MLB 07: The Show (PSP)

This is now my life.

Evenings, lunchtimes, any spare moments.

I'm doing okay, too, but the Braves are so incredibly rubbish it hurts. I've got a good batting average, but barely any runs or RBIs.

MLB 07: The Show (PSP)

After only a month in the minor leagues I got promoted to the majors. Fantastic. Playing for the Atlanta Braves felt very special, which wouldn't have happened if I'd gone straight there.

I'm not doing as well as I did in the minors. I'm hitting about 0.300, which isn't bad, and I've got a few runs, but my batting average was about 0.475 when I was playing for Richmond. I'm also getting fewer games and a lot of times I'm only being put in as a pinch runner or pinch hitter late in the game. (Which makes the load times even more unbearable.)

Still, I think I'm doing well enough to stay where I am. It would be most dispiriting to get shunted back to Richmond after a taste of the big time.

Railfan (PS3)

I've now done all the Chicago missions. After the first seven short training missions, the final mission was an hour-long journey across Chicago. It was quite hard and I failed quite a few times, but luckily it just dumps you back at the last station you stopped at when that happens.

Really was very good fun, but I was exhausted at the end of it. I never realised being a real driver was so difficult. Trying to stick to all the different speed limits, stop in the right place at the station and keep on time requires a fair amount of skill.

MLB 07: The Show (PSP)

Back to a career I started last summer with the Braves. I finished spring training and got offered a contract. Wasn't good enough for the majors, but I'm now designated hitter for the Richmond Braves and doing really, really well... in terms of hit percentage. I can get on base. I still don't understand the base running controls, though, and keep over- and under-running. I think I've only got one run myself so far this season, which isn't good. Doesn't help that the rest of my team is rubbish.

Still, having a good time with the game. If only the load times were less terrible. Hopefully 08 will be improved in that regard.

Railfan (PS3)

This train simulator has been sitting on my shelf for many, many months.

My wife was asleep, so I thought it might be safe to play it. As soon as I put the disc in the drive she woke, came downstairs and laughed at me. I can't say I didn't deserve it.

Anyway, despite having controls that consist of a whole two - count 'em! - buttons, this has actually been very good fun so far. Mainly, I think, because the instructions for each mission are in Japanese, turning even the easiest training mission into an intriguing puzzle.

There's something very compulsive about it.

Riff: Everyday Shooter (PS3)

Why is everything a twin stick shooter these days?

Anyway, this is Rez meets Geometry Wars, if you want a lazy comparison. Hampered slightly by only having eight-way shot control, but good fun.

Hot Shots Golf World Tour Demo (PS3)

Hooray, an English-language demo! Now I can read the instructions for the new shot system. It's actually very obvious and works very well.

I think I may need this game. I really don't want to, but I do.

MLB 08: The Show Demos (PS3 & PSP)

Both seem to play a decent game of baseball, but the PS3 version also has gorgeous graphics and presentation. Really very good stuff.

Snakeball Demo (PS3)

Poo.

Hitman: Blood Money (360)

A few more missions this morning. I've been doing some of them properly - Flatline I did much more quietly than I did on Expert - but I've also taken the opportunity to get some ratings that I've not seen before, like Deranged Slayer and Terrorist. (The latter got for killing 109 people on the paddle boat. I think that was all of them.)

Sid Meier's Pirates! (360)

Elite, only top down. And set in the Pacific Ocean in the late seventeenth century, not in space. And with lots of mini games.

It's very addictive.

Hitman: Blood Money (360)

A thread on rllmuk inspired me to play this again. Stuck it on Rookie mode to see what difference it makes. The answer? A lot. For example, it's perfectly possible to run into A Night At The Opera, shoot one target dead, shoot the other, then run back out of the level. Not a very elegant solution, but it works. I can't imagine it would be so easy on Expert difficulty.

Poker Smash Demo (360)

I quite liked this. It's another tile-matching game, but uses poker hands. Traditional, but novel. Seemed fun.

Got ready to spend 400 points on it, only to discover that it's 800. No sale.

Discs of Tron Demo (360)

Argh! Take it away!

Commanders: Attack of the Geos Demo (360)

Stupid name, poor graphics, but it seems like there's a decent strategy game there. I was rubbish at it and nearly failed the training level. I've not deleted the demo, but I don't really plan on buying it.

Black (360)

How I remember Black: A great FPS spoiled by unskippable cut scenes and a bizarre and horrible save system.

How Black felt this morning: An average FPS spoiled by unskippable cut scenes and the fact that it's not The Club.

Unfair, that. I just kept wanting to play it like The Club. I wanted short bursts and a sprint button and most of all I wanted points. It just felt empty killing people without numbers appearing over their heads. Anyway, I'll go back when I'm in a different mood.

The Club (360)

Spent an hour or so on the Gondola in Sixty Seconds level. Managed to get to 18th on the leaderboard table, which wasn't bad. Not sure where the bonus enemy is, though. He might be appearing as a regular enemy, for all I know, as I've not seen any guys running across the back of the level. I wish it would tell you how many enemies were on a level, so I'd know whether I'd got him or not.

Ghost Squad (Wii)

First day with the Wii Zapper.

My accuracy was shot even after calibration, reloading was harder and I missed two bosses, but I somehow got my second best score ever.

Jury out so far.

The Club (360)

I don't normally go out of my way to get Achievements, but some for The Club sound interesting. This evening I went for the Efficiency Achievement, which involves killing all enemies on a level with fewer than fifty bullets.

Internet gossip has it that the "Veni, Vidi, Vici" level in Venice is the best one for this, so I tried it out. Only fourteen enemies, so with the pistol it should have been easy, and would have been had it not been for the fact that one of the enemies is a bonus enemy who runs quickly across the background of the screen. If you miss him, you don't get another chance.

So, due to my poor aiming skills it took me a few goes to get the Achievement, but I got there in the end.

And then I decided to play the level some more to see how far up the leaderboards I could get. (On Reckless difficulty, as always. I'll let you know if and when I up it to Insane.) Managed to get to twentieth before it as time for bed. Not too shabby.

Ghost Squad (Wii)

Hmpf. Somebody's been hot-linking to images on my site and it's exceeded its bandwidth. So nobody's going to be able to read this blog until next month. I'll update anyway, though.

After a break last night because I took my wife to the pub, I played Ghost Squad this evening. Beat the first to bosses, but failed the third. Made up to 2nd Lieutenant Rank (oooh!) and unlocked a new costume.

Wipeout Pulse (PSP)

Wow, but I'm out of practice.

When I first played this last night I was so bad that I could even bothered to write an entry about it. Every race saw me coming last, if I lasted to the end.

This evening started like that, too, but after about fifteen minutes I started to get back into the Wipeout swing of things. Turn into corners, use (but don't overuse) air brakes, all that. I'm not getting very many gold medals, but I'm getting a few silvers and a few bronzes. Usually takes me a few tries in races against opponents, but when I'm racing the clock I can normally get something first time.

Anyway, there's a bit of tearing, but apart from that it looks lovely. Seems to be a fair amount of game there, too. Can't comment on the sound, as I play the PSP with the sound off.

Pity about the expansion packs for this one. Wipeout Pure's were free. The ones for Pulse cost actually money - and you can't download them if you've got a Mac, anyway, Bloody Sony, etc.

Ghost Squad (Wii)

Today I used the gun I unlocked yesterday, the SAW24. And very interesting it is, too. Unlike all the other guns I've used so far, you don't need to reload it. It's got infinite ammo. And, to add to the fun, it's the first fully automatic weapon I've unlocked. So, what's the catch? Well, it overheats. Fire it quickly and your Wiimote will start beeping furiously and you'll be left defenceless for several seconds.

I think, on the whole, I prefer the guns you have to reload.

The Club (360)

Blimey! I'm number ten on the leaderboard for the "Run of the Mill" event on Reckless difficulty.

I've never been in the top ten before. Ever. On anything.

Ghost Squad (Wii)

I am now level fifteen, a Chief Warrant Officer and I've unlocked a new costume and gun.

Hooray.

Didn't manage to defeat the boss of the third mission today, though.

The Club (360)

You know you've got something slightly special on your hands when it keeps you up until two in the morning and then gets you up at half seven because you're itching to get back to it.

Horribly compulsive, that's what it is.

This morning I went through the tournaments I'd not yet done. Just on Casual difficulty. I was only really playing to unlock everything.

Since then I've been testing out different characters and doing the first two levels on Reckless difficulty. On the second level - I can't remember the name, but it's a steel mill sprint - I'm currently seventeenth in the world. Not bad, eh?

(Okay it's probably because all the real players are playing on Insane or Real difficulty, but let me have my moment of glory, please.)

It's funny how wrong my first impressions of the game were, looking back. I'm so very glad I gave the demo a second chance.

The Club (360)

Oh yes. Number 66 in the world for the first single event on Reckless difficulty. That's just about the highest I've ever been on a leaderboard, ever.

The Club (360)

This is excellent. Short bursts of shooty fun. I'm very much looking forward to unlocking everything and going for high scores.

And, as luck would have it, I checked a leaderboard and was 364th in the world, which meant I got two Achievements. Hooray for getting games on release day!

Ghost Squad (Wii)

I've lost count of how many times I've played through this game now. I could check, I suppose.

Anyway, today I saw lots of new bits. They were all good, but the very best thing was a new option to avoid the sniping bit at the start of the third mission and do some more standard shooting instead.

All good fun.

I failed the second boss (you have a single shot which must be a head shot, if you miss, you fail) but managed to defeat the other two. It's worth noting that all the bosses use weapons given to you at the time - you never use the weapon you choose to take into the game. This is a good thing - especially as today I was using another handgun. The laser sight and 15-shot magazine should have made things easier, but I didn't do very well at all. The only bit that was really improved by the laser sight was the mine clearing section in the third mission.

At the end I got up to level thirteen and was promoted to Warrant Officer. No new guns or outfits, though.

Ghost Squad (Wii)

I got the leaderboards to work. I'm 16409th in the world. I guess this hasn't sold as well as it should have done, or no Wii owners have their consoles online.

Ghost Squad (Wii)

Hooray! Today I beat all three bosses in one play through of the game. That's the first time I've ever beat the boss in the Third Mission.

I also got a new high score, which would be more fun if the online rankings would work. My Wii can get online without a problem, but I've never been able to use the online stuff in Ghost Squad. I wish I knew why.

Ghost Squad (Wii)

Went back and used the default gun today. I thought the automatic setting would help me with a section on level one where I have to stop a huge wave of enemies getting past me. Probably should have done, but I failed anyway. Most of Mission Two was different to the way I've done it before. I'm not sure why, but I seemed to take a completely different route through Air Force One for the middle half of the mission. I'm not complaining.

Failed every boss today, which means Mission One is still on level three, Mission Two is on level two and Mission Three is, shamefully, still on level one. I did nearly defeat the boss today, but just ran out of time.

Unlocked a policeman uniform, though, so it wasn't all bad.

Also had a quick of Ninja Mode, which is very silly indeed. You're a ninja, your enemies are ninjas, your weapon is a throwing star. Couldn't find an option to turn off the aiming reticule, though, which made it feel very odd and I soon turned it off.

Off-Road Velociraptor Safari (Web)

What the heck?

This is completely broken. I'm not sure what's happened, but when playing today the game wasn't working properly at all. The beams of light that come up from catchers were appearing and disappearing completely at random, as were orbs. When I used boost, the flames only came out of my jeep about one time in three. And there's a horribly ugly white "shadow" under my jeep. It's not really playable now, especially the orb-hunting stuff. No idea if it's my Mac or if they've broken the game itself, but whatever, it's gone rubbish.

Bah.

Ghost Squad (Wii)

Used another top-difficulty gun today, but it was far better than yesterday's pistol. Either that or I'm getting better. I actually beat the first two bosses today (the second boss for the first time) and got to the level three boss for the first time. (I thought the boat at the end of the third mission was the boss. It's not.)

Apart from levelling up the missions I passed I didn't unlock anything today, though. My character's up to level nine now, so I'm guessing I'll get something for reaching level ten next time I play.

Ghost Squad (Wii)

Used a gun that I'd unlocked yesterday. A pistol. Made the game incredibly hard. To be fair, game did warn me this would bed the case. On to level two of first mission; still on level one for the others. Got bad score, but unlocked new gun and outfit.

Official game rating: AWESOME IN CAPS.

Burnout Paradise (360)

I'm half-way through my B licence now. I might have got further, but I keep just driving around aimlessly. Well, not quite aimlessly. There's still one gas station I've not found and I'd really like to find it. I've no idea where it could be.

Just before turning off the game I got the Parallel Parking Achievement, which was surprisingly easy. Either that or I fluked it.

Ghost Squad (Wii)

Today I played through the game using a shotgun I unlocked yesterday. Lots of double kills. Just as enjoyable second time through as the first, if not more so. I've no idea how to do the final boss in less than a minute, though.

I really want to play it through again today, but I'm trying to be strong.

Burnout Paradise (360)

This is great, but I'm having trouble with the online side of things. I've not even tried to play online yet, but the leaderboards seem to take an age to update, I can't seem to find world-wide boards (just friends only), I've had several "Can't connect to Burnout Paradise server" messages and once the game just got stuck on a "Connecting to Burnout Paradise server" screen and I had to leap back to the dashboard and restart.

Other than that it's almost all good. The only real problem with the single player mode is navigation. The only reason I ever lose a race is because I've taken a wrong turn, which is very easy to do at high speed. Also, I miss Crash mode. Showtime is fun (and I soundly beat SomethingWitty on one road), but it's no substitute.

So, it's a new Burnout, then. Which means having a whole host of complaints about things they've changed and EA's servers. Give it a while and everyone will consider it a classic... just in name for the next Burnout out to come along and start the cycle over again.

Ghost Squad (Wii)

This is great.

It's a lightgun game, where the Wiimote acts just like a gun in the arcade. You can keep the aiming sight on the screen if you like, but I found it more fun to turn it off. After a test game with the sight on, that I soon abandoned, I played through the entire game. Normally I don't use continues, but Ghost Squad is all about repetition, going through the game time and again, unlocking new things, improving scores and having fun.

It's too soon yet to say if I will play through it enough to unlock everything, but the game I had today was incredibly good fun.

I limited myself to one play through for two reasons. One, I don't want to gorge myself and get bored of the game too quickly. Two, it makes my hand hurt a lot, probably something to do with the unnatural twisting and turning motions my hands have to make. A Zapper would probably improve that and I can't help but think that the game would be even more fun pulling a trigger on a gun than it is just using the Wiimote.

Ace Combat 6 (360)

Got this free and decided I should try it out before trading it in. I didn't think I'd like it for two reasons. One, I don't like games in which you fly planes. Two, I didn't like the demo.

Still, I did the tutorial and the first mission (which is the demo mission), didn't enjoy myself and turned off the 360. The problem is that I'm rubbish. I never feel like I'm in an exciting aerial dogfight, I just feel like I'm flailing around.

Rez HD (360)

Hooray! My site's back up after going down because the entire Internet decided to look at my fake album covers page and I used my entire monthly bandwidth limit in about twelve hours.

Anyway, over the last couple of days I've been playing Rez HD, which is one of the best games ever... in HD. It hasn't lost any of its magic over the years.

I just need a headphone extension cable now, so I can play it straight into my brane.