“Remember when all those people died exploring that cave? Yeah, let’s go there. I mean I am carrying a potion, we’ll be fine.”
My hand is glowing. That’s new and weird. Oh well, off to the forest!
I drew a Boomer after a session of Left 4 Dead 2 and then Aaron forced me to animate it… and then when I failed, animated it for me.
I’ve moved on from a crippling Skyrim addiction to an equally crippling Mass Effect 2 addiction. Needless to say, between them, I’ve been fairly unproductive (unless you count stopping the goddamned Collectors and getting into Garrus’ extra-terrestrial pants, productive!). However, last night, I put away the video games to create…
…more video game-related art!
I’ve had a craving to revisit my favourite green-tunic’d hero – so I vented these feelers with some pleasing results! New shading techniques inspired by my artist-mentor Adrian.
This series, particularly Zelda: A Link to the Past and Zelda: Ocarina of Time, conjures happy memories of gaming with my father into the wee hours of the morning (or at least, past my bedtime). Lately, I’ve had a hankering to tackle them once more. So when my monthly salary came in, I popped onto Amazon and purchased Z:OoT 3DS. It’s about time too! So far the only 3DS game I own is Harvest Moon: Tale of Two Towns.
Speaking of dapper and green, I bought my first dress on the Internet from Modcloth. I found out about it through my comic book lady-hero, Kate Beaton. I’m pretty sure if I ran into her wearing the same dress, it’d be a nifty conversation piece. We’d probably bond over our mutual style and become besties. JUST LOOK AT THOSE BUTTONS! I’m stressing that it might not be the proper size, but Modcloth offers exchanges and returns even to Japan.
Speaking of Japan, I’m officially here until the Summer. I’m excited to enjoy another Japanese spring.
I’m surprised I can get anything done lately with all this Minecraftin’ going on up in here. I’ve also decided that I won’t date a boy who doesn’t play Minecraft with me. If my Minecraft OCD doesn’t drive him away, then we’re meant to be. Also, I’ll judge him based on the house he creates for me while I fill our pork-box and create my farming empire.
Space Channel 5: Part 2 is available on the PSN and I recommend that everyone pick it. It’s a multiplayer rhythm game with a quirky storyline and fun gameplay. Basically, it’s a Simon-style game where you’re given a series of moves to memorize and repeat to the rhythm of the music. Also, awesome cameo from Space Michael Jackson.
This is my take on the main character, Ulala, slighty more saucy-proportioned to be sure!
I’ll try to post more often! Until then: check out my tumblr!
Add this to the list of things I want!
A new Star Wars-themed Xbox 360 Kinect bundle was unveiled at Comic Con this year. The console itself, as you can see, has an R2-D2 motif whereas the controller is designed with C-3PO in mind. For someone who has yet to own a 360, I am utterly convinced that perhaps it was fate that led me to hold out so long (and not a long-standing fangirl relationship with Sony…).
It makes R2-D2 noises when you open the tray, ’nuff said.
Check it out at Gizmodo.
This time I talk about L.A. Noire (fabulous!) and the creepy empty room is explained (so you can stop asking until you forget again).
I imagine all my subscribers survived the Raptor, I mean, Rapture…
The Raptor can open doors now…
21May
harvest moon: grand bazaar – the rise and fall of the potato baroness
panditty | Category: review, videogame | 8 Comments
The newest Harvest Moon to hit the DS is Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar and here are my thoughts on it.
With a series as wide-spread as Harvest Moon, each game needs to add a new twist to gameplay to make it fresh for all those addicts out there like me. It also has to adapt to the learning curve of new fans as well. HM:GB achieves both.
The purpose as told to you by Felix, the mayor-with-Vin-Diesel-arms, is to revitalize the town’s weekly bazaar. It was once a booming event, but without a farm, the people started to dwindle. This HM is the first one where you do not ship your items away and magically receive money for them - but rather, you sell them yourself in the bazaar. Actually, if it were not for the weekly bazaar mini-game, this HM would be flat and unoriginal.
At first, I was turned off by the simplicity of it. It was vaguely reminiscent of HM: A(nother) Wonderful Life – the field is cleared, the fences are in place, you start by working the field one square at a time. However, fences were always a pain at first though, so this is points in the new-user-accessibity department. In fact, this is one of the easiest games in the series I have played so far.
So now, the bazaar functions as a mini-game. You select the items you wish to sell and then you ring a bell to summon customers. When the customers come, a number appears above their head and you press A as many time to correspond to that number. If you miss anyone, they walk away unhappy and your reputation goes down. Sometimes, folks and marriageable folk come up to you with comments or requests which also either up or down your store’s reputation. The bazaar becomes addictive and even drove me to become the potato baroness (self-awarded title) – at least, until the summer came…and killed all of my beautiful potatoes. Rookie mistake.
For the first time, I was not disgusted by half of the marriage options. Sadly, no doctor-type to default on, but there is a saucy teacher named Ivan. He’s easy to please as he enjoys chamomile and mint, both found just lying on the ground. I do wish that real-life men would want random things I picked up off the ground, but I digress! The female marriage option also offer a variety of personalities and looks. Of course, they all look like their twelve – but this is a Japanese game afterall!
Another point I did not like is that there is no mining in this game either. Mining has always been one of my favourite time wasting tasks. In fact, I have too much time at my disposal in HM:GB and I find myself waiting for the day to end. Fishing seems to be pointless as well since no town members enjoy them as gift, cooked or otherwise.
In terms of Harvest Moon games, I deem it playable and even enjoyable however, it is not my favourite. Nor is it my least favourite, mind you. If you can’t find a copy of Harvest Moon: (More) Friends of a Mineral Town then this one will do just fine.
How I spent Golden Week in Japan and the best way to eat my new favourite Australian snack food! Enjoy!
