Even with the strangeness surrounding Christmas videogame buying this year, I picked up a few good titles. With TV being awful (yay, reruns), this is the time of year that videogames become the household entertainment. It’s a bit like being the Court Jester — Kristi likes to putter around and watch as I play, but she likes to watch some games more than others.
Among the constraints is that certain games Cannot Be Played In Front Of Children. A couple of the biggies this year fall into this category, and generally, this is the biggest reason lately why I don’t finish long RPGs (GTA IV, Fallout, Assassin’s Creed 1, Hitman, and Halo all get very little gameplay because of prying eyes).
So, top hitters this year are:
Dragon Age: Origins – Bioware can have my money whenever they want it. I hope that I finish this before Mass Effect 2 comes out later this month, because it will start getting less screen time once that happens. The game is fun, with long, multi-step quests, and something new to do around every corner. I’m about 45h in at the moment, and about halfway done, according to the completion percentage. I need to replay to see the other origin stories and maybe build my party slightly differently, but in general I think I’m getting most of it from the first playing. I need that “didn’t die during the origin story” achievement, though. hmph.
Assassin’s Creed 2 – As usual, this feels like “the game they really wanted to make the first time”. I like the raison d’etre for the main character better in this one; feels less contrived. The dual blades is awesome, and I love the RPG aspects. I’m only about 8h in, but definitely looking forward to continuing. I would love to be able to use some of the new moves, too, but for some reason my targets always see me before I get to them. The target/plot system seems smoother, too. Very fun.
Burnout Paradise – I wanted to buy Burnout Revenge back when I first got a 360, but it was out simultaneously for 360, XBox 1, and PS2, and I never seemed to be able to get the version I wanted, so I stopped trying. Paradise is totally worth it! I really enjoy the racing RPG, but in an arcade style, rather than a heavy sim style like Forza or GT. Also, it’s a game that Brett can both watch (which extends my gaming time) and even *play* (his first real videogame; I have photos!) a little, so it’s pretty fun all around. Anthony has a copy now, and I’ve seen a few high scores of his floating, so now there will be some competition. Showtime is an absolute riot.
Beautiful Katamari – Another “OK for the kids to watch” game, I really like the concept behind this game, but was not getting around to booting up the PS2 to play that version, so it’s great to have on 360. Good mindless fun.
Rogue Touch – This is the game I spent most of Xmas vacation playing. Rogue for iPhone, just as tough as always, haven’t gotten a character past 15th dungeon level. Only starved once, though, not too bad. I look forward to making it all the way through this one at some point. I also have iNetHack, but I don’t think it will be playable without a keyboard — too many intricacies for a touch screen. I realize that I have been wanting a handheld version of “Moria” for years — yay for progress!
This is the time of year when I have to seriously think about which games I’m probably never going to finish. Oh well.