Blogging the experience of gameplayhttps://www.gamelog.cl/gamers/GamerPage.php?idgamer=320https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=1397Although many criticize this game for it's controls, I praise it. I remembered this critique of the game as I proceeded further through the game, gathering more and more items. Link has the ability to use the sword and his shield whenever he likes. However, there are only three C-buttons in which the player can set Link's other weapons/items to. I can see how this can be frustrating to a beginner, having to constantly pause the game and decide the most comfortable way to situate Link's items. I actually think this is beneficial. This is because you generally use the same items/weapons in one area. It allows the player to set up his C-buttons to be best suited for the next area. I do wish there was jumping in this game, however. The gameworld is so broad and beautiful but I feel like I can't explore it to the extent that I would like. Granted, it does lend to some fantastic puzzles (ie grabbing chickens to make you soar in the air longer). Puzzles are also enhanced with the use of the Ocarina at appropriate times and places. It still gives me shivers when I bust out the Ocarina at the correct time and that reaffirming chime sounds. What a game.Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:35:25 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=1397&iddiary=2987https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=1397The opening screen still gives me chills... I've beaten Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time probably eight or nine times. It is without a doubt my favorite game of all time. I always based that conclusion on the fact that I've never been more addicted to a game. This was my first time playing the game in at least two years. Coming back to it after not having played for so long is a treat. The tutorial isn't even annoying! Not really anyway. Although it does keep you from getting out into Hyrule for the first large chunk of the game, the preliminary missions are very effective in bringing the player up to speed with many of Link's vital capabilities. The gameworld is so extensive and so full of surprises that one could explore even the small village you start out in for a long time without reaching any kind of real game exhaustion. I think the camera angles and movements are especially effective in capturing the feeling and mood of the game. The way the camera zooms when Link shifts his attention engages the player more than if the camera remained in a set location. Also, the revolutionary Z-targeting technique makes the environment even more interactive. Now if you'll excuse me... I need to find a Hyrulian Shield.Fri, 23 Feb 2007 06:44:37 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=1397&iddiary=2957https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=1165Fifa World Cup is very effective in capturing the excitement of soccer. I started a season, starting in the preliminary qualifying rounds, with Portugal. In an hour I played five games; I defeated two teams, tied two, and lost to one. I usually play on the Professional difficulty setting, but this is my first season playing it on the World Class setting. There is an incredible difference in the two settings. It almost feels like your team is slower in the highest setting. What is really enhanced is the relative difference between the players in a challange for the ball. It is obvious which player has higher statistics (ie how fast they run, how well they dribble). When a player is in open field, it is difficult to tell his states. Fifa is also good at capturing the overall talent and personalities of every team. Portugal, for example, has no huge stars, but all the forwards have roughly equal goals. I've found, especially with computer played teams, that one forward is a primary goal scorer. The quick cut-scenes that occur between the time the ball goes out of bounds and is thrown in or kicked in adds to suspense and makes it feel like a real game of soccer.Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:36:24 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=1165&iddiary=2496https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=997With my second hour playing the game, I started a new file. I forgot how above average the acting/writing was. As far as I can tell, Rockstar captured the gang mentality very well. The introductory cut-scene provides the player with a lot of background information. Having beaten the game several times, I knew where everything was leading. I understood the motivation of the officers better. I never would have guessed that Big Smoke would eventually betray CJ. The story was written very well in that there were many unanticipated twists and turns. The game-play that corresponds to the first cut-scenes is great because it offers new GTA players a tutorial and shows old GTA players all the cool new stuff you can do with San Andreas. Overall, GTA San Andreas is a great game that is so easy to play and get into that even a small child could catch on very quickly. **Note: game not intended for small children.Wed, 31 Jan 2007 15:32:26 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=997&iddiary=2281https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=997Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a tribute to the GTA series. After beating it three or four times, I thought I would never touch this game again. However, there isn't a definite, identifiable type of game exhaustion associated with this game. Of course the story ends, but the player can more or less make his own story. You can decide which properties to buy and which mini-challenges to complete, etc. I spent my first hour of this game playing my old file. It is such an impressive gameworld that I was discovering places I'd never seen before.Wed, 31 Jan 2007 00:54:52 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=997&iddiary=2151https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=865For the second half of this assignment, I spent my hour making the sun on eternal. From what I've gathered, you have to pick up enough things in the timed version of the game to be able to play without a time limit. The game is not exactly... clear. Revenge tastes so sweet when youre a Katamari. Similar to the feeling you get in Halo when you pull a headshot off on someone who's been blasting you all game... is the feeling you when you finally roll up that fat hippo and the screen gets all blurry. "Blip!"... bliss.Sat, 20 Jan 2007 11:45:31 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=865&iddiary=1926https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=865Katamari Damacy is a pretty straightforward game. The first couple hours of the game you exist as a tiny ball, never expecting to reach the size of giant skyscrapers or mountains. Today I spent a while playing the first few stars. I find that in the first several levels, I form grudges against different characters in the game. For instance, in the hour and a half I spent playing the game I found myself cursing the damn hippo that kept making me lose my hard earned paper clips and.. rocks and... such.Fri, 19 Jan 2007 22:42:42 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=865&iddiary=1918https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=609I played an early morning game of Halo today. My roommate Travis is now way in to Rumble training, in which every man is for him or her self. It is especially good for racking huge kill-counts with so many foes (or fools). Looking back to when I wrote my last log, I havnt played much Halo. I sometimes like the comfort of having teammates. Rumble training means no friends. Everything that moves, you must kill before it kills you. Much more pressure on the individual to win. I tried to send post this @ 3:30 but wouldn't post successfully.Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:48:52 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=609&iddiary=1634https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=609It is widely agreed (among my friends and I at least) that Halo 2 is the most popular game on Xbox Live. My roommates newest interest is recording all our games. So there is an added pressure in knowing that not only are you going to be laughed at once, you're going to be laughed at several times. There is a very competitive nature to mankind, and it is most certainly reflected through the endless trash talking. Everyone reacts differently when they experience success in multiplayer games. My friends are no exception to the competition. My experience with Halo 2 is full of frustration because of this alone. I just finished playing a handful of very long snipers matches. It is amazing how much improvement you can make in the game in a short period of time. My roommate is reining champion of our house, but with only a couple months of practice I'm getting headshots on him right and left. Why is shooting someone in the head with a perfectly placed projectile so pleasurable? And why is it so fun to then point and shout, "DOME BLAST!"?Sat, 13 Jan 2007 02:46:41 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=609&iddiary=1477