

So, the patch that fully translates the final episode of Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru was released just a couple days ago. I don't have much to say besides that I was pretty much glued to the screen until the end. The ending itself is kind of wtf is going on here, but the entire series was one hell of a ride...that only gets crazier as you go.

If you'd like a break from typical video game stories, you've really got to give this and Higurashi a shot...starting with Higurashi, of course.

[mikigirl18]

"If there is a god of destiny, he is fond of plot twists...and so am I!" ...and this is why Ghaleon is AWESOME.

John Truitt, who did the original Ghaleon is the ONLY fitting voice for him.  I wish Working Designs was still around too.  I LOVED their outtakes in games.

[BassForever]

Been playing though Grandia the first time ever, it's a lot of fun though a tad bit easy. Also got a new laptop that can actually play some modern computer games so I'll probably be buying some more PC games.

[DuskShark]

Funny enough, I'm also playing Grandia. With Sonic CD once that comes out on PSN.