PixlBit

May was a good month for games! At least for me. I've had far too many games going at once these last couple of months and I've finally finished most of them (there are a few stragglers). And not too many new games!

Games Beaten

-God Eater Burst (PSP) (PS+)

This game seems like an excellent introduction to the Monster Hunt-ish genre. There is an intriguing story to pull you along and the actual fighting can be tough but it's fair, and there are plenty of ways to heal or respawn. A little preparation and strategy goes a long way. There are gobs of missions to play outside the story and gobs of things to craft. This game could keep you busy for a long time if you wanted. And it's great to play with friends!

-Velocity Ultra (Vita) (PS+)

This game isn't quite a shmup. Closer to a puzzle shooter, though that isn't quite right either. It's a vertical scrolling 2D affair that lets you speed up the scroll as well as teleport around the screen. You must rescue survivors in pods and make it to the end. You're graded on number rescued and time taken (independently, thankfully). You can drop telepods (limited in number) to warp back to, allowing you to fully explore the often sprawling levels. Music and graphics fit the simple gameplay. Very cool game!

-Gears of War 3 (360)

Gears 3 refines the series to a brilliant shine. The visceral combat and gunplay are as satisfying as ever and the campaign never disappoints or frustrates. It's the best in the series (including the also excellent Judgment). The story wraps up nicely and is surprisingly poignant at times. And I didn't even touch the myriad multiplayer/horde modes. This game is definitely a complete package.

-Metal Slug 3 (Wii)

Metal Slug 3 continues the series' tradition of awesome sprite work and zany humor, as well as challenging run-n-gun action. Enemies from the first two games are joined by a number of new ones, giving the game a nice variety, and alternate paths through some levels add to the replay value. But the level design often feels cheap and the bosses have way too much health. Even with infinite continues, dying so much can be frustrating. It's certainly still fun but there are better Metal Slugs.

-Paper Mario: Sticker Star (3DS)

Sticker Star makes some unfortunate design decisions, most notably the lack of experience from battles and therefore gaining levels entirely. It makes battles feel pointless, which is a shame because the sticker system is fun. The self-contained levels become like puzzles and some are tough to crack. The paper graphics are delightful, the writing is top-notch, and the jazzy soundtrack is very catchy. I just wish it was more of a pure RPG. Still, it was fun and I'm glad I got to play it.

Games Bought

Bought a lot fewer games this month than usual, which is a good thing. I finally picked up Dead Space (360), which I've wanted for a long time now. I got Nano Assault (3DS) because it was cheap and I love a good shump. I got the first three Myst games (Myst, Riven, Exile—all for PC/Mac) for 50¢ at a yard sale. And my wife got a good deal on Beyond: Two Souls (PS3) from GameFly. I know it's basically a QTE game but we'll have fun playing through it together. Of course, there is the month's selection of PS+ games—Velocity Ultra, Surge Deluxe, and LIMBO for the Vita; Skullgirls Encore and The Puppeteer for PS3; and Stick It to the Man for PS4. Sony just made an announcement a couple days ago that starting this month there will be two free games each month for each of their three platforms. They'll go live on the first Tuesday of each month and last till the first Tuesday of the next month. It will be nice to finally have some structure to that.

Now Playing

-Pirate Code (Mac)

I only had time to finish this or Sticker Star before the end of the month but I went with Sticker Star because it's from GameFly and I wanted to return it. I expect to finish Pirate Code within the next couple days though.

-Dead Space (360)

I love the atmosphere in this game. I think I'm about halfway through.

Dead Space: The Stomp Simulator

-Pikmin 3 (Wii U)

Pikmin 3 is the last victim of my playing-too-many-games-at-once affliction. I should be able to pick it back up really soon.