For the longest time I've strayed away from path of hardcore rpg fandom, except the occasional shadow hearts game (oh how I love its very semi-european setting) and kingdom hearts (which I dont really consider that much of an RPG), oh and Grandia 3. However a few months ago I picked up Persona 3 special edition without any rhyme or reason, and set it on my game shelf where it sat staring, lurking in the back of my mind at all times. Then with this weekend came the southern california heat that melts brains, and also I became ill with a cold and was forced to stay inside. So after a few hours of uneventful CoD4 battles and 4 awesome run throughs of Ikaruga (<3) I turned off my Xbox and plugged in Persona 3, now I fear I can never go back from J-RPGs. The art style, the combat system, the social link management, the extravagant persona designs, and the well developed characters are all so amazing. The main character is also probably the best I've seen in quite a while. The developers named him "the other self", is that not genius. It is also so very refreshing to have the social choices I make within Gekkoukan High and the surrounding area directly affect my gameplay by way of leveling my persona abilities. With still only a few games using the gameplay technique of social interation and conversation, such as mass effect, I am happy to see it done so well. Every facet of this game appeals to me, and little did I know that there are tons of games out there like this.

I fear for my free-time now, I fear for my real life social-links, I fear for my checking account. -_- Even as I sit here typing this in my schools computer lab I long to progress further into the labryinth of tartarus ("sounds like a brand of tooth paste! XD" -Junpei Iorie). This game has become my gateway drug, I can only wonder what adventure will come next.

Now for those of you who have not picked up this epic peice of art, I suggest you do so this wednesday when Persona 3 FES comes out. I realize I am probably preaching to the choir on this but I figure I must not be the only one left in the cold from this amazing bit of RPG history.

Alright Atlus, youve got me, I <3 J-RPGs. ^_^

Does anyone remember the days when a simple point and click, frame to frame adventure game could scare your shitless. How every suspensful click was another step towards sweet sweet insanity. Well god damnit I do and I felt like sharing my fondest memories with the best of those glory days: 11th hour. This was game game published by Virgin Interactive (remember them) in 1995 and was the sequel to 7th guest. 11th hour was far more gruesome and than 7th guest and actually had a few ahem... sensual scenes. Now mind you I was playing this at around the age of 10 so I could only grasp many of the concepts put forth by this game. One thing I am certain of was that is was cruely terriffying and addicting even more so. I remember a one puzzle involving me switching glass eye balls around a wooden case, each eye with a different colored iris, and had to create a certain patern to unlock uh...something. I'm still left with the creepy image of all those eyeballs staring at me embedded in my head. Another aspect that the game had going for it was its excelent use of sound. For a long time you would be wandering around enjoying the eerie gusts of wind that floated around the house and then some crazy voice or sound effect would assault you at full volume. God damn I loved those games. Hopefully future horror game developers will look at past adventure games like these and understand what sets up a player for the scary: atmosphere. There are only a two games that have been able to scare me horribly since those days. The Silent Hill and Fatal Frame series. This has now given me the idea to make another extensive post on the survival horror subject so I'll end it at that.

Another game that game to mind while writing this was shivers and a map based dungeon crawler that I cant remember the name of, but I remember that fucking creepy mage that was always at the end of a wrong turn. Who knew pixels were terrifying?

Do any Dtoid bloggers have favorite horror game moments?

Let us examine shall we, the pokemon universe; more specifically the interaction between pokemon and the humans within that world. It can be observed that all wild life within the “poke-verse” consists of pokemon, varying species of self-aware semi-communicative beings. It can also be observed that the human inhabitants have the ability to commune with the creatures in a relatively understood manner. This allows us to conclude that trainer and pokemon interact in a realm higher than that of standard owner and pet. Now on to the good part!

It can now be understood that the humans and pokemon must both eat at some point in the day to survive. Considering the world is based vaguely off of the diet of Japanese citizens, such as rice, vegetables, some bread, and meat. Now where does meat come from? Animals, creatures, wild life…. Pokemon…oh the horror; pikachu, pidgy and clefairy slaughtered in mass for the sake of nutrition. Could these “trainers” morally go along with such practices as murdering their own sought after pokemon? What about pokemon that help with the house keeping, or gardening/farming? Are they free for the slaughter when poke-verse citizens grow a need for meat consumption? Sure certain pokemon are evil little fuckers such as meowth that may deserve sweet sweet silence, and sure some consist of inedible substances such as geodude or porygon (what the fuck is it made out of?). However it caonnot be denied that most pokemon are edible. Where are their poke-rights?

Now let us realize the options we can attempt to accept. The trainers could eat their pokemon, breeding specific types and classes for training and others for sustenance. A verse with veritable ivysaur and jigglypuff farms where they will be fattened up for the butchers’ knife. Oh the inhumanity. Would pokemon actually be kept in pokeballs for a quick on the go snack? Could caterpee be consumed like “go-gurt?” One (such as myself) could wonder what does charmander taste like? Spicy? The possiblities!

However there is a second option! Which I find to be highly likely. The poke-verse is actually the future vegetarian utopia that the world could soon become. Pokemon and humans living together in harmony, eating entirely soy based products. I will let you contemplate this subject because this blog has gone on far too long. Create your own future history for the poke-verse. Does P.E.T.A. take over the world and create self-aware animals to guilt trip all meat eaters that they begin to call Pokemon? This inquiry I leave to you.

Its all just rantings of an inexperienced blogger… O.o

I believe my friend put it best last night when we'd just finished our geek activities of the night, concluding with N+ "what the fuck!? its 4am already? we started playing this like 5 minutes ago at 1."

N+ has one of the best and most refreshing multiplayer experiences ive witnessed in a long time. It literally is the truest definition of co-op. Your life, sanity, stress level and ability to solve the puzzle is dependent on the the other player. Arguements will be started, friendships will be ruined (for about 5 min) and skills will be tested only to be looked down upon later. Players must work as a team to solve each progressivly harder level until that either conquer or give up. Each puzzle creating an entirely new device or tactic to reach the end. Some levels actually force one player to sacrifice himself for the other to exit. I wont go into much more detail because one I figure that my reaction is enough to define it as an amazing game and two because you NEED to buy it and see for yourself. Like now, right now, your xbox 360 is probably right next to you, you own a credit card damnit, just fucking buy it already, its in live arcade, jesus tap dancing christ just BUY IT.

N+ fucking raped my time, and raped my platforming self-esteem. Fuck you N+, youre too much fun.