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So it's been a while since i've typed anything up and i feel my completed games deserve a few written lines somewhere in this blog. I'm not going to hold back so i'll just pour out my feelings for as long as my interest holds out on a particular game. Here goes...

Bioshock (PC)

I briefly mentioned this before somewhere, this is definitely deserving of the game of the year nominations from several websites. Bioshock is not just a first person shooter. It has RPG elements like HP, MP, a 'leveling-up' system, and managing your inventory and currency etc. The story plays out convincingly without resorting to long cut-scenes. The art shines through in recreating an underwater city. The tension, ambience and excellent use of lighting exaggerates the presence of enemies - but it's the soundtrack which really underpins the sense of a high quality gaming experience. If you're blessed with a surround sound setup, this game could give you shivers and goosebumps as you hear hysterical laughter, cries and shouts from all sorts of sweeping locations. The game even gives you a choice which ultimately decides which of the two type of endings you'll get. I don't want to spoil the story but the game gives you the choice to 'harvest' or save the 'little sisters'. This is when the game becomes interesting; you can get abilities such as fire, ice, electricity etc. Harvesting would yield you more 'Adam' which can be used to upgrade yourself. Saving these small children would give you less 'Adam' but you do reap a moral reward. There are some negatives to be said: there isn't that much freedom for an RPG, yet its linearity helps the pacing. One can say the freedom is not within exploration itself but of what you can do in terms of abilities and weapons - a little like Crysis actually. The enemy AI is pretty simplistic and is easy to exploit some of their attack patterns. There are 'fetch mini-quests' which takes you back to previous areas if that is something you don't like. Despite these slight flaws, the game is polished in both presentation and in the player's experience. I found it ultimately fun although some parts do drag on. The ending was pretty easy and the ending cut-scene was very brief for the amount of effort it took to get there. Still, the rewards and enjoyments are to be had from the journey itself, not the destination. I highly recommend this game for anyone who wants to stray from those straight-forward shooting games.

Boom Blox (Wii)

I first knew of Boom Blox when news broke out that Steven Spielberg was being involved in it with EA (Los Angeles). What? Steven Spielberg? The movie director? Er...yes. I don't know what exactly his input was for this game despite having his name slapped on top of the game title, but I can say that Boom Blox is an easy game to get into. It's simple and yet it can be devilishly difficult. Small parts of the game can be easy and yet that heightens the sense of competition if you were to involve 1 to 3 more players. The game is made up of several different game types. There's a Jenga-like game, shooting gallery type game, explosive type game, defend the castle type game, golf-like game etc. I could go on and on listing the different types but it'd be too long. Ultimately, the game plays with extensive use of the Wii pointer. Motion is kept simple by using your swings as a gauge for how powerful your throws are. And depending on the game type you're allowed to shoot, grab and throw blocks around. Mix in explosive blocks, fragile blocks, point blocks, heavy blocks, chemical blocks and enemies into the game with a great physics engine working behind the scenes then what you get is an accessible and pleasing puzzle/action game.. The levels are easy to start with and would make you fall into a false sense of security (especially with the comical and cartoony looks) because beyond the 70% completion mark you'd probably be swearing and cursing as you try to achieve Gold on that seemingly impossible level. Take that as a compliment though; there's scope for those who want to breeze through the game and also for those who aim for perfection. And if you have completed the game, you can go and create your own levels with the objects you unlocked. This create mode along with the multiplayer gives the game much replayability. Don't be mislead with all of my positivity with the game though. At heart, it is still a puzzler and one that is on the whole very simple. If you're looking for a good story or want some violence to spice things up, you're obviously barking up the wrong tree. Within the puzzle genre though, Boom Blox is one of the best out there.

For some reason, my Wii is constantly making a lot of noise when reading the game disc which does get very annoying (this is something to do with the way the game was made which causes the disc to be read loudly, I think).

Final Fantasy IV (DS)

Oh wow. I completed a JRPG! It took a long time, I think I clocked up around 40 hours when I toppled the final boss. Anyway, Final Fantasy IV for the DS is a 3D remake. I'll admit I haven't played the original, but my experience with this game convinces me that if I had played that game at its time of release, i'd be hailing it as the best RPG ever. FFIV DS differs a lot from many JRPGs i've played by having a large cast of characters which come and go throughout the game. It's like a rollercoaster ride in which the way your characters are taken from you and given back, characters who you invested time and effort to level up - it's almost as if they're toying with you. The game plays like your cIassic JRPG so don't go expecting the gameplay itself to excite you with new features/dynamics. FFIV retains those Final Fantasy characteristics though, like Cid, Chocobos, airship(s!), epic good/evil battle - oh and that gorgeous soundtrack! The game is good. Very good. I was somewhat taken aback though; after witnessing a really good FMV i'm treated with slightly cartoonish sprites in-game. This is one of those times when i'd wish the NDS was more powerful. The game also does not really take advantage of the touchscreen at all and I feel that this game would be more suited to the PSP. Anyway, while the game is often interesting because of your ever-changing team it also lacks a lot of emotion. It may also have something to do with the visuals, but it is difficult to connect with the characters. One last negative I should mention are the very bland 'corridors'. 'Dungeons' play almost exactly the same as each other but with a different wallpaper slapped onto the walls, and they can also be rather long just for the sake of extending the duration of the dungeon. Some of the added 'NDS features' feel really gimmicky like having to do some maths exercise to increase the stats of this character whom you probably won't use at all. Looking at the bright side, the story is excellent and epic, the cut-scenes are a nice touch with decent voice-acting, the combat is solid Final Fantasy written all over it, the game can be difficult yet satisfying, and the game does last a long while. A solid JRPG for the NDS although some elements that have been added can be rather questionable.

Ghost Squad (Wii)

I'm actually not sure I should be mini-reviewing it or not. You see, the light-shooter game, Ghost Squad is actually one of those games you beat but not yet complete - kind of like a fighting game. I like to beat a game to pretty much near completion before giving a review, and I feel that even with about 5 plays it isn't sufficient. Ghost Squad unlocks difficulties, multiple paths and game modes as you complete it. Unlockable weapons also change how the game plays too. Beating the game is pretty easy to start with and is also incredibly short - difficulty sets in though as you take higher level alternative paths and racking up points to be placed on the online leaderboard. Options like turning off the aiming reticule and aim calibration makes Ghost Squad a good recreation of the arcade experience (minus the huge gun you hold). The game itself has nice variety in terms of bosses, multiple paths, bomb-defusal and hostage situations but none of which would blow your mind - the co-op mode is always a nice addition though. The story hardly needs a mention since it's so forgettable and cliché. What you really should be concentrating on is if you want an arcade experience at home for cheap. Providing you're enjoying beating the game several times with these incentives, the game is good value. If not, this would be a rental at best.

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Reviewing aside, here are some more updates on what i've bought:
NOTE: Add me on PSN! The name is Pangster007, please tell me if you've added me.

£270 for the PS3 80GB + HDMI cable + Resistance 2.

Ratchet for £13. Liking the reduced prices but that Platinum cover is disgusting. A good print of ahigh res scan of the Pal coverwould look better.

Expensive at £27 but considering that there wouldn't be many copies of this game around, that price is very unlikely to fall.

Completed R2, pretty good, watch out for my small review of this game. MGS4 = £16.

Got these 3 just today. Argos had a clearance of games - picked up last copy of Harvest Moon for £8. Wario Ware was £15. Heavenly Sword came in through the mail, £13.