Tony Hawk's Waste of Time...

So, we rented Tony Hawk Wasteland today. Actually, Anj needed to transfer it to his store, so he brought it home.. thankfully we didn't waste any of our money.
Being a fan of the previous Tony Hawk games, I was anxious to see this new one. It was such a disappointment though.
The game was a waste of time. It felt like I was playing Tony Hawk 2. Same missions, same level set-ups. I played this all of 20 mins in between waiting for the Aprentice to come on.
I don't know how the heck they thought this was great to beguin with. I swear, it was basically the same game as before, with just different skaters, and higher point tricks.
Don't waste your time with this game. Two thumbs down.

Urbz

Well, Anj rented me the Urbz last night. I pulled myself off of Katamari to give it a look see. I played it for a little while, but haven't got the complete look of things. Having played Sims 2 on the console first, I have to say that the controls aren't as good for the Urbz. It is different than Sims games though that I have played. You actually control them as they are working.
It is unique to this version of the Sims.

Also, like in the real world, there are also different types of urban settings. The game is about getting a reputation high enough to eventually be a star. On the journey to the top though, you have to dress to impress of course. So, you actually have to buy new clothes, and change hairstyles to fit in. There are 9 districts to play in... each has different styled Urbz and goals. I have opened Diamond Heights so far.. started in Cozmo Street.

Now, not having the instruction manual sucked. Thankfully, since it was older, there was info on the net to help me of course.

Of course, there are also cheats out, but right now (heh, it's only been a day anyway though), I haven't used em.

It is different. That probably seems so jello-ish for a review. But, as of the beguinning stages, and just having the first look at it , that's all I have for now. If you are a fan of any of the Sims games though.. I will recommend taking a look. I will say this though... I really wish that they would provide us with more of these urban themed looking Sim styles into the PC and other versions. They have started a little bit. I would just love to see more. Building these urban meccas and ghettos would be kind of nice. Hey, spare me a little bit of time Maxis, and make it so that I don't have to =p
Worth a rent though... just not sure if it's worth buying. But hey, if you really want to buy it, it's only going to run you about $18 used or $20 new.

SIm action and other shameless link plugs 1=p

I have a couple of other blogs that I write stuff on about specific games as well.. I wrote a couple of reviews for the Sims 2 console version on my other blog devoted entirely to Sim action. For some reason, it is not allowing me to put that in my list of blogs on my profile though. Hmmm... so I am adding the link for you.

Originally I was just going to post pictures from the PC version's newest expansion, but I got a couple more from the actual console version. I just couldn't stand to look at just text in one of my little pieces. I guess that's me getting a bit anal there lol



Anyway...
I also added the link for my old EQ2 blog. It has a lot of screenshots in there. Actually, there are still tons of screenies that I have here on my comp too that I just never uploaded. I will get around to it eventually though. I have plenty of time, since I am no longer playing the game.
Had to add in there gamespot.com of course... great site there for all kinds of reviews and info especially on console games. A few others will be added too of course. Like the shameless plug for Stratics =) I write reviews and things when I have the time for the EQ2 part of Stratics.. though I am not familiar with the IRC program, so haven't officially gotten anything up there as of yet... yeah yeah yeah I know you think I am a slacker.

Periodically, you will find me posting little notes here as I add links of various game related sites.

Just a little heads up. But feel free to check out my blogs about Sim action and about EQ2. As well as Stratics. All the links I post are sites that I use personally, and would definately reccomend checking out at some point.

I love Katamari (well, I love both games actually =p)

Ok, I am so digging the sequel more here. Some of you may or may not be familiar with the first one though...

If not, I have included tons of pix from the original here. I figure, I don't want to spoil the sequel-- considering most people haven't even played and/or heard of the original.


The concept of the games is actually really simple. Oh and by the way, for all of you parents out there that watch the ESRB ratings, both the original game Katamari Damacy, as well as the sequel I Love Katamari ( Or I heart Katamari, whichever way you prefer to say it), are both rated E.

Ok, so back to the concept. This is obviously a Japanese game that they decided to bring out here.. so be forewarned, it is a little odd. The storyline is simple though. There is this almighty King from a different world, and one day, he has an accident, and destroys all the stars in the sky. So, in the game, you (the Prince) are sent down to Earth to gather up things in this big ball called a Katamari to turn into stars. The same thing happens in the sequel, but, after the first game, it continues the story-- saying that the game was so popular, and now they have all these fans. So, you have to complete the wants of the fans in this world. The levels in the first and the sequel are fun and challenging.

There are normal levels where you just have a goal and a time to get a certain size; but there are also a couple of different types of levels. There are, in the first one for example, levels where you have to try and roll up the biggest kind of a certain thing (you can only pick up one of them). Also, there are quick ones in the sequel, where you try and get so big as fast as you can. There is also a level in both games, where you are unable to see what size you are, but you have a goal to be a certain size-- you decide when to stop rolling. You have to watch visually to try and get it just right.

In the beguinning stages, you start off small... you pick up tiny objects all over. Then, as the katamari gets bigger, you end up picking up all kinds of fun things, like cats, dogs, animals,people, and eventually even buildings and full islands. I think this is a great game for kids to play actually. It isn't the hardest game to play, but it will definately keep their interests. I brought this over to my younger cousins's house to show them, and the kids had a blast with it.
There are also presents that are scattered somewhere in the stages that you can get. You can put them on The Prince (like he is shown on this photo with the inner tube around him). It is one of the fun, extra aspects of the game.

Ever wonder what exactly you have rolled up in that big Katamari? Well, in the second one, not only can you go to the collections screen to see what you have picked up in your travels, but in the sequel, if you pause while you are doing a level, you will actually see a list of everything you have picked up. A great thing for the incredibly anal ones that have to complete every tiny thing in its entirety in the game before they say that they have truly beaten it.

This new game actually allows you to take the save you had of the original and upload it to the I love Katamari game. There is a level in which you have to roll up all your planets and stars and satellites to try and roll up the sun. The new stages are more interesting to me in the sequel. However, both games are great just the same, and have alot of replay value... (again, especially for kids and your local eccentric oddball like me=)

So, if you haven't taken a look or played this, you definately should. I showed my kid brother this when we got the original in 03' and he's been hooked ever since.

Oh, and the best thing of all.. the original when it was new only cost $25USD and the new one only cost $30. A great price for a great game. Check it out and happy rolling.

super nerd lady's inevitable intro

Hello, I am the super nerd lady =)
(Actually just a normal 23 year old chick that loves video games.)
I have written a few blogs with info and ramblings about the latest and greatest games that I am playing. Well, the list started to get long with blogs, so I decided to consolidate here a bit.
Since I am pretty much stuck in the house a majority of time, I decided to play games and put my reviews on here. My husband continues to bring home a variety of games to suit my tastes of the moment. Some are old, some are new. Some of em are great, and man do some stink, p-ewe!

Ok, enough cheese for now.

To get a little idea of the games that I like and a little bit more of a background, I will share a few games that I am currently playing (yes, some of them clearly fit into the "mostly girls play that" type of titles), as well as some of the games we have on our system that I get to toy with, systems we own, and games that I have played.

Ok, here goes.. as far as online MMO's-- I have played Everquest 1, Everquest 2, FFX-I, Star Wars Galaxies and WoW. Currently, EQ2 and WoW are still on my system. But, I am currently trying to get into betas for 2 MMOs. One, I doubt that I will be able to get in anytime soon.
Anyways, I am trying to get into beta for Vanguard, and RF Online. The above pic is one of the 3 factions that you are able to play in RFO. It is the melee fighter version shown. More info on RFO in another post though.

When I played EQ2 though, I was in a couple of high end guilds. My name was Cyren, and I was on the Mistmoore server orignally, before I moved to Grobb. I joined one of the top guilds worldwide there. Here is the sig that one of the guys in guild made me back in the day.



I was amoung the top attending for raids. But for me, family had to come first, and inevitably, it is what made me end up quitting the game entirely. Well, that, and a bunch of other things, but that is all explained in my eq2 blog.
I have been considering trying out the Sims Online.. but.. eh, I don't know as of right now.
As far as the "normal" games.. I have Sims 2 + all the expansions, Age of Empires 3, Civilization 4, Half Life, Warcraft 3, Sim City 4, Quake 4, and something that I didn't see until yesterday (since my husband just likes to sneak stuff onto my computer more often these days "It has more room. ... It looks nicer on yours. ..." etc, etc.) Frozen Throne.
Now, it's a given that I do not always sit there and play some of these games for hours on end-- I am definately not the biggest RTS fan ever. But, I will try them, along with others, and post my reviews here.
We own: top of the line custom built PCs (I am spoiled and we like our toys.. all of which my husband built), Xbox, Playstation 2, Intellivision (yes, we still own that), Atari, Sega Genesis, Dreamcast, NES, and Super NES. I think that's everything. Well, just about, though, no it isn't every system. But that is our humble little setup. My husband is trying to get me to let him buy a 360, but I'm more excited about getting the Revolution (Nintendo) and/or the PS3.

I am playing 2 console games now.. We Love Katamari (obviously Playstation), and The Sims 2 for Xbox. I am looking forward to getting the new ddr style game coming out this month. I need to find the link to it, because I can't remember the name of it at the moment. It's a guitar one though.

I am a big fan of the music style games that came out. I am in the process of trying to get a Japanese Playstation. I like the music games that come out of there, as well as some of the weird out of the ordinary ones.

Anyways, I hope that gives you a little bit of an idea about me, and about what I intend to do on here. Don't be surprised if I often reference links to some of the better gaming sites to also look at.

Ok, my brain is jelly, it's time for tea and some more We love Katamari action =)