Talking to an Atlus Operative at San Diego, I was able to secure for myself a copy of Persona 3. Yes! This is the game where your characters shoot themselves in the head repeatedly in order to succeed. They aren't real guns, but I doubt opponents of the medium will be looking that closely.
It's clocking in some fantastic reviews, further evidence that the Playstation 2 is still the place to be for the genre. The last third of the newest 1up Show is devoted to an extended dialogue on the game, so you might investigate that piece in advance of the game's release if you're curious. They've played it a good deal more than I have - like virtually every eastern genre entry, there is an interminable initial period where you have only nominal "interaction" with the proceedings. Once this period came to a close, and once school got out - you know, in-game - I was able to feel something akin to pleasure.
I'll dig in deeper this week, now that I've penetrated the game proper. My least favorite hook is Japanese Kids Going To School, I mean, in the entire world, but I'm drawn to the game's odd cosmology and its ridiculously fast paced turn-based combat. I like the voice acting too, actually - there are some real successes here. Some of the Japanese words they speak sound odd, though, like they're trying to un-chew something they have eaten. The translation and execution of the dialogue are so good that, ironically, the original Japanese words just sound crammed in.
I'm sort of between games at the moment - though Persona will probably chance that - but none of the games that I fantasize about are out, and I know that in a week or so (and following thereafter at roughly one week intervals) we'll be running around screaming in the streets while hot - literally hot - new releases streak from the sky like meteorites. I can't actually store up any of this time, but the urge to rest, rest before the toil ahead is for some reason very strong.
It's strange, then, that even when I am "between games" the stylus is almost constantly pressed against the lower screen of my DS, flitting here and there, wringing entertainment from this tiny machine. It's as though I don't consider it higher order gaming. Perhaps this is what makes the system so successful: it is content to rest there in the margins of normal living, without demanding the fullness of your being.
(CW)TB out.
the pull of one magnet to another
While I was there I happened to see the new Pokemon trading figure game. I guess this game hit Europe like a year ago but they've retooled it and polished it a ton for the US release. The first thing I noticed was a large glass display case full of tiny Pokemon figures. They were a little bigger than the average Hero Click and incredibly detailed. The figures actually looked so good that I assumed they were special demo figures only meant for display. I asked one of the guys there in the booth if he had any of the actual production models on hand and he said I was looking at them. You can check out some really nice photos of the figures over at the official site but even those don't do them justice.
I sat down for a demo of the game and was pretty impressed. I played a three on three version of the game and it was fun if a little to simple. I'm not much of a tabletop gamer, in fact I'm not a tabletop gamer at all but this was cool. They weren't demoing it at the show but there is a six vs. six version of the game that sounded like it had a little bit more depth. The game plays out less like a standard Pokemon battle and more like a game of chess or maybe checkers. You're Pokemon start on your side of the board and you need to move them via multiple tracks with spaces over to your opponents side. The goal is to get one of your guys into the enemies goal space. When Pokemon meet up on the board a battle starts. The base of the figure is actually set up like a little Wheel of Fortune wheel except instead of cash and prizes your wheel has attacks and blocks and that sort of thing. The battle plays out as each of you take turns spinning your figures to determine moves. Normally I don't go for games that rely so heavily on chance but the spinning mechanic was fun and like I said the six vs. six game sounds a little more interesting. I didn't get to play it but besides adding three more Pokemon on each side it also adds Pokemon trainers with the ability to play cards with some cool game altering effects. The game is set to hit in September. What I saw was interesting and I'm looking forward to picking up some figures and giving it a try.
The highlight of the show for me was probably getting to play Eye of Judgment. Tycho already talked about it so I'm not gonna go into any detail. I just wanted to say as someone who does not play CCG's I was able to pick it up fast and have a really good time. When this game hits in a couple months find some way to check it out.
-Gabe out
