The Energon Pub

[The Happy Locust]

Grand Theft auto 4
Looks like I've opened up the final island. Of course, all I've explored there is the strip club so far.
Mostly ran jobs for Ray Boccino, an italian gangster. First mission was a jewelry delivery, next mission was to kill the other delivery boys because they stole from the delivery. 3rd was an exchange with another mob boss, which was then interupted violently by a 3rd faction. Fourth was to track down our inside man via his biker gang and assassinate them.
On a side note, found one of the men I was looking for from the old country. Unfortunately, he had changed his name and... um... orientation. Okay, I don't think he's going to be the one to solve my problems.

[Psycho Warrior]

Marvel ultimate alliance: 360
So far beat mephisto but that's not hard. Blackheart's alway the tough one since he knocks your guys around so much during the fight. I always loose one of them from falling off the platform.

[Shadowman]

Chrono Trigger DS:
Gotta get back to 12,000BC. To do that, I must go BACK TO THE FUTURE! Someone call Christopher Lloyd!

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess:
Doing nothing in particular. I got the Water Bombs, and the second bomb bag. Got around 180 Rupees and a Piece of Heart from the Chicken Flying Game.

Super Mario Galaxy:
I was playing this, remember? Now that DMC4 and MGS4 are beaten, and TF, Fallout 3 and GTA4 have temporarily lost their flavor, I have to play something to keep me from going insane.And, oh hey, I have Mario.

21 Stars, and I just saved Luigi.

[The Happy Locust]

call of Duty: World At War
Finished taking Peleliu island as the US soldiers, mercilessly using my flamethrower on the Japanese to clear them out of the caves. Eventually reached their caveside artillery and disabled it, allowing my remaining forces to advance.
Switched over to the Russian side and watched as my troops more or less leveled Berlin. Bloodthirsty commander but at least I didn't have to make any moral decisions other than "They die quickly or they die slowly, your choice."
After that, was tossed into the body of a different US soldier acting as a gunner on a flying gunship. Ran into heavy resistance trying to reach my fleet. The fleet was already destroyed before I arrived so it was now a survival mission more than an assist mission.

[Shadowman]

Grand Theft Auto IV:
Vlad's boss, Faustin, turned out to be a psychotic prick, even having me assassinate another mob boss's son. Then his right hand man, Dmitrii, had me assassinate Faustin...only to turn around and stab me right in the back, by inviting the guy who Niko ran the botched mission for to Liberty City.

Well, after Roman's apartment and shop get burned down, we end up getting a new place in Bohan.

Super Mario Galaxy:
I think I have around 40 stars.

Chrono Trigger DS:
Got the Epoch time-traveling thing, went to the Ocean Palace, and fought Lavos...only to lose in a single hit. Then Magus tried his hand, only to get his ass kicked. Then Crono...got disintegrated. Oops.

After being imprisoned on the Blackbird, a large Airship (It actually dwarfs most airships in Final Fantasy, at least in the number of rooms), we fought a boss who...was afraid of heights? He didn't even attack! Kind of made me feel bad, beating on a guy who's too scared to move. Then we got back the Epoch, now with flight capabilities.

I checked out the Lost Sanctum, one of the new areas. It's apparently a surviving Reptite City (Apparently knocked out of time-space by Lavos), and they want you to run a few missions for them. It's been called repetitive by...almost all reviewers, but the rewards are really nice.

Then I did real things. Got the titular Chrono Trigger, a Time Egg, that can apparently restore Crono back to life. The downside: to get there, I have to walk right into Lavos' nesting ground.

[The Happy Locust]

grand theft auto 4
Where to start...?
Spent about an hour trying to make a jump across the river between Alderny and Algonquin. Kept falling about 10 feet short. Then tried to score some social points with Packie, Roman, Little Jacob, and Kate.
Mission wise, did 2 assassination missions for the Fixer, ran a final mission for Derrick which involved busting a prisoner out of a police transport before violently murdering him.

[Shadowman]

Chrono Trigger DS:
Made it to the Black Omen...and got my ass handed to me by non-boss enemies. Alright, it wasn't so bad, but the two I had a real problem with (Both the same thing, though) only apparently attack was to toss knock-out gas, so by the time I had one down, my whole team (Crono, Frog, and Marle, I think) was knocked out, and the remaining enemy would only ever toss knock-out gas, leading to what would have been a slow, painful death, had I not escaped battle. (The first time I have ever escaped battle in any version of Chrono Trigger)

Super Mario Galaxy:
I think around 50 stars.

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess:
Beat the Lakebed Temple, got the Master Sword...and saw how Time beat the hell out of the Temple of Time (Still in better condition then it was in Link to the Past, wherein it was broken into nothing, and is now only the Lost Woods).

Beat King Bublin like a slab of beef. He didn't even put up a fight, I don't think I even got hit once. going out of my way to learn the Helm Splitter and Back Slice really paid off, although this didn't come as a shock, given that I used those heavily in the Gamecube version.

Now I'm in the Arbiter's Grounds.

[The Happy Locust]

Call of Duty: World at War
GAME.OVER!
Aided the Russians in storming the Reichstag, officially bringing down the German capital and destroying the Nazi regime.

Final thoughts: Not the awe-inspiring spectacle that COD4 was and I didn't get into it at the beginning, but it ended spectacularly. The entire game definitely gave the feeling that this will be the Call of Duty series' last WWII game due to every level being the end-of-war struggle, especially the end mission. I must say it was a very surprising but welcome change of pace to give the final victory to someone other than the Americans. Anyone else think the next non-modern game will show how the Cooperative US-British-Russian victory quickly descended to the Cold war.

[Shadowman]

Grand Theft Auto IV:
Did missions for Manny and Fanboy X--I mean Playboy X. Got access to the third island, Algonquin.

For the mission where Manny had me chase down a train, I couldn't get it done by car, and I couldn't get it done by motorcycle, so I did what I later found to be the easiest option: I spawned an Annihilator Helicopter.

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess:
Beat the Arbiter's Grounds finding that Zant, the Twilight King, broke the Mirror of Twilight, cutting off out only access to the Twilight Realm. Also learned the name of the real antagonist...Ganondorf? Who would have seen that coming? That's almost as shocking as Dr. Wily being the main villain in Mega Man 9!

The Sages attempted to execute Ganondorf, only to learn that gang-stabbings don't work on a guy using the Triforce of Power, leading to the death of the Sage of Water. They then dumped him into the Twilight Realm...which is now consuming the world of Light. Man, all of their ideas just turn around and bite them in the ass, huh?

Now I have to go to the Snowpeak Mountains...but screw that Yeti and his Yeti wife, I have neat stuff to obtain!

[The Happy Locust]

Grand Theft Auto IV:
Did missions for Manny and Fanboy X--I mean Playboy X. Got access to the third island, Algonquin.

For the mission where Manny had me chase down a train, I couldn't get it done by car, and I couldn't get it done by motorcycle, so I did what I later found to be the easiest option: I spawned an Annihilator Helicopter.

I actually didn't have too much trouble with that mission. Only took 2 tries (first try was foiled primarily due to me being unable to avoid oncoming traffic)

[Shadowman]

Grand Theft Auto IV:
Did missions for Manny and Fanboy X--I mean Playboy X. Got access to the third island, Algonquin.

For the mission where Manny had me chase down a train, I couldn't get it done by car, and I couldn't get it done by motorcycle, so I did what I later found to be the easiest option: I spawned an Annihilator Helicopter.

I actually didn't have too much trouble with that mission. Only took 2 tries (first try was foiled primarily due to me being unable to avoid oncoming traffic)

To be fair, I tried once by car, three times by NRG900, and then said "Screw it" and used a chopper.

Incidentally, I nearly died a few times.

[The Happy Locust]

Grand Theft auto 4
Not my favorite night for game playing. tried to do an assassination mission but the game locked. Went to see Francis instead and was told I needed to kill his brother Derrick. Derrick got wind of the plan and wanted me to kill Francis first. I got to choose who lives (kinda like the PlayboyX/Dwayne conundrum from earlier). I chose Derrick and Francis now has a very stylish hole in his head.

Went to do a mission for Jimmy but got a call from Packie which cancelled that mission because now I had to help him. I hate it when the game does that. Anyway, the mission I got sent on turned out to be a fun one. I visited Francis' funeral which was then attacked by a rival family. I killed all the attackers then got to drive a hearse to the burial site during a high-speed chase.

Finally got back to Jimmy's mission. Not a fun one. Being a sniper and protecting him is fun. But having to reach him before he dies after an arbitrary amount of time, not fun.

[Evil_the_Nub]

Dead Space

I'm on chapter 6 and thinking about trading it in already. It's boring and only holds my interest for about 10 minutes at a time. It's not a survival horror so much as survival switch flicking.

[1337W422102]

Grand Theft Auto Advance [GBA]:
Until I can get my rig powerful enough to play GTA4, I'mma play me some GTAa. It's a top-down full-fledged GTA3-era game, complete with Packages, Rampages, Police/Fire/Ambulance/Taxi missions, etc.

Finished the 8-Ball missions, working for Jonnie the barman now. About 23% through the game. Working on Portland Fire missions on the side.

Resident Evil Gaiden [GBC]:
Started a new game. Working my way through the lobby.

[The Happy Locust]

Grand Theft Auto 4
Most fun I've had with this game in a while. Ran 2 more jobs for Jimmy pegorino, the 2nd of which is probably the most involved since the bank heist some time ago. Basically went to pick up some H which should have been off the radar only to find ourselves surrounded by cops and feds. 2 shootouts, a car chase, one destroyed helicopter, and another carchase later and I've earned some very heavy resect.
On a bad note, I've officially given up on the social system. I may keep up the girlfrind aspect if only for the "coffee" aspect, but otherwise I've given up trying to keep my buddies happy. I just don't see any real benefit.

[8 bit]

Crystalis NES:
I finished off this NES classic tonight. I would've done it sooner, but I got caught up in playing the Resident Evil remake for the GC. Anyway, this is a fantastic game. Instead of being a long and drawn-out NES RPG, Crystalis manages to keep things fresh throughout the game in several ways: the map never looks the same when you visit a new area, it has an extensive upbeat soundtrack, and magic spells unlike any other NES game. I will admit, exploring caves gets a little old, as they all seem alike.

All in all, I was very impressed with this game and I had a lot of fun playing it. I'd recommend it if you can find it, I'm not sure if it's available as a Wii download.

[Shadowman]

Chrono Trigger DS:
Finished up the old sidequests, getting everyone's best equipment. (Aside form the new equipment, such as Crono's new sword with the 90% Critical hit rate) All I have left is the Black Omen and Lavos, but I'm holding off on that to do the Lost Sanctum, one of the new dungeons.

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess:
And now, the Snowpeak Ruins. A yeti has invited me to his house for a delicious soup. Also, he has a piece of the Mirror of Twilight...they just give these out to anyone, don't they?

EDIT:

Fallout 3:
I had a good mission strategy: What if, instead of charging at the large hoards of enemies that I can't beat in my current state, I stead go in the opposite direction, which is in fact where my goal is.

It worked surprisingly well. Who knew that walking AWAY from an army of enemies and TOWARDS a mission waypoint would go so well?

Planted a satellite dish on the busted-up Washington Monument. Now I have to go to Rivet City, a city made out of an aircraft carrier, an idea that is TOTALLY BADASS.

[Me, Grimlock!]

I've been playing Dead Rising lately. I finished the game, finished overtime mode, and toyed around with infinity mode (which isn't nearly as interesting as the others).

Right now, I'm working on the Frank the Pimp and Tour Guide achievements (which you can accomplish at the same time). But for some reason, my Xbox won't let me have them. I've escorted 8 female survivors simultaneously to the security room, but didn't get either of them (twice for Tour Guide). Has this happened to anyone else? Is there a trick I'm missing, or do I have to finish the game to get these achievements?

[Shadowman]

Fallout 3:
Saved a town from an army of giant ants, but killing the ants guarding the queen, then having the guy running the experiment (It was supposed to make them smaller...instead they got fire-breath), do some weird sciency-mumbo-jumbo.

Now I'm back to looking for Daddy...except JUST before hitting my goal, I was ambushed by Raiders and killed. GAH!

Final Fantasy VII:
Also I started playing this again. My PS3 can't play PS2 games, but no one said anything about not being able to play PS1 games.

The story so far:

-Blew up one of the Mako reactors. Met Aerith (I renamed her to match the spelling in the Compilation games, so my head doesn't explode), bought flowers, rode train.

-Rode train again, blew up another Mako reactor, met Aerith again.

-On a mission to save Tifa, Cloud was forced to dress up as a woman. In his defense, he was very, very opposed to the idea, especially when Aerith said it was something he always wanted to do...you could practically hear his teeth grinding.

-Reno dropped the Sector 7 Plate, killing everyone in Sector 7, because that's how he rolls. Aerith is kidnapped.

-Busted up Shinra HQ, and found Professor Hojo is trying to propagate both Aerith's and Red XIII's species by having the two breed together, despite the glaringly obvious differences in species.

-Busted OUT of Shinra HQ, with the knowledge that Sephiroth is alive...also, a sweet Motorcycle minigame.

-Told the "story" of the Nibelheim incident. After playing Crisis Core, it's so easy to see the line between Cloud's Memories and Zack's. Some don't even belong to either of them. Also, I wish I could use Sephiroth in normal gameplay. (3000 damage per hit, Perfect defense, and all his Materia is mastered? Yes, please)

-Met Yuffie. I don't care what anyone says, Yuffie is awesome. How often do you find a hyperactive ninja/thief who suffers from motion sickness, and uses an impractically huge shuriken in combat? You don't! You never find that!

-Did stuff at Junon. CPR, live television blunders, dolphin tricks, the usual.

-In Costa del Sol, the Planet's #1 resort, had a conversation with...Hojo? Tifa encouraged me to go talk to him. Look, Hojo is a man who, three years after the game takes place, comes within inches of destroying the planet.

-Now we're headed west! Towards a massive casino.

[The Happy Locust]

Grand Theft Auto 4
More fun. Tried driving the car I got from Bernie accross the river between Alderney and Algonquin but still coming up short (what does it take to make that jump?). Ran a new job for Gerry which finally meant getting rid of the girl we were holding hostage. In an ironic twist, the valuables being traded for the girl were the same diamonds I had lost in earlier missions for Ray. Small world... Long story short, girl was returned, trade was interrupted, and I had to shoot my way through a 3rd party of goons, only to have the last ones throw the diamonds in a passing dump truck. No girl, no diamonds, but quite a few stories to tell.
Next mission was more simple, simply had to run some jobs for Jimmy and Gambettie. Jerry's mission was to quietly assassinate a bodyguard who had turned rat. I simply pulled the plug on him and then walked out quietly. Gambetti's mission was to take out a new Asian gangster who had been counterfeiting money. Tracked him to his restaurant (Mr. Fuk's Rice Bowl) and kill him. He made a run for it but I was able to take him out with a well placed shot before his car ever left the driveway. Money in the bank.

Then, to end the night, went on a rooftop shooting spree in PlayBoyX's penthouse to see how many cops I could piss off.

[Shadowman]

Final Fantasy VII:
Well...Aeris is dead. Not exactly one of the happiest moments in gaming.

I did a big heap of grinding, so at least Jenova Life was a breeze.

Now on disc 2, unfortunately, I won't be able to get some payback until disc 3.

[The Happy Locust]

Grand Theft Auto 4
After running some more jobs for Gambetti, was finally able to even the score with Darko Brevic. Too bad he'd turned into a junkie since he betrayed me. Roman asked me to show mercy but I was out for blood. Darko is no more.
Pegorino felt hye had a betrayer in his mist and asked me to take the culprit out... once he figured out who it was. In the end, Ray was deemed the culprit and so he had to die. He never made it out of his car once I showed up.

Now I'm up to the final mission. Pegorino wants me to work with Dimitri for some big money. However, I have a nasty history with Dimitri and would rather see him dead. My choice is either to do the deal or kill Dimitri now that I know where he is. Roman suggests I go through with the deal (very forgiving considering Dimitri kidnapped him earlier). Kate, on the other hand, will refuse to date me anymore if I compromise my principles for money.

Decisions decisions...

Spoiler. The promise of booty makes my decisions. Dimitri's a dead man.

[Shadowman]

Final Fantasy VII:
Thanks for giving Sephiroth the keys to the Apocalypse, Cloud! I guess I can't blame him; Mind Control is a cruel mistress, especially if you're the one being controlled.

[8 bit]

"I am Error."
Decided to fire up ol' Zelda 2; been playing it while I take study breaks. Getting through Death Mountain last night was a nail biter as I forgot to get the Life spell in the town of Saria—managed to survive with one life left. Should have this one beat (for the millionth time) in a couple days.

What's next? Finally finish Dragon Quest 8 (yeah right!), finish the Chrono Trigger game I started last year, maybe FF7 (thanks for the idea Shadowman), or MGS3 Subsistence (shoot all the Kermits and get the invisible suit).

[Shadowman]

"I am Error."

They really should bring back Error in a future Zelda game.

maybe FF7 (thanks for the idea Shadowman)

I wanted to play it again for a year or so, but I didn't have a working PS1, PS2, or PS3, even though I had a copy of FF7 lying around. Then we got a PS3 for Chistmas, and I realized that even though it couldn't play PS2 games (Which sucks because I wanted to play FF10 again as well), I could at least play PS1 games.

...Now I wish I had more PS1 games than FF7. FF8 or FF9 would have been good.

Final Fantasy VII:
I got the Highwind, now I have to go bust some heads in Mideel. Aerith is dead, Cloud is out, and soon Tifa is going to leave the gang. At least I've been building up Yuffie to be my new healer. (Even though her Magic stats aren't up to par with Aerith)