Heh.

- If there's any game taunting me now, its Bit Trip Beat. More than Ikaruga, that game and its second stage are kicking my ass with legitimate regularity. I'll down Ikaruga eventually. Beat? I'm not so sure. I get to the part in Descent where I have to do quick, tight, back and forth with blue dots. Totally toast. This is my Demon's Souls.

- Speaking of WiiWare, I played the first 45 minutes or so of Lost Winds 2. Its simple and gorgeous. The start of the game feels like the beginning of some epic fantasy journey, which was a great way to start the title. They also found a cute way to retcon one of the character's more useful perks, which I appreciate from a design-agreeing-with-narrative stand point.

- I've finally played Punch-Out for Wii! Excellent game a really true to the original, for better and worse. I see where Anthony has a problem with the learning by repetition. There's plenty of that to be experienced and disliked. I probably won't finish title defense before I send it back to Gamefly, but its definitely a cool title that does a lot of things right as a Wii title.

- More fighting! Rented UFC 2009, and its GREAT! It really captures the unpredictable wins of the real thing. And, I must say, the commentary is AMAZING! I haven't even started a career. Exhibitions are completely satisfying. BJPENN.COM!



- Started in on The Ballad of Gay Tony tonight. I'm really enjoying it so far! I can appreciate very much that they didn't make Luis the main character of GTA IV. While he could easily fit into the same mold as Niko, they're doing things with the social structure of Algonquin Island that make it more interesting than the full scale rags to riches romp that a core GTA game ends up having to be. Luis is finding himself so far in more diplomatic and social conflicts, rather than being expected, on no uncertain terms, to solve a problem with bullets.

In particular, there's a Club Management "mini-game"/job that you get to do. I'm a sucker for management in games, and this is mostly up my alley. Instead of managing books and balances, you're watching your clientele and responding to random things that happen at a bar: tab skippers, smashed assholes and general disturbances. You have an assistant watching the security cameras, giving you hot tips on possible trouble. Even without the random sexual encounters, the freeform dance system and the great drunk effect (the screen bobs more to the music when you've had a drink), its a blast for me to just keep my property in check, from the floor.

I guess it reminds me of being an RA and working in hospitality. As stressful as it was to have to deal with real people's problems (legitimately serious or otherwise), there was sometimes that rush of "I've done something decent for somebody today.", which was always gratifying. Without the real world stress, I guess I really get to savor it, how ever virtual or fleeting.