Freedom Wars and Value Perception

Look for Freedom Wars in 2014. Coming to the PSVita.

With loads of Indie games coming to the Vita- and upcoming integration with the PS4- it might be time to get one before prices start to rise on this awesome portable. That sounds dumb right? Check online- you could probably grab a new or used Vita for around $150. That's no joke. I expect that price to go up as more AAA games come to the device (slowly but surely), and since it has been rumored that the Vita will be able to stream/remote play most PS4 games. 

(Plus the device is region free. You just need a couple of memory cards, which are locked, for each region account. That makes importing games more bearable that the 3DS situation)

I'm interested to see if the Vita can grow into itself as a stable portable gaming platform. My guess is that it's fate will rely on its ability to work with the upcoming PS4 console. We don't know how much the new PS4 or Xbox will cost and that might be the final decision point on whether or not folks pay up for these expensive pieces of hardware. It just depends on what each company has to offer. Sony and Microsoft are about to enter the next generation and they could face similar problems seen at Nintendo. Someone at Nintendo recently mentioned why the Wii U wasn't doing so well (among other problems):

Value Perception. 

days have passed

It's not that hard to see that I haven't been blogging as much these past few weeks. The main culprits being a combination of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and Dark Souls. Two games I will never never finish but enjoying the crap out of nevertheless.

Monster Hunter 3U is comfort food for me. Like I mentioned before, it isn't the easiest game to get into, but once you do it is some great fun. I'm concentrating on getting different armor sets and getting around the larger monsters without dying. I think I've made it about as far as I did in previous Monster Hunter games, which isn't very far, but I don't feel as helpless as before. I've only scratched the surface.

Then there's Dark Souls. I don't know why, but I just can't get the hang of that game. I'm too impatient, I'm too reckless, and that means that I die over and over. I get the to the point where I just quit in frustration, and by the time I come back I have to start over because I don't remember where I'm at.

Dark Souls is ingenious with the amount of nooks and crannies to explore. Everything is hidden in plain view. The game also has this incredible vertical structure that has you winding up and down staircases and ladders. Before you know it, you're back to where you started. The game is unfair at times, but it is so good that I'm determined to get to the end this time.

Am I the only one that's having a hard time with Dark Souls? It seems like everyone I know has already beaten the game, or at least they say they have. I really want to get through the game into New Game+ before Dark Souls II is released. Who knows if I will. I'm back to where I quit a few months ago. Maybe I can muster a different strategy or different route around all the terrible fear that awaits me. I just gotta get through this.

Intro to Monster Hunter

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate hits the US today!

 As much as I try to quell my excitement I have to stop and wonder why I was bitten by the Monster Hunter bug while everyone else in the west has pretty have never heard of the series. Capcom's series is a juggernaut in Japan, selling millions of copies and moving hardware.  I've been an incredible fan since listening back to the Monster Hunter specific episode of 8-4 play, and i wondered why such a big game in japan would be unknown here. After hearing how great it was I got the Tri without hesitation. I had no idea what I was getting into, but have never looked back since.

Ocarina of Time Part III

I've taken a break from the regularly scheduled news and commentary to focus on the N64 classic: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This is Part 3 of an ongoing series. 

Is Jabu Jabu the Windfish?

The adventure continues into the belly of a Giant Whale God, who swallowed a lazy princess.. I have endeavored to figure out what the heck is going on inside the belly of this gigantic beast, while at the same time understand why Ocarina of Time is what it is. 

Immediately I found out that there are things in this game that are pretty straightforward, and that there are other parts that completely leave me in the dark. In this dungeon for example: How was I supposed to know that I should get swallowed up in the floor? How was I supposed to know to talk to the princess TWICE? I guess I just don't think that way when i play games anymore. 

Have games come a long way or have my expectations about games changed over time?

Ocarina of Time Part II

My adventures as Link continues in this multi-part series of my endeavors to play and possibly beat The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I usually end up tweeting my struggles as I play through the game, but if that isn't your thing then here's the recap:

Since last week I left Hyrule Castle behind and after a ridiculous stealth section was pointed in the direction of the ominous Death Mountain. And then I turned the game off. I ended up playing the game here and there throughout the week with not much progress. Some times I would just get board and so I handed the blue N64 controller to one of my kids. My son particularly enjoyed making Link yell while swinging his sword everywhere and shooting the slingshot at the sky.