PixlBit

I was a little more than negative in my last couple of posts.  I was starting to get sick and was unable to enjoy celebrating my youngest brother's 21st birthday.  I think that was partly to blame.  The nice thing is that there has been plenty to be positive about this week, especially when it comes to videogames.

I have been enjoying the games that I have been playing.  Over the weekend I started to play Strider and have enjoyed the game immensely.  It is flashy and there doesn't seem to be much substance, but the gameplay is pretty good.  The game takes a page out of the metroidvania book...  or more of the cliffnotes version of that book.  I mentioned that it reminded me a lot of Shadow Complex last time and I still stand by that, but it is more of a Shadow Complex-lite game.  There are things hidden about, but very few of them are actual powerups.  The developers have hidden a bunch of "tokens" about the map that unlock enemy information and concept art.  I think that there are only 25 or so actual upgrades which is fine.  That is why I say lite.  Shadow Complex, Metroid and Castlevania tend to hide hundreds of upgrades all about the map.

I have also been able to put some more time into Alundra.  I enjoy the game quite a bit, but feel a little bad that I have been consulting a guide from time to time.  The thing is that I don't want to spend countless hours running around aimlessly, especially since my videogame time seems to be dwindling.  I am not playing the game with a guide open next to me while I play, but if I hit a point that seems a little more opaque than I would like I look it up in a guide.  The only thing that really think the game needs is an overworld map.  I don't need waypoints to be put on the map, I just want to see if I am aimlessly wandering in the opposite direction of what appears to be a beach or desert on the map.

That is what I have been playing, but this week has been filled with awesome videogame releases.  I have downloaded Luftrausers for the Vita, SteamWorld Dig for the PS4/Vita.  I have picked up Ground Zeroes and will pick up inFamous tomorrow morning.  I am excited, because once I finish Strider I have a bunch of awesome games waiting for me to play.  

There is also FFX/X-2 HD that I am interested in.  The only problem, like all good first world problems is that I should work my way through the dozen or so RPGs already loaded onto my Vita.  Once I finish up Alundra I should be able to go back and hopefully finish Ys:  Oath in Felghana...  hopefully.  Then I can hopefully knock out a psone RPG then come back to the PSP ones that I have like Growlanser, Trails in the Sky, and Persona 3.

On a sad note, one of the games that I was most excited to play in March has actually been delayed by a couple of weeks.  I am a little sad to see that Shovel Knight has been pushed back, but with all of the new games that need my attention it is probably a good thing.

Also, I am heading down to my parents over the weekend in Arizona.  I cannot wait, the only problem that will come with this trip is that my videogames will stay home.  I prefer books for flights and my parents will probably be a little annoyed if I pull out Alundra while I am there.