Gaming Diary — Page 359

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS)

Posted on 19/01/2014 Written by deKay

This is slow going. Not that slow going is a problem, and it’s actually mostly my “fault” as I keep getting sidetracked looking for treasure and stuff – only to be disappointed that I don’t have the Titan’s Mitt to pick up big rocks. Well, sorted that by getting the mitt from the Desert Palace. Now (I think!) I can reach everywhere, as I’ve all the weapons too.

But I’m ahead of myself. Before the Desert Palace (which, like in Link to the Past, was “split” into several sections inside and outside the dungeon – and in this game split across both Hyrule and Lorule) I completed the Ice Palace. It wasn’t hard, but was substantially harder than I was anticipating at this still-relatively-early stage in the game. Enemies were taking 4 or 5 hearts off with a single hit, so I had to be careful. Thankfully, there’s a supply of fairies in a central thoroughfare so I could frequently heal up without much trekking. Then I remembered – you can do dungeons in any order, so it stands to reason I might hit a hard one early, which is what I suspect I did. In addition to the enemies, the puzzles were a bit brain bendy too, so yeah.

After that, the Desert Palace was a complete walkover. Even though I forgot I had the sand rod several times so temporarily struggled with the scarab things and buried chests. Old age, eh?

Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)

Posted on 19/01/2014 Written by deKay

fertiliser

And still the game goes on. I found out that the reason I didn’t have a Gold Shovel yet is because I simply haven’t bought enough fertiliser. So I’ve been buying fertiliser.

But what to do with all my fertiliser? Send it to Agent S, of course! That girl (yes, it surprised me too) loves fertiliser. Probably.

Then my transvestitism was unkindly brought up when the less tolerant than expected Lopez questioned why I was wearing a lady’s hat. Because I like it and it makes me feel pretty, Lopez.

Fight intolerance, yo.

Super Mario 3D World (Wii U)

Posted on 19/01/2014 Written by deKay

That picture there is all the flags, stars and stamps for all of the worlds from 1-8. Or 1-Bowser, if you’re using Nintendo’s eclectic numbering system. Surprisingly, although the hardest level up until then when playing normally and for the first run through, was Grumblump Inferno (the one with the blocks you have to stand on as they roll over lava), and I’d failed to get anything but a finish on it, this time I found it incredibly easy and breezed through getting everything. Time is such a healer.

Or, in the case of Mario games, time is a great provider of awesome Mario skills. With much play comes great power. Or something.

After that, it was onto the special worlds to clean up the remaining collectables there. I’m not far in yet, but no real difficulties yet. Aside from on Rainbow Run, where although I didn’t die, getting to the second star with a Fire Flower intact was a challenge. After several attempts (restarting if I lost it), I realised there was a Fire Flower just to the left of the area you need one for. Gah.

The reward? DAH DAH DAH DAAAAAH!!

Saints Row the Third: losing Matt

Posted on 18/01/2014 Written by Xexyz

Last night I arranged to meet Matt on PSN, a meeting that was interrupted by Nicholas being restless, Justine needing chocolate deliveries, and Gaby returning home. But eventually we were able to get the same game running, following interminable updates, and that game was Saints Row the Third. Having never played the previous games in the series, Matt filled me in on the detail a bit as we drove around town creating havoc.

It's not a bad game, by any stretch. It's massively over-the-top, with items such as a car with a people cannon attached, and missions involving flying a helicopter through the streets, exploding cars with rockets, and skydiving through a debris field. In some missions you're effectively alone, and the cutscenes always show your character, which was confusing at first; especially once I'd changed my character's costume to be just a pair of pants and Matt couldn't tell what I was laughing about.

Talking of being alone, Kieron may have some competition in the 'wandering off' competition. Frequently I had to stop whatever I was doing in order to find Matt and either get him out of a fight or guide him to the next objective. Still, he was having fun.

FIFA 13: loss after loss

Posted on 17/01/2014 Written by Xexyz

I'm rubbish at this. I'm rubbish at most football games (with the possible exception of International Sensible Soccer on the Mega Drive), but this is harder than most. As well as the standard controls to battle with - in particular, I can never remember which is shoot and which is a high pass - EA have included a number of touch-screen controls on this. You can tap a player to pass to him, except by the time you've tapped there he's probably moved and you'd be better off passing with the B button. You can tap on an area of the screen to shoot in the goal (tap top-left to shoot top-left), but by the time you've looked down at the pad to accurately aim, you've missed your chance.

I do like playing football games, but that enjoyment mostly comes in the five seconds of the match when I manage to score a goal. That happened only once.

The thing is, as hopeless as I am at this, and as much as I find real-life football boring, there's an attraction about videogame football that I can't ignore. This is one of the better versions I've played, and I'm sure I'll get used to the touch controls at some point.