So I guess this is a good time to provide some updates on what's going on down here.

Work
Pretty amazing it's been only 3 months I have been on my current job as sometimes it feels like I have been doing this for years. No, I don't detest my job (yet). In fact I quite enjoy going to work each day knowing that there are things to be done? I'm still weighing my options though, if this is the career for me. So far I am pleased with my performance, although my salary could have been much better had I decided to work in a bank or what not. Well, we shall see.

Gadgets
I needed a new phone as my previous was my mum's hand-me-down (you hear that right). I've always preferred Nokia phones as they are quite reliable and the Qwerty keypad is surprisingly easy to use. If given a choice, I would have got an iPhone, but it's just way too expensive for my current income level.

The 5th Generation of iPod Nano fits the bill of what I need in a MP3 player. Needed a new one as my current iPod Mini had ran out of memory a long time ago. The radio function and pedometer (I jog almost 3-4 times a week) are neat features although having video/camera is pretty lame imo. No Apple fanatic here, but I must say the iPods are just damn good gadgets (my previous has never broke down once in close to 5 years of me owning it).

Recently purchased

All RPGs. No surprise there. All of them were bought on the cheap: In SGD (divide that by 1.5 for the approximate USD equivalent): Magical Starsign (15), Etrain Odyssey 2 (20), FFTA2 (35), Chrono Trigger (35), Dragon Quest IV (35), SMT: Digital Devil Saga 1 and 2 (90). I have also picked up a used copy of GTA 4 for 25 bucks, which is due for collection next Monday. It's no RPG there, but no harm trying a supposedly very good game for a decent price (I think).

So far, my strict policy of spending no more than 100 dollars per month on games have been adhered to rather well.

Recently completed

I thought FE2 was good, though not great. There are just too many dispensable characters to choose from, weapons break, characters die for good, and each map is always loaded with enemies (and the inevitable reinforcements). I know some people love the game because of all these. I simply didn't. I own the first FE game from the GBA too. Safe to say, those 2 shall conclude my FE collection.

FFTA2 started off well but it soon boil down to one of the most repetitive game in my playing history. Unless you are uber-trained, which the game almost assumes everyone would, the last boss is going to kick your butt hard in the most frustrating manner. Love the music though, as they are basically FF XII's. For a game with almost no story, I had sinked in close to 60 hours in it. Consider it a waste.

Now playing

I simply love this game. Game play/Difficulty wise, it is almost a replica of DQ VIII, which can only be a good thing in my case. I thought the presentation is pretty great. The game is separated into chapters, which are basically snippets of story to introduce the characters. A thing that annoys me is that often times it's difficult to figure out where to go; and even when I do, the map is not helpful in anyway. After this, I would need to get DQ V, VI and IX, all for the DS (which is sad).

Looking forward
That would be Dragon Age: Origins and FF XIII. The former is the closest game which I feel would rival Diablo II, the only WRPG I loved (thoroughly, if I may add). As for the latter, it's a launch day purchase for sure, although I have no wish to read/watch/hear another FF XIII update. Besides those 2, the games which would most likely be my next purchases are Magna Carta 2, Sacred 2, and Professor Layton.

So there we have it, 3 months of random updates. How's everyone doing?

This is the complete list of RPGs I have beaten in my life (I keep a running list to help recall). I remembered posting something like this 3 years ago and the total number was 30. Today, it sits at 53. That works out to be 23 RPGs beaten in a period of 3 years, or about 8 per year. It isn't too bad, I think.

Sega Genesis (3)
Shining Force
Shining Force 2
Warsong

Sega Saturn (3)
Albert Odyssey
Dragon Force
Shining Force 3 (1 out of 3)

Psone (11)
Chrono Cross
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy Tactics
Grandia
Legend of Legaia
Legend of Dragoon
Lunar: Silver Star Story
Suikoden
Suikoden II
Wild Arms

PS2 (15)
Dark Cloud 2
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the cursed king
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy XII
Grandia 3
Growlanser 2: The Sense of Justice
Persona 3: Fes (The Journey)
Shadow Hearts
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Shadow Hearts: From the New World
Shining Force NEO
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Suikoden 2
Wild Arms 4

GBA (3)
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Golden Sun
Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon

PC (1)
Diablo II

DS (2)
Final Fantasy III
Final Fantasy IV

PSP (6)
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Jeanne D'Arc
Star Ocean: First Departure
Star Ocean: Second Evolution
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth

X360 (9)
Blue Dragon
Enchanted Arms
Eternal Sonata
Fable II
Lost Odyssey
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of Warlords
Star Ocean: The Last Hope
Tales of Vesperia
The Last Remnant

RPG Series Completed (2)

• Shadow Hearts (3 games)
• Star Ocean (4 games)

It's funny that I only managed to beat 2 on the DS platform, it being my preferred handheld device. Notable misses on my lists are Chrono Trigger, FF VIII, Vagrant Story and Xenogears. With the exception of CT, which I can get on my DS, it would be quite impossible to play those games since I no longer own a psone. Other games which I will definitely play are Persona 4 (now playing), Devil Summoner, Digital Devil Saga 2 (if i can get a working copy), and Golden Sun 2.

So in your opinion, what other games are missing from the list?

Closer friends of mine would know what I have been up to recently since graduation- doing nothing. It's been the case for the past 3 months, and as appealing as it may seem, life about nothing but video gaming can be pretty dreadful. In 7 days time I will enter my next phase of life and begin my career. I've work pretty hard for the last 3 years to land myself in this position, but knowing how this may essentially be what I will be doing for the rest of my life, what I am feeling is more apprehension than excitement. But I will be geared for it.

I am sure I will still play games when I am working, but time left for it would take a serious beating. One thing that will definitely change is my time for reviewing games. It may not seem like it, but the last review I wrote took me at least 5 hours to write/edit/rewrite. So from now on my reviewing time will strictly be used for games that deserve it, or titles which are relatively more obscure. For other games I will probably write a paragraph or two on this blog instead. That way, I wouldn't compromise my reviewing styIe, you guys wouldn't be obliged to read/recommend it, and I don't need to spend that much time on them. It's a win-win-win situation!

Gaming Report Card (last 3 months).

1. Gaming Loot

(Regrets for absence in picture: Magic the Gathering XBLA)

A cookie for whoever can pick the odd game out. Besides the 2 Persona games (totally worth it btw!), all the other games are used and picked up very cheaply. In case you guys are wondering, Star Ocean 1 is British version, Star Ocean 4 Asian version, Prince of Persia Korean version and the rest US version games. Yeah, we are pretty international here in Singapore!

With income comes adult responsibility (loans/bills/etc). While I am definitely not the most extravagant in game purchase here on GS, I have decided to come up with a game purchase plan for the future:

• A budget of 100SGD (~70USD) per month for games
• Only games on my wish list may be purchased on full retail price
• Games which are not on the wish list may be purchased only if on bargain price/used
• Unspent money for the month will be contributed to my PS3 kitty

Booyah! A fool proof plan. Hopefully, I will be able to stick to it....

2. Game Completion List

• Star Ocean: The Last Hope
• Too Human
• Final Fantasy IV (DS)
• Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
• Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness
• Wild Arms 4
• Persona 3: Fes
• Star Ocean: First Departure

I would put in Star Ocean: Second Evolution there too, since I will beat in the next few days. Oh yeah, all of them are RPGs (Too Human has rpg elements), hope it hasn't surprised you. This brings my total number of RPGs beaten to 50+. I will create a list in my next blog, maybe.

3. Game Reviews Written

• The Last Remnant
• Too Human
• Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
• Wild Arms 4
• Persona 3: Fes

It has been pretty fruitful, hasn't it?