For as much as this blog has seemed MMO exclusive lately, I’ve actually done a fair bit of console gaming as well. The biggest chunk of this has been on my DSi, as I can take it with me on the go, but I’ve spent a little bit of time with my Xbox 360 too. Here’s what I’ve been up to:
Battlefield: Bad Company/Battlefield: 1943 (Xbox 360)
I simply can’t get enough of these games. Before I got settled in 1943, I loathed multiplayer FPS games because, well, honestly, I died a lot. Somewhere along the line, however, I slipped into a groove and have been enjoying the multiplayer maps of each game. I’ve spent more time with Bad Company because I’m a fan of the modern weaponry but I’ve recently stepped back into the WWII shoes of 1943 for a change of pace. I love the large maps of these games and the base capture mechanics of the “Conquest” game mode remind me of Alterac Valley. With guns. Lots and lots of guns. And swearing.
Batman: Arkham Asylum (Xbox 360)
Batman AA is a fun game but I’ve found myself progressing slowly through it. There’s a lot to love about this game and, funnily enough, the times I find myself thinking of playing it most are when I’m playing Aion. Most people are already through this game but I’ve been taking my time and playing it in small doses. At the rate I’m going at now, I should be have it completed in roughly 2011, but the combat is fun and fluid, and the storyline is just awesome, so I’m alright with that.
Pokemon Platinum (Nintendo DS)
Yeah, I know, we were supposed to give up the ‘mon when we were kids. I make myself feel better by recalling the fact that I like it before it ever became a the kiddy beast it now is. The game retains all of the charm of the previous versions, which is saying something after so long. Pokemon is a great example of a game where the developer found something that worked and didn’t mess with it. The plot follows almost the exact same progression as the very first Pokemon game which, admittedly, is a little uninspired after so long. But it’s fun and a great way to pass the time.
Bowser’s Inside Story (Nintendo DS)
This is the Mario game I’ve been waiting for. It’s laugh out loud funny, creative, and, most of all fun to play. You can tell a lot of love went into this game, right down to the smallest of animations. One of my favorites is when Bowser breathes fire, his jowels also shake. Small but enough to garner a smirk every time I see it. The battles can get a little old but they’re all based on timing, so you have to be paying attention to do well. Some of the special attacks are very cool too. Kicking a koopa’s ass by bouncing a turtleshell back and forth with Luigi is satisfying in a very Nintendo kind of way. Not to mention, you can play Bowser in this game more than you’d dare dream. He’s the bad guy but BIS makes you root for him all the same.
And that’s about it for my console gaming. I’m definitely planning on picking up Dragon Age: Origins when it launches (the day after my 23rd birthday) and getting lost in it for a while. L4D2 also looks really appealing but I’m not sure if it’s going to be worth more than a rental. I’ll admit, I’m a little burned by the fact that L4D2 is even being released this soon after the original. Still, I’ll definitely be trying it one way or another. Consumer bitterness should never get in the way of good old gamer fun.
