Planet Sillicon

I have come to a decision

By blog on Jun. 25, 2009.

So, I am still playing Starfy. I think I have finally decided that I do in fact like the game. Granted, it’s not the best title on the DS, but it is solid, and does keep me coming back to play.

As for the game being too easy, yeah, it is, but I do enjoy the mild challenge of the controls swapping between on land mode and in water mode. There is a certain enjoyment to be had from collecting the numerous pieces of ‘Stuff’ which are outfit pieces you can put on Starfy. You dress him up in ‘Beachwear’ and ‘Sunglasses and you get a ‘Special’ outfit which in this case is Starfy on a banana lounge, under a beach umbrella with a giant snot-bubble coming from his face (he doesn’t really have a nose, so…) which indicates his relaxed nature because of his ‘Beach Vacation’. My Starfy is currently dressed as Rudolf.

So yeah, I find myself coming back to the game over and over, and whilst the game does borrow from great Nintendo titles, as with the mine cart riding levels which pay homage to Donkey Kong Country, there is also some unique aspects all Starfy’s own. Having him zoom around in water, and then run like a tiny little yellow star-shaped madman. Another aspect of the game is useful, but lends itself to making the game too easy, is having Moe on the bottom screen going mental if you are near a secret or chest. Moe is the big annoying clam that goes everywhere with Starfy, and does all his talking. Starfy just makes noises and strange faces. Oh and if you have the game, try tapping on Moe and Starfy in the title screen – this is a hint given in-game, but if you’re like me you don’t really read those…

Oh and as for cut scenes, they feel terribly long. Probably because I am too lazy to read them, and they don’t scroll through quick enough for me to feel good about not reading them. So yes, I do like the game, and will continue to play it until I have gone through all the worlds and collected all the Stuff.

Just deserts

By blog on Jun. 18, 2009.

Do you know what the just deserts are for a person whose lethargy is borderline profound? Their just deserts for forcing themselves to get a job that have no desire to do – see my last post – done in very quick time? Their just deserts are finding out they were only told of half the job, and they have to do it all over again… Not best pleased.

Okay now I have my rant out of the way I’ll get to the point. Essentially, I had to do the same thing I did for our office for the small office our company has in Scotland.

Because I had already done the same thing for our own office, it took no time at all for me to find and organise a deal with Highland Telecom and then buy the Panasonic cordless phones the Scotland office would need. With all that out of the way, I actually got a small amount of work done, and then it was time to head off home.

I was trying to be eco-conscious, so I took the bus. On which, I played some more Starfy, mainly because when I opened my DS, I realised I had left the game running whilst I charged it last night. The game is growing on me, I must say. It does still feel a little too easy, but I am wondering if it is just a slow intro into harder parts of the game.

I really enjoy the parts of the game where you are spin-attacking boulders into fish and so forth, that is quite fun, actually. Some of the foes are quite interesting too, there seems to be legless flying cats in some levels, something that my SO would absolutely go insane for – she loves the idea of flying cats. Anyway, so whilst I am not as impressed as IGN seemed to be, it is still fun for killing time every now and then.

Oh and I am totally working from home tomorrow, that way they can’t try to give me any extra projects!

I am now the lazy gamer

By blog on Jun. 17, 2009.

I first noticed Knights in the Nightmare when I was puddling around looking at the Editor’s Choice list over on IGN.com. It looked interesting, I don’t mind a turn-based RPG, so I read on. After a few minutes, I figured the game looked alright, but I had to scoot off to do something so I just closed it down and forgot about it.

Now when I was on Penny Arcade earlier, I happened to notice Tycho had written about this very same game. What he said confirmed what I had suspected in those few minutes of looking at the review. Here is what he said.

…I am trying to fashion my mind into something capable of perceiving Knights in the Nightmare. Another psychotic import with an incredible translation from Atlus, the shit that goes on in this game will overwhelm your frontal lobe, leaving you in a state which is neither dead nor alive. Imagine that a man is juggling while standing on a pile of conscious, scowling heads. Only he’s not juggling balls, he’s juggling concepts, like poverty and flavor. As you watch him, you are shaken by the unprovable yet unnerving sensation that there is, somewhere, a secret third hand, juggling a perverse cadre of unballs.

You know what this says to me? This says to me, ‘don’t bother’. Why? Because I am too lazy for the kind of mental obstacle course that this game appears to be. Oh don’t get me wrong, it sounds like a great game, but if I wanted to bust my brain to the point of not having any fun, I’d do my taxes.

And so it is with games for me at the moment. If it is an overly complex game where I have to learn a lot about the game mechanics to get anywhere… chances are I will just opt out and choose to play something a little less in depth and play Starfy. ) I know, I know, I am missing out on the games with the great story-lines when I do that! I will get out of my lazy gaming funk, I know I will, that’s why I don’t push it now.

You can’t replace Kirby!

By blog on Jun. 17, 2009.

That’s right Starfy, I’m talking to you, Prince of Pufftop indeed! Yeah, you know you have no right to that title, you’re a starfish! You’re not puffy! You know who’s puffy, Starfy? Kirby! Yeah, that’s who. Don’t give me that look, Starfy, you know I’m telling the truth. You don’t even inflate! No matter how cutely you swim, or how many cute outfits you put on, you can’t replace Kirby!

On a more serious note, that’s what this game feels like. Knowing that Nintendo have plans for Starfy to be the next big mascot, aspects of the game-play started to stand out as being rather Kirby-like. The games play very similarly, they both have this almost super-speed feel to them, even though there are numerous foes, none are particularly challenging, so you just speed right past them. Also Starfy, like Kirby, is altered throughout the game. He joins up with Bunston at points during the game, which makes for a much more tough Starfy. He also has a sort of tag-team mode with his sister Starly.

So I feel a few things about this game. On the one hand, it is fun to zoom around in the water, much less arduous than Mario water levels. And Starfy is undeniably cute, I mean, the Kitty Outfit is adorable! However, I do feel that there are a few draw backs to the game. For one, it is too easy. Granted I have only gone through the first two worlds in the game, but yeah, so far too easy. I am also left a little underwhelmed with the graphics in the game. They are alright, and I know they were going for a certain style, but I know what the DS is capable of, and I think Starfy could have pushed for more.

As for those questioning whether Starfy is ‘too Japanese’, I don’t think so. I know what is being referenced here, the story-line and sound effects mostly, but it really isn’t too much. This is a pick-up-and-play title, so the story-line really isn’t the focus, so if it is a little wacky, it doesn’t matter. As for the sound effects, Starfy’s noises are clearly Japanese, but they are cute and appropriate. I mean a creature with no central nervous system (a brain) probably won’t be capable of speech.

Investments still under consideration

By blog on Jun. 13, 2009.

I told you I would end up writing about this again! I was looking at all that property investment stuff again and it is pretty darn interesting. I think I will keep my eye on this for a while! One promising development seems to be investment properties for sale in the Philippines. I took a look over some of the locations, and I have to say, kicking back on a beach in the Philippines seems pretty alright, if you ask me. My SO and I, under a huge beach umbrella, fruity cocktails with tiny umbrellas in them… :>> Oh yeah!

I have also been looking at a few travel blogs, which is fun. Kind of like seeing what a non-game-obsessed but travel-obsessed person would write about.

Thinking of all those lovely beaches in the Philippines got me thinking about The Legendary Starfy. I have played the opening round, and I have to say, it plays well. I am really looking forward to picking up the game more in the coming days. It is very pretty, and Starfy’s noises are adorable. But I do have to mention, I’m concerned for Starfy’s welfare. For two reasons, really. The first reason is, well, Starfy is sort of a starfish… and starfish don’t have brains… and that kind of leads onto the second reason… Starfy falls over a lot in the story sequences… a heck of a lot… seriously. It makes me understand why he is so flat!

Nonetheless, I will do my best to protect the little echinoderm, because the game plays really well. It’s nice to pick up a game and have the controls respond so well. I am a little surprised, because even though I knew this game was going to be pushed hard by Nintendo, I didn’t expect it to play like a sequel to a long line of good games so much as a slightly dysfunctional but based on a good idea kind of game.