Bastion's Blog

Posted on Aug 27th 2011 at 12:33:29 AM by (Bastion)
Posted under Videogames, Backlog

I finished two more games from my backlog-Vanquish and Heavenly Sword.

Let me start with Heavenly Sword. Great, great game. I have always like hack and slash games like Onimusha and God of War so this was right up my alley. The graphics were great, even though there were bouts of slowdown from time to time. The gameplay was varied between two characters and the game used Sony's six-axis controller quite well.




The other game that I beat was Vanquish from famed Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami. The game is nothing like Resident Evil however. The game might be the most action packed game I have ever played. It is a third person shooter, with a big emphasis on shooting!

It was a fun, brief(5 hours) diversion with a weak story that I really couldn't explain here as I didn't pay much attention to it. I liked it but I think I prefer games that allow me to breathe once in awhile.




Games left on my current list to finish(I have added a few):

1. Resistance Fall of Man
2. Ocarina of Time-3DS
3. Silent Hill Shattered Memories-PSP
4. Heavenly Sword-PS3
5. Tomb Raider Underworld-360
6. Bayonetta-360
7. Vanquish-PS3
8. LA Noire-PS3
9. Resident Evil 5-PS3
10. Bastion-XBLA-
11. Alice Madness Returns(PS3)-Currently playing
12. Bioshock 2(360)



Posted on Aug 12th 2011 at 08:57:41 PM by (Bastion)
Posted under Videogames, Backlog

Hysteria Project started out as an iPhone game that also got released last year for the PSP Mini brand. I downloaded it shortly after it came out and learned that it was a FMV game similar to many of the Sega CD games back in the day. This will contain spoilers so stop reading now if you plan on playing this game.



I finally played it for the first time yesterday after finding out that Hysteria Project 2 will be coming out later this month and came away slightly disappointed.  It is a survival horror FMV game if I had to describe it's genre.

You start out tied up in a shed after being kidnapped(presumably) and find a way to escape. The rest of the game is pushing the X and O button at the right time or choosing to go straight, right or left. Check the images below for an example:









As the games goes by you get chased by a guy in a black hoodie carrying an axe for whatever reason. If you choose the wrong option, it's game over and you go back to the last checkpoint. At one point he recaptures you and you have to start over from the beginning. It's really quite bizarre.




While I was disappointed overall, it was still a unique experience for the whole 20-30 minutes that the game lasted. The game left me wondering "what in the world is going on here?". Supposedly Hysteria Project 2 is going to explain why the character was kidnapped among other things.

I will be buying Hysteria Project 2 when it comes out later this month just for the unique experience and to see what the first game was all about as it did leave a lot of questions in my mind.








Posted on Aug 11th 2011 at 02:41:12 AM by (Bastion)
Posted under Videogames, Backlog

I have been asked how I determine what games I play for my backlog. I knew I had to get my collection under control, first and formost, and dedicated myself this year to actually finishing games.

I thought about this for a few minutes and came up with this list:

1. It is a game I know I really want to beat for whatever reason(maybe a sequel is coming soon or I have beaten all the other games in the series)

2. I have previously put some time into it before. This makes it easier to go back and finish more quickly. Now this can also be a challenge as it can be hard to remember what I need to do. IGN guides and Gamefaqs are a great help with this!

3. It is a relatively short game. I love RPG's and have a tome of them but I wanted to make sure that I finished as many games as possible this year so I decided to focus on games under 15 hours. Playing on easy helps out a lot as well. I used to refuse to do this but anymore, I want to see the end of the game and enjoy it instead of getting frustrated by replaying the same level for the 50th time.

4. It is a game that I enjoy. This ties into number two. I really don't buy games that I know I won't like so pretty much all the games I get I will enjoy in some aspect.


That is really about it. I do find that blogging here really helps me stay focused as well, regardless if many people read the blog or not.

How do you decide what games to play on your backlog?





Posted on Aug 11th 2011 at 02:28:48 AM by (Bastion)
Posted under Videogames, Backlog

Another one bites the dust--this time the PS3 version of Resident Evil 5.



This was yet another game I got at launch and played for awhile and then set aside. I really didn't like it at first but now that I went back and played it, the game really grew on me. The game is not really like previous RE games( a little like 4 I suppose with the shooting technique) as you play a lot of the game outside in the daylight(within the game--not in real life!!) so that did take away the RE feel for me quite a bit. The part I most liked were the boss fights!! They were great!

The game is really meant to play co-op with another person but I played it by myself. Overall, I would give it a 7.5/10. Good game but I would have liked it darker and spookier.

I have to add that the PS1 version of the original Resident Evil is what started my love of survival horror games. The only RE game from the main series that I have yet to finish is Resident Evil 0. I do own that game so I will have to play it sometime.

1. Resistance Fall of Man
2. Ocarina of Time-3DS
3. Silent Hill Shattered Memories-PSP
4. Heavenly Sword-PS3--Currently playing
5. Tomb Raider Underworld-360
6. Bayonetta-360
7. Vanquish-PS3
8. LA Noire-PS3
9. Resident Evil 5-PS3
10. Bastion-XBLA-Currently playing



Posted on Aug 6th 2011 at 05:40:56 AM by (Bastion)
Posted under Videogames, Backlog

I have completed another game from my large backlog. This time it is a PSP game-Silent Hill Shattered Memories.



I decided to play this game after my recent playing of Silent Hill Homecoming on the PS3. I loved that game and just felt like more Silent Hill. Now the only Silent Hill game that I have not beaten is Silent Hill 4-The Room. I do own this game but I think I will wait for Halloween time to play it.

Anyway, the game was great, especially played in the dark with headphones on. I liked the other Silent Hill game on PSP more(SH-Origins) though. I think the reason is because in this game you know when you are safe and when you are in danger. Whenever the environment shifts to ice, out come the ghouls(or whatever they are). Outside of that, I never felt unnerved by the game.

I can respect the different direction the designers of the game were taking and would still highly recommend the game. It's also on the Wii.


Here are the games that I hope to finish in the next several months:

1. Resistance Fall of Man
2. Ocarina of Time-3DS
3. Silent Hill Shattered Memories-PSP
4. Heavenly Sword-PS3
5. Tomb Raider Underworld-360-Currently playing
6. Bayonetta-360
7. Vanquish-PS3
8. LA Noire-PS3
9. Resident Evil 5-PS3-Currently playing
10. Bastion-XBLA-Currently playing



Posted on Jul 31st 2011 at 06:17:56 AM by (Bastion)
Posted under Videogames, Backlog

Here are the games that I hope to finish in the next several months:

1. Resistance Fall of Man
2. Ocarina of Time-3DS
3. Silent Hill Shattered Memories-PSP--Currently playing
4. Heavenly Sword-PS3
5. Tomb Raider Underworld-360-Currently playing
6. Bayonetta-360
7. Vanquish-PS3
8. LA Noire-PS3
9. Resident Evil 5-PS3-Currently playing
10. Bastion-XBLA-Currently playing



I have to say that I really enjoyed this game. This was the game I bought back when the PS3 launched and I really liked it then but got stuck. I found the game to be quite challenging but one that made me feel like I had accomplished something big when I got past a certain section. I do wish checkpoints were a little closer together but I finally completed this game last night. Excellent game that I feel holds up much better than Halo 3 does after going back to play each one after a long time away from them.

I recently purchased Resistance 2 at Target for $10 and I think I will be playing that one sooner rather than later in anticipation of Resistance 3. But before that, I have these other games to finish up!!



Posted on Jul 28th 2011 at 09:10:46 PM by (Bastion)
Posted under Videogames, Backlog

Here are the games that I hope to finish in the next several months:

1. Resistance Fall of Man-PS3
2. Ocarina of Time-3DS
3. Silent Hill Shattered Memories-PSP
4. Heavenly Sword-PS3
5. Tomb Raider Underworld-360
6. Bayonetta-360
7. Vanquish-PS3
8. LA Noire-PS3
9. Resident Evil 5-PS3
10. Bastion-XBLA



Posted on Jul 28th 2011 at 09:02:49 PM by (Bastion)
Posted under Videogames, Backlog

Several months back I intended to write here more consistently to help me get through my huge backlog of games. I haven't done very well actually blogging but I have done extremely well playing and finishing games.

In my previous blog, I mentioned it was my new year's resolution to actually finish games this year. I finished three games in 2010--Heavy Rain, Splinter Cell Conviction and Alan Wake. I have a big problem of starting games and then playing them a quarter of the way through and then starting something else. I really like to buy games as well. Whenever I find a good deal, I have to buy it if it is a game I am interested in(darn you Cheapassgamer!!). Due to these issues, my backlog has grown to well over a hundred current gen games, not including retro system games(I own pretty much all of them).

I have to say that I am quite proud of myself this year with the games that I have completed. Even though I haven't blogged here as much as I intended, I always new I would eventually and it has kept me focused on finishing games.

On to my completed games since my last update on March 3rd. The list is in no particular order.

1. Metro 2033--Xbox 360

metro2033boxart--415x615.jpg







I bought this for $10 at Sears on clearance and thought I would really love this game as it was an FPS with horror aspects. It was ok but I didn't find it very fun. I hated the fact that I always had to worry about my stupid gas mask. It annoyed me and I never felt at ease with the game. Maybe that was the point the developer's were trying to make. Who knows. I'm glad I only spent $10 on it. This is the only title I couldn't wait for the game to be over.

2. Silent Hill Homecoming-PS3

silenthill--article_image.jpg


I love survival horror games. Love them. This got a lot of so-so reviews but I have to say with my 5.1 surround sound headphones on in the dark, this was an awesome Silent Hill game. If you like Silent Hill games, you will like this. I bought this the week it came out and just finished it!

3. Back to the Future Episode 1-PS3



back-to-the-future-episode1.jpg

I have a problem with PSN and XBLA games. They are very easy to buy but then I rarely play them as i feel like I need to finish my boxed games first. Anyway, this was short and a fun little diversion from all the FPS's I have been playing. Episode 5 just came out this week so I have a long way to go to finish the entire series.

4. The Darkness-Xbox 360


1180560764.jpg


This is another game that I got right when it came out. It was in the early days of the 360 and there wasn't much out so I got this and enjoyed it for quite awhile but then got sidetracked. I really enjoyed it overall. The shooting aspects weren't the best but "The Darkness" powers were a lot of fun. I wanted to finish this up before The Darkness 2 comes out next year.



5. Chronicles of Riddick-Assault on Dark Athena-Xbox 360

chronicles-of-riddick-assault-on-dark-athena-box-art-front.jpg


I loved the original Chronicles of Riddick back on the original Xbox. I found this game at Target several years ago for under $10 and had to snatch it up. Most reviews said the games was average but I really liked it. It had great atmosphere. It also comes with an redone version of the original game but since I had beaten that already, I didn't play it.

6. Bioshock-Xbox 360


bioshock1.jpg

What a great game!! I loved the atmosphere! This is another game I bough right when it came out and just finished it. Finding Bioshock 2 for $5 new helped me want to finish it as well as the awesome looking Bioshock Infinite that is coming out next year. I have to say that I thought the shooting mechanics were't very good though.

7. Fear 2 Project Origin-Xbox 360


fear_2_360boxart_160w.jpg


This is another FPS that is horror themed and unlike Metro 2033, I absolutely loved this game. Great atmoshpere and gunplay especially with bullettime! I knew I would like it as I loved the first Fear and will love Fear 3 when I find it cheap later this year.

8. Enslaved-Odyssey to the West-Xbox360

Enslaved_X360_BoxFront_FINALboxart_160w.jpg


I needed a break from FPS games and this did the trick. This is an excellent third person action game with beautiful graphics. I got it at Gamestop new for $15 this spring and couldn't recommend it highly enough. It came from the same company that made heavenly Sword which is coming soon to a PS3 near me.

9. Crysis 2-Xbox 360

crysis_2_360boxart_160w.jpg

I very rarely buy full priced games but just knew I had to have this one. Awesome, awesome FPS with great graphics! There is something about bullet time that I really like in shooters.

10. Halo 3

Halo3-Box-Art.jpg





I felt guilty about not finishing this one up a long time ago. I bought it the day it came out and played a lot of it but for whatever reason, put it aside. I loved it back then but when I went back to play it recently, I found the game seemed old in comparison to games like Crysis 2. I still enjoyed it and recently purchased Halo 3 ODST which I will playeeventually before picking up Halo Reach(hopefully before Halo 4!!)



11. James Bond Quantum of Solace-Xbox 360

1219878083.jpg


I bought this on a whim from my local Pamida store for $10. I knew it would be a short romp and I had this desire to play a Bond game after watching the recent movies. It was just as many reviews stated at the time--an ok FPS. Nothing special and a bit generic.


12. Dead Space-PS3

dead_space_box_art.jpg

I thought I would love this game as it was survival horror and I love survival horror. But then I realized that it wasn't really survival horror but an action game with horror aspects. Once I accepted that I enjoyed the game but still don't like where this generations survival horror is going--more action oriented.

13. Resistance Retribution-PSP

resistance-retribution-20090116100840746-000.jpg


This was a really enjoyable game third person shooter on the PSP which will no doubt play a lot better on the PS Vita with two analog stick. Regardless, great game that got me back into playing Resistance 1on the PS3.

14. Pilotwings-3DS


As I generally have to buy any new system that comes out right away(which as of today I am quite upset about as it is dropping to $170!!), I got the 3DS with this as it was the only game that really interested me. I also bought the Ghost Recon game which I really am enjoying more but need to finish. This game was a fun little romp that made me really start to like 3d. Once I beat it I got rid of it as I didn't see myself going back to play it.


So there is my very long list of games that I have beaten since March 3. Quite a list if I do say so myself. Now on to what I am currently playing:

Resistance-Fall of Man-PS3
Silent Hill Shattered Memories-PSP
Ocarina of Time 3d-3DS



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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