Blog
What Are You Playing This Week?
02.02.09
FINALLY!
After 27 years as a gamer, 11 years as a grown-up, and 3 years as an owner of current-gen systems, I finally got a real TV. For years, I’ve been putzing along with my 27” CRT, doing my best to pretend I wasn’t watching and playing on an archaic box, and now, at long last, I can truly enjoy the wonders of high definition. My birthday is tomorrow, but my incredibly awesome wife, who is awesome, could only hold out until this past Saturday to hit me with the surprise of my life; a 42” 1080p LCD TV. Finally, I can see where I’m going while playing Skate 2, I can read Otis’ infuriating text in Dead Rising, I can watch the whole road in Forza 2, and I can play pretty much anything in split-screen.
I’ll be taking full advantage of my new monolithic picture box this week, experiencing some games in their full glory for the first time, and playing others for the first time in any capacity. First off, I’ve gotta see what Oblivion looks like at full speed. I was basically an unrepentant Oblivion addict back in 2006, but I’ve never finished the Shivering Isles campaign. Skate 2 has been my most frequently played game lately, and there’s no reason it shouldn’t spend plenty of time on my new screen this week as well. Then there’s even older fare, like Marvel Ultimate Alliance and Fight Night 4 Fight Night Round 3, which should see significant improvement running in 1080p as opposed to 480i. Also on my list of games I haven’t finished; Fallout 3’s Anchorage mission, Fable II, Saints Row 2, Spider-Man Web of Shadows, and The Simpsons Game.
All of these games will have to be secondary priorities, however, because I have not yet opened my copy of Dead Space. From everything I’ve seen, it’s one of the most gorgeous titles ever produced, forcing me to wait for my new TV before actually playing it at all. Now I’m ready to turn all the lights out and zone out to the insane visuals and frequent scares of Isaac Clarke’s voyage through the Ishimura.
Of course, I still have work obligations, which, for the most part means playing games I don’t particularly want to. This week marks the release of Rygar: The Battle of Argus for the Wii, and someone has to review it. It’s probably not the ideal way to spend an afternoon, but I’ll withhold judgement until I’ve gotten a good taste of what the game has to offer. Also on the review list is The Last Remnant, which I’ve played for a while now and am NOT enjoying in the least. I hear the game really picks up later on, though, so I’ll stick it out; annoying load screens and cardboard characters be damned!
So, my short answer to “What are you playing this week?” is “Everything.” How about you? Any big gaming plans?
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Comments
I'm hooked on CoD: World At War and Left For Dead on the multiplayer front. I'm also just finishing up Metal Gear Solid 4.
I'll be playing Ar Tonelico II, Namco X Capcom(God bless amateurish fan translations riddled with typos!), Disgaea 2 (Yup, got back into it)
Not much this week. A lot of things to read for a couple of classes. Might take a break [here and there] to play such games as NHL 09, Burnout Paradise, and Assassin's Creed. I'm also 2/3 done with taxes. Damned former employers being all lazy and not giving me answers about where my W-2's are!
I wish I had more time for gaming this week, but with Comic Con coming up I'll be spending most of my time getting ready or doing other work. Review-wise, I've got Coraline and AR Tonelico 2. For funsies, I'll probably try to get some Left 4 Dead in.
lets see.. NHL 09, Persona 4 (Void Quest), Uncharted and Shaun White's Snowboarding (courtesy of 10 day free trial gamefly), Resistance 2 (multiplayer is fun, but could have been more) and some LBP (just purchased the MGS level kit)
how did you manage to get your hands on a copy of Fight Night Round 4?
I'll be playing some real baseball with MLB 08, and throwing down in some L4D as well. Gotta get my practice on.
Phantasy Star IV, Moon, some Fallout 3 and hopefully lots of RE5 co-op (ps3) even tho its just a demo.
I loves me some Rocky and Bullwinkle Pinball FX.
I'm ranked #8 out of all XBL right now.
Haven't played much due to still being sick but getting better so back to Persona 4, Fallout 3 and FF IV DS starting later today!
DisentionX, hah! I made an attempt to game last weekend in between fever bouts and decided to throw on the Sega Collection for PS2 specifically for PSIV! Damn I love that game, so underrated and so perfect. Why can't RPG combat be as quick as in that game? Funny thing is I've played it so many times over the years (on Genesis way back and emulated a few years ago) and always get really far... but have never actually finished it.
And Veggie J, grats on the new TV!
Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress 2 and I just got NHL '09
Ninja Gaiden 2, GTA 4 and Geometry Wars 2. It's a good week. Congrats on your TV. This is a big day in the life of a gamer.
LBP, Valkyria Chronicles, Midnight Club, Persona 4, Prince of Persia, Far Cry 2 and Tales of Vesperia