Fausty Playinghttp://www.fausty.com/index.htmlNow PlayingenryanCopyright 2006 RYAN LOCKHART2007-12-30T18:35:53-08:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Sun, 04 Feb 2007 22:59:29 -0800ryanPlaying2007-02-04T20:53:20-08:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/playing.html#unique-entry-id-32http://www.fausty.com/playing/playing.html#unique-entry-id-32rainbow!

hitman!
Much further in Rainbow Six Vegas, and it still continues to impress. I've got to say, I love Gears of War. A lot. But I think I'm having more fun with this one - it might be the "real world" environment, or the smoke-and-spark-tastic combat visuals (I got tired of GoW's gallons of blood after a bit), or how easy it is to give orders to non-dumbass AI buddies, or the fact cover areas aren't just a bunch of concrete blocks in the middle of the street.

Well, most of the time.

I also finally got past the first "real" level of Hitman: Blood Money after dozens of tries (the "Vintage Year" mission) - finally I gave up trying to blast my way though, and did the disguise thingy. For a game with such apparent non-linearity, they sure punish you for not acting like a real hitman...
]]>ryanPlaying2007-02-03T22:38:32-08:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/playing.html#unique-entry-id-33http://www.fausty.com/playing/playing.html#unique-entry-id-33rainbow!
For a game with "Vegas" so prominently displayed in its title, you sure have to play a lot of Rainbow Six Vegas before you even see Sin City... And that's pretty much the only complaint I can give this game.

I'm only a couple of hours in, but it's been a blast and a half. The characters are great, the graphics are outstanding, and I think - as sacrilegious as this might sound - that I like the cover-and-fire mechanic even more than Gears of War. It's a little more clunky and less fast-and-arcady, but I really like the way your character moves around the cover, and how easy it is to "zoom in" before you peak your head over. Plus it's neat to kill human terrorists and not growling aliens.
]]>ryanPlaying2007-01-08T23:05:16-08:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-4.html#unique-entry-id-29http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-4.html#unique-entry-id-29gunpey!

bully!
I was a huge fan of the original Gunpey, so it wasn't hard for me to finally pick up the latest version. And man, is it fun. Like, eye-bleeding fun. I played non-stop for nearly an hour (57 minutes, 33 seconds, to be exact), before level 12 overwhelmed me. And now it hurts to blink.

But I'd be a liar if I didn't say I have a huge smile across my face the entire time. Like any Q Entertainment game, the music and visuals just had me enthralled.

I also picked up Bully at the same time as Gunpey (traded in my unopened COD3 for Wii, which I'll never play), and it's actually much more enjoyable than I was expecting. I'm only a half dozen or so missions in, but once I got used to the PS2 visuals (gah, damn next-gen systems are screwing with my objectivity towards current-gen graphics) I was having a great time. Solid fighting, and provides a large enough landscape enough to feel open, but not daunting. Story is also very interesting so far, I've got a feeling I'll be playing this one for a while...
]]>ryanPlaying2007-01-07T23:15:16-08:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-4.html#unique-entry-id-30http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-4.html#unique-entry-id-30resistance!
Finished off Resistance tonight. Man. Best overall FPS experience I've had since Halo and Half-Life 2. Seriously. Perfectly paced, great weapons, solid and dramatic ending, exhilarating battles, and well crafted seeds of a story that will most certainly bloom in the sequel. Oh, and it actually gives a reason to play through again. Keen.

Thanks Insomniac.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-12-04T22:18:15-08:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-3.html#unique-entry-id-20http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-3.html#unique-entry-id-20zelda!
I'm currently in Zelda's sky dungeon. And it's the first real dungeon I've had "trouble" with. It probably doesn't help that I'm playing while tired, and slightly drunk.

Damn wind. And deadly drop-offs.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-12-02T22:08:45-08:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-3.html#unique-entry-id-19http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-3.html#unique-entry-id-19metroid!
This is only more than slightly embarrassing, but I was never much of a "Metroid person." Tried them as a young'n - and by that I mean I tried the first one - and wasn't happy with my experience. So I skipped all the ones since then. Even the Primes, to an extent.

The funny thing is, I love the latest Castlevania games. Which are, more or less, Metroid clones.

So, while on the train to San Diego this weekend, I gave Metroid: Zero Mission a try. A game I bought a while ago, but never really powered on. And you know what? It's good. Like, in a scary fashion. I'm only 45 minutes in, but I was absolutely fascinated by the short time I played, and now I'm a fan.

Like, in a scary fashion.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-11-29T21:13:01-08:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-18http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-18zelda!
More Zelda today, was sick at home and accomplished more than I thought I would in my DayQuil-induced haze. Two more dungeons down and a bunch of heart pieces found. Yay!

Gah, back to bed.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-11-28T20:19:51-08:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-17http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-17zelda!
I'm more than a tad sick, so I only played Zelda for a little bit this evening. Got to the mountain dungeon, which - without ruining anything - I can say is nothing like what I expected. I'm only a few sections into it, but it's already the dog's choppers... The question is, how the hell do these dungeons keep outdoing one another?

I mean, really. It's almost getting ridiculous...
]]>ryanPlaying2006-11-26T19:48:26-08:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-16http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-16
twilight!

red!


The last boss in the desert temple is the perfect example of why Zelda is such a great game: he wasn't hard. At all. But man, was he fun. Zelda is not about dying, or presenting the player with near impossible encounters, it's just about having a good time. Sure, some of the fights are perilous, and some of the puzzles challenging, but the player is never overly punished for screwing up. Instead they're encouraged to experiment with different techniques and rewarded with over-the-top experiences. Which is exactly what the desert temple boss was. Wow.

I'm currently on my way to the mountain dungeon, or at least doing the tasks that lead there. Really wish this weekend was longer...

I also started up my Red Steel save, and was happy it only put me back a small ways from the level's boss - I powered through the rest of the area and beat the boss before turning it off for the night. Still planning on beating this, but I'm certainly not in a hurry to see the end credits.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-11-25T21:09:03-08:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-15http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-15
twilight!

red!


I just reached the desert temple in Zelda, and I had to force myself to stop playing. This game is shockingly good. Shockingly. At first I was wondering how they were going to fit 70 hours of gameplay into this world, but the way the story is evolving, I'm starting to get the idea.

Speaking of which, I've always liked Zelda's stories, they were simple and involving. Twilight Princess, on the other hand, is a totally different beast. It's dark - very dark - and compelling in ways I wasn't expecting out of a Nintendo title.

I also played a bit of Red Steel tonight, at the 30-something percent marker right now. I'm still enjoying it, but having a sword-battle boss fight - a fast and hard one mind you - that sticks you back a ways every time you lose it, really sucks. The lady came home so I had to stop at that boss, and I just quit out. I'm really hoping the save doesn't put me back at the beginning of the level, if so it's going to be very difficult to force myself to play back up to where I was...
]]>ryanPlaying2006-11-24T22:07:41-08:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-14http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-14zelda!
Zelda is one of those games that I really enjoyed but didn't love for the first couple of hours - which was almost heartbreaking, seeing how much I was looking forward to it.

That said, my opinion started changing a few hours in, and by the time I finished the forest dungeon - the first real dungeon in the game - I genuinely liked it. Lots.

Now, about 10 hours in and just starting the water temple, I could easily say it's one of the best games I've ever played. And I can do that with a completely straight face.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-23T20:53:02-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-0http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-0okami!
Wow. Wow, wow, wow. So then, sat in front of Okami for pretty much the whole day, and I can't easily say it's one of the best PS2 games I've ever played. And it's also the biggest blatant Zelda rip-off of all time. That's not necessarily a bad thing - the world needs more of these experiences - but I'm just amazed how well Clover got the formula down. Like, it's scary close - substitue Link for Amaterasu, and you've got the next Zelda. No joke. Anyways, 15 hours in, just passed the large bridge on the way to the big town, and I really, really like the way the story just evolved...
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-22T21:07:23-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-1http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-1okami!
Today was the first day I was really able to dig into Okami; the lady left for a weekend vacation, and I plopped down in front of the TV after dropping her off at the airport around 10pm. And didn't get up until 3am. I absolutely love the feeling of lost time while playing a game, and Okami certainly delivers on that front. Got the painting down finally, and am learning how to use bombs in everyday battles. Just got through the first major Zelda-like dungeon, and the amount of stuff I can't interact with yet on the over-field areas both delights and terrifies me - after seven or eight hours in, it's more that apparent I haven't even come close to scratching Okami's surface.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-21T21:09:23-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-2http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-2okami!
So much for holding Okami off until the weekend, I had to play for a couple more hours after work. I can't believe how Zelda this game is, and not just in overall pacing and feel - even the music seems eerily similar at times, especially the notes that play after you accomplish something major. Getting Zelda flashbacks all over the place - including in terms of the enjoyment it brings - which I guess is damn high praise.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-20T21:10:42-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-3http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-3okami!
Started up Okami, but I don't want to play much until the weekend - the intro cinema was almost too meaty, and if it's of any indication to the...thoroughness the rest of the game holds, I'm going to need some solid playing time. I'm only about an hour in, and I'm already incredibly hooked, which is a great sign.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-19T21:12:21-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-4http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-4prey!
Prey is done, after three days of light playing. Wow. Whatever, these days I'm into shorter experiences anyways, and it's nice not to struggle to beat a game. Speaking of a lack of struggle, the last boss was a bit on the super easy side - had way more issues with the two boss encounters before. Story was predictable but certainly not bad, and overall I enjoyed the experience. Hope the next release uses more of the spirit puzzles in the action, like they did with the first form of the last boss, it was neat to have to switch back and forth under duress (unlike the "normal" spirt parts, where you'd just turn to complete an easy puzzle). Also, I really don't like earning Achievement Points for just finishing levels...

Bah, whatever. It was a fun ride, and Okami is in hand.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-18T21:14:17-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-5http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-5prey!
Nearing the end of Prey, which I need to beat quickly, seeing how Okami is almost out. Overall it's been fun, and some of the puzzles were great head scratchers. But, yeah, the overall theme got a little worn out. The environments never really change much - albeit what you do in them changes drastically depending on puzzle type - and there's only so many anuses and other bodily cavities I can take over the half-a-dozen hours I've already put into it. If they make a sequel, which I'm guessing they're planning on, I hope the next setting is a little less...organic in nature.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-17T21:15:08-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-6http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-6prey!
I know a bunch of people that dislike Prey, for the very reason I enjoy it - it's not your typical everyday shooter. This game is not a run-and-gun, instead it gives you limited sets of ammo for incredibly diverse guns, and splits up the action with plenty of simple environmental puzzles. About ten levels in, and I'm sure I'll end up finishing this sucker - it's not too hard or complex or anything (at least not yet), just fun.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-16T21:44:24-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-7http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-7
yakuza!

saints!

loco!

killer!

Finished off both Yakuza and Saints Row today, each of which were wonderful (and slightly flawed) in their own ways.

Broke out the PSP and finally got some solid time in with LocoRoco this evening. I enjoyed the heck out of the demo, and was even more impressed with the final game. Am looking forward to digging into this one later...

Also, before bed I finally tried out Killer 7 for an hour. Man, that's one hell of a game, and not one to start out before going to sleep. Had quite a few interesting dreams as a result.

Killer 7 is quite the experience, and very impressive in terms of style. Very impressive. I really respect it, but not sure if I'll continue to play - this game is a piece of art, but I'm not exactly sure if it's fun...yet.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-14T21:47:14-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-8http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-8
yakuza!

cooking!


Only had a few minutes to enjoy Yakuza today, I'm really looking forward to the weekend to finish it off...

Had a surprisingly fun time with Cooking Mama though, it was a game I bought my lady - as she needed a new DS game and some colinary tips (har, har) - but I ended up preparing quite a few dishes myself. It's nothing all that deep or hard, but has a keen Japanese vibe and rad pacing, and is suprisingly solid for a budget title...
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-12T21:48:50-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-9http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-9yakuza!
Now in Chapter 11 in Yakuza, after one hell of a ride finishing up the previous area. One thing I love about this game is I can't tell where I am in it; I have no idea how many chapters it holds (and I refuse to check out GameFaqs for the answer), and I'm constantly feeling very near the end and nowhere near it at the same time. Which, as strange as it sounds, is very cool. I haven't had much time to play the past few days, but like I stated in the previous entry, I'm totally ok with the experience not ending anytime soon.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-11T21:49:53-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-10http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-10yakuza!
Tonight I reached Chapter 10 in Yakuza after eleven and-some-change hours of play, and the experience just refuses to ebb. Just got through a very Virtua Cop-style shootout, and I had to once again force myself to stop playing for the night, despite the keen story twist that just unfolded. Really want to see this through as soon as possible. That said, I also really don't want it to end...
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-10T21:51:07-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-11http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-11
yakuza!

the row!

gta!

Eight hours into Yakuza and I hit the first mission that caused me grief. Really now, to say somebody's missing and I have to find her, without giving a clue where to start sort of sucks. I was running around for hours earlier today, and when I finally stumbled into the first bread-crumb, it put me in a nice moody mix of relief and anger. Sigh. The good part is I was able to do a lot of the "side stuff" while looking, and earned a bunch of cash fighting in tournaments, gambling, finding locker keys and selling their contents and the like. And lost a bunch in gambling and doing the whole "host bar" thing. Those ladies have expensive tastes...

Also, officially half way through Saints Row as of this afternoon, and am really enjoying some of the main missions - the last Los Carneles mission was tough and fun, and I'm killing my way through the last "open" gang. Even though I didn't notice them for the first few times I played, I'm starting to stumble across more and more CDs, so I'm taking a little extra time in exploring new areas, looking for discs and tag spots. Energy is sort of running out, though, as the "fun" mini-missions are all about complete (or are getting too hard to be considered "fun" anymore), which means I'll be forced to start playing the ones I don't really like if I want to keep the main game going... Blorg.

Lastly, for a bit of fun, I threw in the Xbox Grand Theft Auto Double Pack to check out Vice City again. Yeah, it's getting old, especially after Saints Row. Funny though, they both excel at different things. The Row is all about incredible visuals, way better gun combat, a radically improved mini-map system and overall tighter car handling. Vice City still has it beat in overall experience though, especially when it comes to flow and story telling. The mission structure is better (no artificial barriers between story missions), as is the voice acting and cinematic presentation.

Certainly hasn't aged all that well in the looks department, though. Yikes.
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-09T21:52:14-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-12http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-12yakuza!
It's always a good sign when I have to force myself to stop playing a game, and I just hit that with Yakuza. Started it this morning and am now well into Chapter 6, and the story refuses to stop unfolding in cool ways - but I want this experience to last as long as possible, so packing it up for tonight.

Funny though, this game looks like ass on my new TV. Sigh. I'm totally getting Overblood 2 flashbacks. Damn new technology screwing with the old...
]]>ryanPlaying2006-09-04T22:05:47-07:00http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-13http://www.fausty.com/playing/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-13the row!
40% through Saints Row, and am finding the fact you have to go through some of the mini-games in order proceed the "story missions" quite aggravating. Not to mention some of the games themselves. Especially the Body Liability one, the cars are way too unfrequent (an issue that permeates the entire game), and it seems to be more about luck that skill. I couldn't pass a level 3 challenge for the life of me, until I bounced off the right car and suddenly doubled the amount of money needed, unlocking an achievement the process. And I have absolutely no idea what happened...
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