What I Played Today: August 28

Reus, Mario and Luigi Dream Team

I had forgotten about Reus! I booted back into the game I started of that which had started to go downhill and just kept rolling that way, as one of my cities had FUCKING HAD IT with any other civilization on the planet and was deadset on killing everyone else immediately. It took me twenty minutes of keeping their armies in check to keep them from destroy the only other civilization on the planet, but it paid off as I got a ton of achievements and unlocked a fair number of resources. Then I had a great 1-hour run in which I was able to keep six villages up without once having any of them trying to murder each other. Sure...some of them got snickety at the end and trying to kill my giants, but I think I'm almost understand that mechanic. Got to keep their danger and awe up.

Also more Mario and Luigi...they seem to be doing slightly better, although whenever they introduce a new element, such as Bro Attacks, it just belabors the point. This is starting to feel like Final Fantasy XIII all over again.

What I Played Today: August 27

Persona 4, Mario and Luigi Dream Team

I did some running around in Persona 4, running running running. It's a good thing I am almost done with the family social links, because guess what's coming next everyone! Have you guys seen Persona 4: The Animation? It's pretty good; I like it. It's on Hulu for free, with subtitles.

Also played some Mario and Luigi Dream Team and MAN....stop holding my hand, guys. I know how to play video games. It is picking up, but I still have moments where I just want this dumb Prince Dreambert to shut the hell up already. Oh, you say that the tornado effect causes wind to happen? Maybe I've been playing too many indie games that just make discovery of gameplay mechanics part of their gig, but this is extremely annoying.

What I Played Today: August 25

Guild Wars 2, Persona 4 Golden, Mario and Luigi Dream Team

I'm trying to care about the latest event in Guild Wars 2 but man they had made this one as obnoxious as possible. Turns out every hour or so, an invasion starts in an area and there are a ton of fucking robots and pirates and dredges just being huge dicks all over a zone, and so everyone needs to show up and kill them all in order to force the bad guy to show up. The only problem is that the challenge feels unbalanced, as the enemies are ridiculously difficult to take down, and you only have 45 minutes to complete the challenge. Oh, and if you don't enter the challenge from the start, you'll get tossed to an overflow region where the event isn't happening, and you won't get credit. And you have to participate in five of these to even unlock the stupid arena where they sell the rewards. So...five hours of pretty much slamming your head against the wall to even START playing the event. I don't know...seems mishandled, is all. Plus working with others, gross.

I also spent a bit of time playing Persona 4 Golden, because I can. Can't be stopped! Officially in Naoto's dungeon, I really don't know how these people couldn't figure out Naoto's secret from the beginning, come on. I'm currently at the point while playing a Persona game in which I'm concerned that I'm not social linking enough and I won't get Max Social Links, and I don't know why I ever worry about that, because I NEVER get Max Social Links, so why do I even try? I'm kinda stupid!

Also started Mario and Luigi Dream Team. It is pretty weird, as it has been pointed out to me that Nintendo does not believe you have ever played a video game before, but the game also has a ton of recurring characters that they don't introduce you to at all? Like, you don't think I know how to jump, but you think I know who the fuck Starley is? Come on guys.