Here's a quick update on the gaming front.

SPLATTERHOUSE
On a whim I started to play usagi704's TG-16 and finally beat the game with his assistance on the final boss. A day later I was able to beat the game without help and without continuing! This puts the number of games finished for 2009 at 43!

Now hopefully I won't have to wait as long to get through Splatterhouse 2.

I was at a loss for the next big game to play. Usagi mentioned that he was going to play Infamous so I figured I would too.

INFAMOUS
The first thing that I noticed with the controls is that the right stick for camera control is much quicker on the default setting than any other game I've played to date. It's not a problem as you get used to it very quickly. It's just something that I noticed right away.

Currently I'm 50% completed with the game with the rank of Hero. Other stats include the following.

40 Powers/Upgrades
59 of 84 Districts
22 of 32 Dead Drops
76 of 350 Blast Shards
12 of 21 Stunts

There's some cool powers within the game. They usually resemble guns from other games like a sniper rifle, rocket launcher, grenades, etc.

Something that the game doesn't really tell you is that draining electricity not only refills your power cores (works like ammo), but it can also help heal faster instead of waiting for it to recharge on its own.

I also found it helpful to shoot drained power boxes to refill them so that you can in turn reuse them right away.

Thanks for stopping by!

It's time for another round of my thoughts on demos from the PlayStation Network. These are a little old as I downloaded them as soon as they were available, but let them sit on the hard drive while playing some other games.

WOLFENSTEIN
This game definitely takes you back to the old school id Software style of shooter. I never was the biggest fan of that style, but I'd probably still pick this game up. The demo was unfortunately a bit too short, but it does give you a feeling of whether or not you'd be into this type of game.

Rating: Bargain Bin

NINJA GAIDEN SIGMA 2
This demo was much more satisfying. While there was only a Ryu mission available right away, completing it unlocked an Ayane mission. That in turn unlocked Team Missions mode.

I found the controls to be very easy to use and pretty responsive. Above all I was shocked at how much fun I had. The game definitely gives you that badass feeling. I'll own this game eventually. That's a guarantee.

Rating: Sooner Rather Than Later

LOST PLANET 2
I've only played some of the demo of the original game and after playing this demo it's pretty clear that it's more of the same, but at the same time an improved game and with 4-player co-op.

This game has an interesting warmer climate look to it, but still plays like you'd expect if you've played the first game. I've had a lot of fun playing with others to take down the huge boss in the demo. It takes awhile, but it's satisfying once you do.

Rating: Sooner Rather Than Later

NEED FOR SPEED: SHIFT
I'm intrigued by this game if for only reason that it's considered a pretty good entry into the long running Need For Speed series. After trying out the demo I can't say for sure if I'd ever get the game, but I can tell you that it's fun and I hardly ever feel that way about simulation racing games. It's that well balanced for both sim and arcade racing fans.

Rating: Bargain Bin

All four demos were enjoyable in their own right and I wouldn't say that any of them would be bad purchases if you like the genre they're from. My favorite of the bunch is Lost Planet 2. The four player co-op is very fun and has promise for the full game to be fantastic.

Rating scale: Day One - Sooner Rather Than Later - Bargain Bin - Skip It

Out of all of the games listed below it's undeniable which one will outsell them all. That's obviously Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Even with that said, there's been quite a bit of talk about Dragon Age: Origins during the last few weeks leading up to its release.

My interests lie with Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier and Need for Speed: Nitro on the DS.

Where do your interests lie?

NEW GAMES FOR THE WEEK OF 11/1
Band Hero (X360, PS2, PS3, WII, DS)
Dragon Age: Origins (X360, PS3, PC)
Dragon Age: Origins - The Stone Prisoner (XBL)
Dragon Age: Origins - Warden's Keep (XBL)
Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier (PS2, PSP)
Lego Rock Band (DS, PS3, WII, X360)
Need for Speed: Nitro (WII, DS)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 (X360, PS3)
Rabbids Go Home (DS, WII)
Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron (DS, PSP)
Star Wars The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition (PC, PS3, X360)

NEW GAMES FOR THE WEEK OF 11/8
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3, X360, PC)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare - Mobilized (DS)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare - Reflex (WII)
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast (X360, PS3)
Excitebike: World Rally (WW)
Final Fantasy XI: Ultimate Collection (X360)
Final Fantasy XI: Vana'diel Collection 2010 (PC)
Harvest Moon DS: Sunshine Islands (DS)
Harvest Moon: Animal Parade (WII)
Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble (PSP)
NBA 2K10 (WII)
Phantasy Star Zero (DS)
Pop'n Music (WII)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 (PSP, PS2, WII)
Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage (WII)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Arcade Attack (DS)