Lunar Shards

Games Finished

Games I played that have a finished status either on the save I have or at another point in time. In other words, I’ve personally made it to the end of the game. In other words, games I don’t have to go back to any time soon unless I’m trying for achievements or playing for nostalgia (which happens a lot :O)

• Ace Combat: Assault Horizon (Xbox 360)
• Ace Combat: Joint Assault (PSP)
• Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (Xbox 360)
• Altered Beast (Sega Genesis)
• Armored Core: For Answer (Xbox 360)
• Atelier Annie ~ Alchemist of Sera Island ~ (Nintendo DS)
• Atelier Rorona (PS3)
• Atelier Totori (PS3)
• Battletech (Sega Genesis)
• Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance (Xbox 360)
• Dead Rising 2: Case West (Xbox 360 – XBLA)
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution (PC)
• Ghost Trick (Nintendo DS)
• Ghouls n’ Ghosts (Sega Genesis)
• Guardian Heroes (Sega CD)
• Halo Reach (Xbox 360)
• Hyperdimension Neptunia (PS3)
• Macross Trial Fruntier (PS3 – Import)
• Macross Triangle Frontier (PSP – Import)
• Mercs (Sega Genesis)
• Monster Hunter Tri (Nintendo Wii)
• Parasite Eve (PSOne/PSP)
• Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity (PSP – Import)
• Portal 2 (PC/PS3)
• Project Diva 2: Hatsune Miku (PSP – Import)
• Solar 2 (PC)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (PS3)
• Stacking (PS3)
• The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil (PC)
• Tenchu Z (Xbox 360)
• Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. (Xbox 360)
• The 3rd Birthday (PSP)
• Trace Memory (Nintendo DS)
• Valkyria Chronicles 2 (PSP)
• X-Men (Xbox 360 – XBLA)

Games left Incomplete

Too many games to play not enough time after work to clear them all. These games were left unfinished at the end of the year unfortunately. These games make up the games I’ll eventually go back to and finish. Some have higher priority then others due to sequels coming up.

Anomaly: Warzone Earth (PC)

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)

Chantelise – A Tale of Two Sisters (PC)

Dissidia Final Fantasy (PSP)

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (PC)

Fate/Extra (PSP)

Final Fantasy XIII (PS3)

Front Mission Evolved (PC)

God Eater Burst (PSP)

Hard Corps: Uprising (Xbox 360 – XBLA)

The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap (Nintendo 3DSWare – Gameboy Advance)

Metroid Fusion (Nintendo 3DSWare – Gameboy Advance)

Mighty Milky Way (Nintendo DSiware)

Monster Hunter Unite (PSP)

My World, My Way (Nintendo DS)

Pokemon: White (Nintendo DS)

Sonic Generations (PS3)

Recettear (PC)

Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny (PS3)

Samurai Warriors Chronicles (Nintendo 3DS)

Tactics Ogre: Lets Cling Together (PSP)

Toaru Majutsu no Index (PSP – Import)

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (PC)

Valkyria Chronicles 3 (PSP – Import)

Wipeout HD/Wipeout Fury (PS3)

The Witcher 2 (PC)

Games Abandoned

These games I started but have no interest in finishing. They are either TOO hard or the game just didn’t hold my interest and I have since sold them, traded them, put them away or sent back to Gamefly with little interest in getting it again.

• Alpha Squad (Xbox 360 – Indie Games)
• Excitebike 3D (Nintendo 3DSware)
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 3DS)
• SOS (Super Nintendo)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (PS3 – Genesis Vintage)

Fighting games

Fighting games really have no end though they do have some stories. Some games I finish till I see everyone’s story or I just finish the characters I like. There was a glut of fighters this year so I’m a little burned out on them… Sorta like how I’m burned out on shooters for a bit.

• Arcana Heart 3 (PS3)
• Blazblue Continuum Shift (PS3)
• Eternal Fighter Zero (PC)
• Marvel vs Capcom 3 (PS3)
• Melty Blood: Act Cadenza Ver B (PC)
• Soul Calibur IV (Xbox 360)
• Super Smash Brothers Melee (Nintendo Wii)
• Tekken 6 (PS3)

Blame Valve

Games I started but weren’t planning on playing just yet thanks to the recent Steam Achievements for the holidays.

• And Yet It Moves (PC)
• Bastion (PC)
• X3: Albion Prelude (PC)

Games with no end

I can’t justify I’ve beaten them nor is there an indicator of such unless you count kill screens which these games don’t have. They can be picked up and played with no connection to previous plays outside of high scores or achievements not earned. Some have stories but they’re pretty shallow.

• Audiosurf (PC)
• Catan (Xbox 360 – XBLA)
• Dungeon Defender (PC)
• MAG (PS3)
• Minecraft (PC)
• PAC-MAN Championship Edition DX (Xbox 360)
• Pinball FX (PS3)
• Rockband 3 (Xbox 360)
• Terreria (PC)
• Tetris (PS3)
• Tetris DS (Nintendo DS)
• Touhou Battle Gaiden (PC)

Games Demoed

Games I’ve played once or twice either full or demos are on a list to eventually get back to, buy, rent, etc.

• Bayonetta (Xbox 360)
• Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy (PSP)
• Robot Alchmic Drive (Playstation 2)
• House of the Dead Overkill (PS3)
• Samurai Warriors 2 (Xbox 360)
• Stargate (Sega Genesis)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Sega Genesis)

MMOs

I play a lot of MMOs so here’s the list I touched this year. Not saying which ones I’mstill in, that’s for me to know and well, and if I run into you in game… hi!

• CosmicBreak (PC)
• Final Fantasy XI (PC)
• Final Fantasy XIV (PC)
• Jade Dynasty (PC)
• Rusty Hearts (PC)
• Shin Megami Tensei Imagine (PC)
• Spiral Knights (PC)
• Star Trek Online (PC)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC)
• World of Warcraft (PC)

Beta Tested

These are games I beta tested this past year. I’m pretty sure there were more and a good number of them weren’t games so they can’t be included on the list. Also these games have NDAs lifted so don’t go throwing it around that I’m breaking one. I actually read them :O

• Battlefield 3 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
• Rusty Hearts (PC)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC)
• Uncharted 3 – Multiplayer(PS3)

Monster Hunter Tri
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Started: April 20, 2010
Status: Offline Completed

This is the most I’ve played the Wii this year now. Got several local friends together to go hunting. A lot of fun and rather amusing trying to not overkill the early monsters. I did play with my friend I meet on PSU and we upgrade my equipment to handle plus versions of the monsters.

Shin Megami Tensei Devil Survivor
Platform: Nintendo DS
Started: June 7, 2011
Status: Ongoing

I tried to rush through the last bit before Zelda came out but damn it… it just got very hard. Story is awesome but damn am I underleveled. Will probably have to grind a bit to avoid getting beaten to hell and back.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Started: June 19, 2011
Status: Ongoing

A classic that’s all i can say. The upgrade in graphics are amazing and it looks so much better. Why this didn’t come out when the system did, I’m not certain but Nintendo really should have held the 3DS launch till this was ready.

Halo Reach
Platform: Xbox 360
Started: 2010
Status: Completed

I threw this game back in to play with some friends in a game of horse. Yup, the whole goal is to navigate some crazily designed levels by users only to blow your self up in the end? Thanks to Achievement Hunters, we now have an interesting way to play. Interestingly enough I don’t recall if we ever kept score since by 20 minutes in we’re so frustrated with the level and start cheating.

Arcana Heart 3
Platform: Playstation 3
Started: June 2011
Status: Ongoing

PSN finally came back up so i could finally redeem my PSN card that I got. I went ahead and picked up Arcana Heart 3 which is the 3rd game in an all girl fighting series. I have the first and liked it but we ended up skipping the second one. So far I’ve only gone through the game a few times but i’m having trouble with the last boss in the game in story/arcade mode.

Blazblue Continuum Shift
Platform: Playstation 3
Started: June 2011
Status: Ongoing

We pulled this out over the weekend to play around with. I haven’t practiced in a while so I’m really rusty with Noel and Litchi. We mess around for a bit and even got Bang’s super mode running. Man that’s a fast special!

Tekken 6
Platform: Playstation 3
Started: June 2011
Status: Ongoing

Another game where we pulled out to try it. My favorite is still Lili though I need to practice the combo I like to use. We played for a bit though since this was on my friend’s console, I didn’t really have any of my customizations.

Wipeout HD
Platform: Playstation 3
Started: 2009
Status: Ongoing

Ah Wipeout HD. The series itself has been a fun change of pace to the usual racing. With PSN coming back online, I had the chance to get Wipeout HD Fury for free through the welcome back program. One of the neat features in fury is pure combat where the goal is to deal enough damage to meet the goal.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
Platform: Nintendo DS
Started: June 2011
Status: Ongoing

I actually restarted since I hadn’t played the game in nearly half a year. The game is vary much a Japanese Strategy RPG set in the Shin Megami Tensei series. The game seems to have branching stories which is neat and all. I’m only a little ways in but I’m going to try to finish it before moving on to the next game.

Mighty Milky Way
Platform: DSiWare (Nintendo 3DS)
Started: June 7, 2011
Status: Ongoing

My last game for the DSi before transferring everything over to the 3DS. The game is in the Mighty puzzle solving series in which you play a alien who’s ability is to destroy and create planets to allow her to navigate the maze. It’s a lot of fun and the last gem I found on the DSi. It’s by Way Forward Technology who’s working on the new BloodRayne game.

Excitebike 3D
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Started: June 7, 2011
Status: Ongoing

The free game for the 3DS when the eShop opened up. The game itself is very much the NES version of the game with a 3DS twist. With the 3D turned off it looks like the original game on the NES but the minute you throw the slider up, the game changes perceptive a bit. The camera pulls back and what was once a 2D game has this very 3D effect going on with depth. It’ls unusual when you first see it and it did blow my mind since the only 3D game I have is Samurai Warriors which has a different use of the 3D.

Star Trek Online
Platform: PC
Started: Feb 2010
Status: Commander, Rank 5

I’ve made it halfway through Commander now. The ship I have, as dirty as my imagination is thanks to a certain friend of mine, is not one I prefer. The ship does hold it’s own though thanks to skill upgrades. At this point I’m halfway to the Intrepid class which so far has been my favorite starship in the Star Trek series so far. It’s versatility is pretty much unmatched considering it probably took one of the longest away missions in the universe due to unforeseen circumstances. They recently remastered two of the older episodes in the game.

Portal 2
Platform: Playstation 3/PC
Started: March 19th
Status: Single player Campaign: Completed, Co-Op Campaign: Completed

Did a bit of co-op with a friend. This has been the first time I’ve gone back to Portal on the PS3 with the PSN network down. With my achievements all unsynced now I’m going to have to do a bit of backtracking to get them squared away.

Atellier Annie ~ Alchemist of Sera Island ~
Platform: Nintendo DS
Started: 2010
Status: completed story, 1/7 endings

For a game about crafting it sure is a lot of fun! Atelier Annie is the handheld version of the long running Atelier series. The game follows Annie, a girl who’s only goal is to marrying up. Her parents send her off with her grandfather to become an alchemist and somehow get out of this marrying up fantasy of hers. That being said, the fact she sleeps through the entire process of being transported halfway across the world to a remote island is rather hilarious and that’s just the opening! The game progresses for 3 years in game and you have to complete assignments that show up every April and September/October. In the meantime you have to raise money to build up shops on the island to meet your target goal at the end of the game. Combat is simple much like any of the Atelier games.

Surprisingly this is actually the 2nd game in the DS Atelier series with the first being Atelier Lise ~The Alchemist of O’ldor~ however that game never made it to the US. I haven’t heard a word from NIS America about going back and releasing the game which is disappointing. I am looking forward to the next Atelier on the PS3!

Tetris DS
Platform: Nintendo DS
Started: ???
Status: N/A

It’s Tetris with a Nintendo twist. It’s an interesting game I tossed in. It’s hard to imagine this game isn’t being published anymore. I’m no Tetris master. I’m definitely have nothing on Hikaru Utada… she’d probably ground me into a pulp in this game :O

Portal 2
Platform: Playstation 3/PC
Started: March 19th
Status: Single player Campaign: Completed, Co-Op Campaign: Ongoing

With PSN down, I spent time playing the single player campaign. It does feel a heck of a lot longer then the first Portal game and there’s a lot of varied environments. Some of the puzzles get fiendish about how to actually execute which is nice since it means you really have to think outside the box. The ending of the game I won’t spoil but it does give you that moment of “There’s no way that would work but let me give it a shot”. Is it worth the hype surrounding the game? Yes, rarely does it ever pull that off. I’m actually looking forward to Yahtzee’s review of this one.

I also did a little bit more co-op via the PC. Since the PS3 copy game with a PC copy for your personal use I was able to get more co-op done with my cousin. I’ve never had such a blast trying to figure out puzzles and laughing so hard when we screw up. Good thing I become forgetful of how to solve puzzles since it means I’ll be able to do more puzzles with my other friends.

Front Mission Evolved
Platform: PC
Started: March 25th
Status: Ongoing

I know, it’s not a very well reviewed game, and I can see why but to me it’s a lot of fun. I’m not as in-depth as some Front Misison fans but I love a decent mecha game every so often. Front Mission 3 though I played to death. I’ve seen both campaigns in the game and played it multiple times. Front Mission Evolved takes you out of the turn based strategy setup and drops you into an Armored Core style combat game. The voice acting i can skip over and the combat is a little fast paced though I probably need to setup the 360 controller to play it right. It’s a little awkward with mouse and keyboard. I’ve only gotten a little ways in so I’m going to go a bit further before I say I hate it or love it.

Pokemon: White
Platform: Nintendo DS
Started: March 6th
Status: Ongoing, 5/8 badges acquired

Just a bit more Pokemon for me. After finally escaping the hell hole that was the cave between badge 5 and 6 I’m now dealing with the snow. I’m going to finish this game eventually! I was able to recover my cousin’s friend code since we re-synced. Which reminds me, I haven’t checked on my pokemon in the dreamworld

Portal 2
Platform: Playstation 3/PC
Started: March 19th
Status: Ongoing

My first experience with Portal, was through the Half Life 2: Black Box. Yes I said Black Box! Those were distributed with the Radeon HD2900 XTs when they released years ago. The game is simply put one of the best first person puzzle games to exist. Just the right length, with enough humor to keep you giggling and an ending song to simply die for. When Portal 2 picks up where Portal left off and introduces a new story as well as a new co-op mode. I’ve so far gotten a good ways into the single player campaign and its a lot of fun. There’s a lot of moments where you can goof around or try to find alternate methods of beating a room. I’m sure there are some that I wouldn’t expect.

Co-Op mode is a unique beast. I picked up the PS3 copy since it gave me both the PS3 and PC version of the game to play. Funny enough I got an invite from my cousin to play co-op, since I was on the PS3 and he was on the PC, I was worried about communication issues but apparently the games will allow communication through the expect means. PC uses the built in Steam voice system and can link into the PS3′s bluetooth voice setup. The co-op tests are a lot of fun and do challenge you. At one point both myself and my cousin had to sit back for a second to think about one or two puzzles because we couldn’t figure it out till one of us dawned on a crazy idea that worked.

Pokemon: White
Platform: Nintendo DS
Started: March 6th
Status: Ongoing, 5/8 badges acquired

I kinda went on a spree this past week on Pokemon. Being lazy about switching out my game, it’s been sitting in the 3DS for some time. Still running into moments where the game has me bang my head against the wall because I couldn’t seem to be able to level up the right pokemon high enough and have to depend on AI bungling to slip through. Case in point, the 5th badge gym which requires a bit of luck since the one pokemon I had that could beat him using the weakness is far to weak to survive a blast to the face. Then there was the cave afterwards. I swear to god, the encounter rate in there is through the roof! Couldn’t move 2 steps without triggering another random encounter. The repel only gets you so far and your own your own as far surviving it with enough pokemon moves left to find the trainers still blocking the way out.

The last Pokémon game I owned was Pearl and before that was Blue. Yeah the original one! I haven’t been keeping up with Pokémon games lately and really only played the main series. I never did try any of the spin offs but I hear the puzzle one for the N64 was fun. So last Sunday I fell in with the other trainers in the US and picked up SoulSilver. Its a remake of the Silver game. Actually now that i think about it I did own Silver for a few weeks. It was a used JP copy I found at EB Games so long ago. Never really put much time into it since at the time i only knew enough to dechiper the names of the Pokémons.

Compared to Pearl, SoulSilver has a few nice changes. Luckily I was able to transfer two of my Pokémons from Pearl to SoulSilver before I got started. Nothing like a jump start to get things going. The two lucky Pokémon were Jirachi and Magikarp. Yes, the utterly useless (well semi-useless atm, he can use tackle) Pokémon. You have to remember though Magikarp transforms into Gyrados, a dragon type Pokémon. I use Jirachi primarily followed by the first several Pokémon I found though I’m still trying to round out my party to cover all bases.

The PokéWalker is an oddity of a device. I did own one of the Pocket Pikachus from way back so this is about the same. Only difference is it can be any Pokémon though one thing to note though is the Pokémon you want to bring along must be in the Pokémon storage system (Bill’s PC) and NOT in your party. The PokéWalker is mostly usable out of the box, the clip backing is not preinstalled. It is kinda annoying that you have to disassemble it to add the back with the clip and they don’t provide you a lanyard strap either. I have a feeling it’s like this since some versions of the game come with a PokéWalker cover and a strap.

It functions like any other pedometer however it seems to be able to tell somewhat if your really moving or just shaking it for a few watts. I think I picked up about 960 steps while walking to work today. The steps translates to watts that can be used on the back end. I don’t know what the conversion is but I assume it’s like 18-20 steps per watt unless its based on continuous movement. The watts can be used to look for items or even find Pokémon to fight and capture. Combat is simple. Each Pokémon has 4 life bars and you need to bring down the life bars to about half or less to capture it. Each hit reduce the life bar by one. You have 3 commands, attack, evade, and capture. Attack is straight forward and your Pokémon attacks usually and takes a blow themselves if the wild Pokémon attacks back. However if the wild Pokémon uses evade, your attack will miss and they’ll get a free hit on you. Of course this works vice versa. Once they’re low enough you can use the capture options to grab them. Once your done you can transfer all the Pokémon back to soulSilver.

Overall the game and the device are fun, enough to even pull me from FFXIII for a few.