Day 62: Month 2 Review

It is the end of the second month in the challenge.  I am surprised I haven't driven myself crazy because of it.  I should be freaking out because there is still so many more games I need to finish in the next four months, but I am feeling really calm right now.  I think it's because I have pretty much resigned myself to not being able to complete it.  After all, it is a huge undertaking.  But I am still going to try.  And even if I don't complete the challenge, I will still have fun playing the games I own.  So, it's still great!

Well, I should probably go over what I did complete this month.  The easiest games that I marked off the list this month were the ones from Atari Anthology.  Since gaming technology back then was nothing like it is today, there wasn't a lot for me to do in the games I played.  Since levels are repetitive and most are based on a final score, there isn't much progression needed to be satisfied.  I still have quite a few Atari games to play, and I am looking forward to playing the old-style RPGs.

Other really easy games for me to finish this month were Crash Bandicoot and Jax & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy.  The former was one of the first games I played when I first received a PlayStation.  The latter is a game that I have played several times and have little difficulty in completing.  Both of these Naughty Dog games are ones I would recommend to any starting gamer.  They may be old games, but with their availability for PSN download, even new gamers can enjoy these classics.

My favorite game I completed this month is by far 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors.  It is unlike any game I have ever played, to my knowledge.  If I wasn't doing this challenge, I would probably still be playing it right now in order to get the other endings.  The puzzles are challenging, and the story is great!  I hope to get the sequel to the game someday.

So far in this challenge, I have completed 25 of the 309 total games in my collection.  Sadly, I should be at 103 completed games at this point to keep a steady pace toward completing the entire challenge.  I will have to worker even harder in this next month.  Especially since it will be the first month in this challenge to have only 30 days.  Right now, every day is crucial to reach victory.  My goal for this month is to try not to get steered away from the direct path in games.  As much fun as they might be, I have to try and avoid doing the side quests.  They may offer more experience and better equipment, but they distract me from the endings.

Another goal for this month is to always be playing a game whenever possible.  If I am not playing a game on the television, then I should a handheld game in my hands.  The only way I can make a bigger dent to the list is if I play as much as possible.  Finally, I will try and do a better job at controlling myself and not purchasing any more games.  I swore to myself that I wouldn't buy any more after I received my copy of Dark Cloud 2
(did I remember to tell you all that I finally bought that game?).  And with any money I earn going toward the household bills, I can't afford to look at a game let alone buy one.

Moving on...

I was up late last night playing The Sims 3.  I managed to earn one trophy during the session.  Other than that, I didn't accomplish much in the game.  And today I spent a lot of time working on the main quest line for Skyrim.  Yes, the main story quests.  If you check out the main story's quest list, you will know that I am reaching the end of Act II.  I have found the guy in Riften, and he, Delphine, and I are on our way to Alduin's Wall.  At the moment of my last save, the three of us are at my home in Whiterun.  I wanted to get rid of as much as possible before I leave for the Wall.  I think I will also take Lydia along with us.  It will seem like a full-on battle party then.

As for my progress in Osu!, I didn't play it much today.  And so, I have fallen back a little on the leaderboard.  It's only a few spots, so I am not worried too much.  I wasn't able to find many multiplayer matches today.  No one was playing songs I had, and the ones that did were locked and I couldn't join them.  I am not a frequent poster on the game's forums, so I not known enough to have the luxury of knowing the passwords to get in those special matches.

Well, that's all I have for today.  I hope to have a well-played and really productive to the coming month, and that you continue to follow along as I continue this journey.  So, for the coming day, enjoythe games you play!

Michael, aka me3lingual, aka 情郎

Day 42: Saving (Not So) Often

I learned a valuable lesson today as well.  I realized that the autosave function on a game is there for a reason, and that it's probably best to not turn it off.  I was kicking butt in Skyrim today.  I started the session at Level 18, working on the quest to cure Kodlak's werewolf powers.  And everything went well.  And things continued to go well when I discovered that Kodlak was murdered, and when I went to fetch the pieces of the axe that the Silver Hand stole (which was at a place I stumbled upon once before), and when Vilkas and I returned victorious in defeating the werewolf haters, and when I journeyed to Ysgramor's tomb.

It was when I got caught off guard in a battle with some ghosts that a Skeever came up and took my last bit of health.  I hadn't saved at all during the session, and was sent back to my bed in Whiterun.  I didn't want to go through all of that again, so I switched games.

I got the wild itch to play Final Fantasy XIII-2.  However, I didn't last long.  I got caught in a battle with a feral behemoth that I couldn't retreat from.  Then when I went to 10AF, the battle with Snow against the Royal plant-flan thing (all I remember is that it had "royal" in the name) was taking forever and I hardly did any damage to the thing.  So I stopped playing that.

I continued the story in 999.  I guess you could say it is now 889, seeing as how there is now only eight hours, and 8 persons (why is it "persons" and not "people"?) left.  I understand the premise for the Nonary game, though I never heard of it before playing this game.  The characters in 999 are so diverse.  I like how they are connecting everyone and making them work together.  Normally, these types of people wouldn't necessarily even meet, let alone have to work together to survive.

In The Sims 3, I lived through a few more days.  My kitchen sink broke, and there was water all over the floor when my Sim got back home from work.  And of course my Sim was too hungry to clean up the mess or fix the sink.  I did manage to get a promotion and afford to replace the stove.  I haven't caused a fire, so at least he's able to eat hot meals now.

And now I am playing Phantasy Star Universe.  I managed to get farther than I did the last time, but not much farther.  Only one save point ahead of my previous location.  But Ethan is one Level stronger now, so that's a plus.  The SEED in this game remind me of the Sinspawn in Final Fantasy X.  How the people have to defeat them quickly else it will become stronger and be unable to be defeated.

Well, that's all from me today.  I am headed back to the world in Phantasy Star Universe.  So, for the coming day, enjoy the games you play!

Michael, aka me3lingual, aka 情郎

Day 39: Nothing seems SIMple

Today when I was playing The Sims 3, it seemed like every bad thing that could happen did happen.  While I was sleeping, a thief came in my house and stole my bathroom sink and toilet.  I called the police, but they arrived a second after the thief got away.  So the money I earned work as a test subject at the Science Center went to toward purchasing new ones.

Then as I was making pancakes, the stove caught on fire.  Even with the insurance money, I don't have enough to replace it.  Now, my Sim is reduced to eating cereal, canned soup, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

I guess things could have gotten worse.  I was afraid I was going to be late for work, because my Sim is so slow.  It's his house, and yet he can't run inside it.  One reason why I like directly controlling the characters.  And my Sim isn't dead, so I have that going for me.

On top of that, my Sim made a friend!  It was nice, because my Sim seems to be happy despite all of the things that are happening to him.  They share the same first name, so to me that seems a little awkward.  But they don't seem to mind.  And they both work at the Science Center.  The friend and my Sim met because he wanted my Sim to test something.  And after my Sim came home with Minty Breath, he called the guy over to his house and they hit it off.  Now they are good friends.

And sadly, that was the only game I played today.  I will play something later tonight and tomorrow definitely.  So for the coming day, enjoy the games you play!

Michael, aka me3lingual, aka 情郎

Day 38: Lonely, I'm Sim Lonely...

Today I played The Sims 3 for PS3.  It's an okay game.  The only major problem I have with the game is how you can't take directly control your character.  I liked how in The Sims 2 (PS2) you could truly control the character.  Where and what speed you walked, who you talked to, which items you wanted to interact with.  This whole click on an object and your person will then walk or run to it is so frustrating.  But I do like all of the new features in this game.  Things like being able to go to a town and work or shops, businesses, classes.  I like how your character isn't confined to just your yard; I like going across the street to the park and mingling with the neighbors.  It's much better than having them constantly ringing my doorbell for hours and just standing at my door.  That was my main problem with The Sims 2, and how people would just barge right in without knocking or ringing or even a phone call beforehand.  Just because my relationship with you is at 75 or more does not give you the right to walk right in my bathroom while I am showering and just standing there not moving.

The only other problem I see with The Sims 3 is that there doesn't seem to be a set goal of the game.  Unless the goal is for my character to publish a novel, which is what I chose when I was making him.  I am not sure.  I preferred there being Gold and Platinum Wants in The Sims 2.

If it isn't obvious, I really like The Sims 2.  It is my favorite of the ones I have played.  I haven't finished any of them, but from what I have played The Sims 2 is the best in my opinion.

Right now, my Sim lives alone in the cheapest house available.  I purchased the unfurnished home, because I didn't need all that extra fluff.  I bought the cheapest of everything I need for right now.  And now my money is running low.  I got a job in the Science track, because that was what showed up in the list of wishes.  I have my first day coming up, so it will be great to make some money.  My Sim is the type who prefers to stay at home and be on the computer.  I tried to make him as close to myself in real life.  In a way, it could be a way for me to learn to open up more in life.  I am not sure if I will go the family route, or if it is even possible to build a family during the game.  I know you can make one at the start, but I am not sure if you can during.

I just found out during the Skype chat I am in that it is only at the beginning that you can make a family.  Not that it really mattered.  The chance of me choosing to start a family was low anyway.

Well, that's all I have for now.  For the coming day, enjoy all the games you play!

Michael, aka me3lingual, aka 情郎

Day 7: No progress...yet.

I am seriously considering halting the playthrough of The Adventure of Link for now and moving on to another console game.  I made absolutely no progress on it as of the typing of this entry.  I am also thinking of just skipping this dungeon altogether and continuing the journey to the next one.  I have the item from Midoro already, and since I will just start back over at Northern Palace every time I run out of lives, I can just save Midoro's boss for later.

I guess there was some leftover angry feelings from yesterday still inside me when I played today that I couldn't stand playing for too long of a time.  I nearly reached the boss of Midoro Palace, but those red armored enemies killed me every time.  It is just so frustrating.  I have the map of this dungeon memorized, so the only thing I have to worry about is defeating the enemies along the way.  And asking for help is pointless because I can't even reach the place where I would normally ask for help.

Oh well.  I will try again right now.  Just wait...

Well, I got to the boss.  I removed two of his heads.  And then when I had him down to one bar of health, I died.

I think I may play a quick and easy game tomorrow after I get home from work just so I can say that I have more than one game completed in the challenge.

I played a little bit more of FireRed today.  Since I am recording the gameplay, I don't want to give away too many details.  What I can say is that I didn't play very long.  Only 15 minutes.

And when I was too angry to play more of The Adventure of Link, I play some of The Sims 3.  I still don't like the indirect controls, but I do like how I can actually travel along with my character as he goes to work or to stores and other places.  My character is a bit weird.  He prefers to be alone, but he's in the political career track.  He lives a pretty basic life.  Wakes up, goes to work, comes home, sleeps, and the cycle repeats.  He eats and does other activities now and then, but for the most part he saves that stuff for the weekend when he's not polishing podiums.

Well, that's all the progress for the challenge I made today.  I wish it could have been more.  So, until tomorrow, have fun playing whatever it is that you play!

Michael, aka me3lingual, aka 情郎

Day 5: I am Error.

Well, I didn't get home until nearly 3pm today, because the weather was not wanting to be cooperative.  And after a nap, I started playing The Legend of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.  And oh my gosh, even with Skype voicechat help, it took me a little over an hour to finish the first dungeon.  I am so bad at this game.  But the good news is, I am getting better at the game.  I think.  I don't know.  Here's how things look statistically:

Number of Start Overs: 14
Attack: 3
Magic: 3 with 5 Magic Containers
Health: 4 with 5 Heart Containers

Spells: 2
Shield
Jump

Items: 1
Candle

I've got to say, going into those caves with the candle is so much better than when I would venture in there blind.  Now I know what has been killing me all those times I would play the game before.  I don't know what they are, those things that shoot rocks or balls or whatever at me.  They spit out things and hurt me, that's all I know.  The point is, now I can see them to kill them.

I don't like how every time I get a Game Over I have to start back at the palace where Zelda is sleeping.  It's like, "Oh, I am magically brought back here with all of my items and experience!  Woohoo!"  If the fairies or whatever that takes me back to the start point have the power to let me keep what I have, then why don't they just revive me where I died?  It would be so much easier and I wouldn't have raged every time those stupid armor soldier things killed me.

And what is the deal with those armored soldiers anyway?  Do they think it's nice to stab with their swords when they are doing so under their shields?  And then a not-so-clean thought came across my mind.  I will let you readers imagine for yourselves what I thought.

But I think I am getting the hang of the game.  My Skype helper, Nick, sent me a link (haha) to a map online that has helped me out so much.  Now I can just look at the map and see where I need to go next.  I am playing this game on the GameCube (The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition), and it doesn't provide a map.  Maybe the original had a map, I don't know.  I do know that a map is really needed when I play a game.  Or a character telling me the exact number of steps to go and in whatever direction it is that I need to go.  If I didn't have the map, I would probably still be searching for the statue that Goriya stole.

So yes, a map and a friend is most definitely needed to complete this game, at least for me to complete this game.

And the gaming news doesn't end there.  I have also decided to play a mobile, as in GameBoy Advance, game as well as The Adventure of Link.  On my personal life blog, which can be seen here, I also asked for game suggestions for my next game.  One friend and reader suggested I play a Pokémon game.  And since those game also generally take a while to play, I figured I may as well start on one.  So, I am going to be playing Pokémon FireRed

alongside The Adventure of Link.  Today I did some checking as to whether I will be able to record videos of FireRed's gameplay.  It is still not great quality, but it does look better than when I recorded some stuff for Sonic Unleashed.  I think it's because the screen of the GBA is different than that of my televisions.  Anyway, be sure to check my YouTube channel from time to time for videos on that.  I will be sure to add them to these entries as well, but just in case.

Finally, I received The Sims 3 in the mail today.  I of course checked in out to make sure it works and everything.  I didn't start a game yet, because creating a character takes a long time.  At least for me it does. I could spend upwards of an hour working on perfectly my character in The Sims 2, so it will most likely take a lot longer to make one in The Sims 3.  And if it is like The Sims 3: Pets (because why wouldn't it be), I am not sure I will like it.  I don't like the indirect control method.  I didn't like it in The Sims, and I don't like it The Sims 3: Pets.

I wasn't sure about this "The Exchange" either, so I immediately cancelled out of that.  I don't like to pay extra for game stuff (although I am guilty of doing that, I have to finish the Afterword of Prince of Persia and see what happens with Elika).  Anyway, I found out it was free just a few seconds ago.  And now I am downloading all of the free stuff.  So, if you play The Sims 3, please feel free to add me as a friend.  I don't know what that actually does game-wise, but go right ahead.  I will accept anyone and everyone; unless there is a limit, and then it depends on how well I know you.

Well, that's all for today's update on the challenge.  So, until tomorrow, have fun playing whatever it is that you play!

Michael, aka me3lingual, aka 情郎