Week in Review - 3/2/2013

PC

• The Banner Saga: Factions

Get used to this screen!

I first heard of The Banner Saga during their Kickstarter, when I wrote an article about what Kickstarter could mean to the video game industry last year. It seems like a game I'd really enjoy, so when The Banner Saga: Factions popped up on Steam this week (free-to-play) I decided to try it. I didn't know at the time that it was a spin-off game; I thought the name had just changed. Factions is a PVP version of the upcoming single-player game. I played it for a few hours and it was good, but PVP is not what I'm interested in. I'll wait for the single-player release. 

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Ulfric is generous with promotions.

After handing the Jagged Crown over to Ulfric Stormcloak, Toki was sent to the battle at Whiterun. There he was instrumental in taking over the city for the Stormcloak rebellion and Jarl Balgruuf was removed from his station. Toki also was key in conquering Falkreath. He also helped root out a serial killer in Windhelm and purchase a home in Whiterun. Lydia returned to service at Breezehome in Whiterun. You can check out my picture blog for these adventures: http://nordtoki.tumblr.com/

• The Sims 3 (Late Night) 

Bridgeport Cityscape

I installed "Late Night" and decided to try out living in the included city of Bridgeport. I moved in to a small apartment where I intended to learn mixology and make my way tending bars around town. I actually became quite skilled and quite famous before I realized none of the money I was making as a bartender was actually going into my funds. This is apparently some obnoxious glitch they still haven't fixed two years after the release of "Night Life." I abandoned that character to pursue some achievements - such as being arrested as a Con Artist. Currently, I'm working on making 50,000 simoleons from harvested goods. 

Playstation 3

• Mega Man 9 

Devils are so evil.

I defeated Concrete Man and made it through two levels of Wily's Castle, but I am utterly defeated by the Blob Devil in Wily's 3rd stage. I am about to give up on this game, especially because every time I walk away I'm required to re-conquer Wily Stage 1 & 2 before I get stuck on the Blob Devil. It's pretty disheartening to be so close and yet so far from winning. I have not given up yet, but I feel close to it. I can't let Dr. Wily get the best of me!

• Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

White Witch & Zodiarchs

I worked through my differences with evil King Tom XIV and pushed through to the end of the game. I defeated the White Witch and the Zodiarchs after two attempts (losing only to the Zodiarchs' Chaos attack because I was unprepared for it). I've also been mucking around in the post-game of Ni no Kuni and contemplating getting the Platinum Trophy (100% completion) for it. If I do so, it would be the first game I have ever gotten 100% in Trophies/Achievements. Right now, I'm just working on side-quests and my alchemy recipes. 

- TOP 

@TOPGamingBlog

PS:  No Bunker Hill Bros. article this week. Deez has been traveling and incommunicado. 

Week in Review - 2/22/2013

PC

• Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Dragons make the best photo ops.

I spent almost an entire day last weekend playing Skyrim in order to queue up the Tumblr for the week. As I predicted, I didn't have much time to play during the week. Toki has fought his 3rd dragon! He's joined up with the Stormcloaks and is working to unify the province under the banner of High King Ulfric. I'm about to hand over the Jagged Crown to Ulfric the next time I log into the game. 

• The Sims 3 (Ambitions)

Pyro Oliver seen on the far right!

The desire to play The Sims 3 is almost always some app running in the background of my brain. Everytime I have a free moment during which I may squeeze out a drop of game time, The Sims 3 is always the game that pops up but gets shut down for other games. It's such a great go-to time sink, too. So much to do and always new ways of doing it. I did load it up this week, though. I spent a night with my Death-by-Fire Ghost of myself Pyro Oliver and turned him into a heroic Firefighter. Once he reached the top of his career, I got bored and shut it down. I have to think of new ways to challenge myself. 

Android

• Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade

I don't usually mention the silly little programs I download and amuse myself with while waiting for classes to start, or appointments to begin. I play them so infrequently and they are more like "mindlessly tap your finger" than any real semblance of a true game. This one isn't too much different, but it endears itself to me with little Final Fantasy characters, summons, and themes. I've turned it on twice, and decided it's cute. I won't uninstall it just yet. It's simple, mindless and features Cloud as a summon. That's all a mobile game needs, I guess. 

-TOP

@TOPGamingBlog

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Deez finally got settled in his new place with a better internet connection! We had our first real jam session in quite some time and it was a blast. Here are some thoughts on our adventures in the Three Kingdoms!

My Harp was feared in all of China.

We push forward on our journey to unify China in Conquest Mode. I wasn't sure how our maps differed due to some loss of save data on my end earlier last year, so I let Deez forge his path to a new Curved Sword for Zhou Tai and I hung on for the ride. After the weapon was acquired, we did Battle for Supremacy as our finale for the first time. It was ridiculous, fun and ridiculously fun. Two brothers against four entire Chinese armies? That's what Bunker Hill Bros are all about.

-TOP

@TOPGamingBlog

These peons are being a bit dramatic.

We finally took up arms in Conquest Mode again. After unlocking what I thought to be the ultimate Curved Sword, we joined the Battle for Supremacy and made short work of the Three Kingdoms. It was an epic battle to be sure, but our characters are strong enough that we should probably bump up the difficulty level. Watch yourself, China!

-Deez

@Deezer509

The Picture Blogs

I won't be writing an article today due to my first college exam. I'm quite a bit anxious about it, so studying has taken up a considerable chunk of my free-time. I also need to start work on a paper about The Great Gatsby, so I'm not sure I'll have time to get anything up at all this week. Since TOP Gaming Blog will be quiet, I'd like to promote my two Tumblr projects which hopefully can fill that void for you.

Toki the Dragonborn - This is my picture blog of a new character in Skyrim. I recently learned how to take some pretty scenic screenshots, so I loaded up a bunch of graphics and game play mods to liven it up and enhance the shots. Then I decided to put them up in a short picture-journal format on Tumblr. You can browse through the pictures or read about Toki's adventures in his own words. It auto-publishes about 4/day this week so there should be new pictures every few hours.

Bunker Hill Bros. - This is a Tumblr account I share with my brother. It publishes much more frequently, mostly pictures (and a few mixed in articles) we find around the internet that really peak our interest. If you're curious about learning more about the Bros. then I suggest you check out our Tumblr. There we have a bit more freedom and flexibility to post not only about games, but also anime, manga, and comics.

Have a great week!

-TOP
@TOPGamingBlog

Week in Review - 2/16/2013

PC

• Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Dragons make the best pictures.

The saga of Toki continues for another week. Check out all the great pictures I've been taking in the picture blog at Toki the Dragonborn! Toki's fought a second dragon, cleared Shroud Hearth Barrows and is currently in Windhelm seeking to join the Stormcloaks in their rebellion. He has a good heart and is constantly delayed by people in need, but he has no sympathy for Imperials or their supporters. He slays them on sight if he isn't vastly outnumbered.

Playstation 3

• Dynasty Warriors 7

For the Kingdom of Shu!

Last week in Bunker Hill Bros. I talked about our long nights tearing through the battlefields of China. It really got me pumped up to play a "Warriors" game, so I fired up DW7 for some solo action. I looked through my trophies to see what I could work on and realize I never beat the game with my favorite faction: Shu. So I took my fight to the Story Mode and spent an evening clearing it. DW7 really has a great Story Mode, even though it is lacking in several other modes.

• Mega Man 9 

My name is Splash
I have metal joints.
Defeat my fish friends
Earn Laser Trident points!

I've been avoiding this game because I got stuck (again) on Splash Woman's stage. After not being able to beat Jewel Man's stage for several years, it was discouraging to get stuck so soon on a different Robot Master's level setup. There is a part of her level just before you get to the boss room that's literally moving platforms over walls and floors of spikes. Timing is everything and no matter what I tried it was not happening. Then one night I only had 30 minutes to play a game so I opted to try one quick time and finally made it through to the end. Concrete Man is all that stands between me and Dr. Wily. 

• Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

Bad kitty!

I really hit a roadblock in this game. I believe I'm very, very close to the end, but I'm stuck in a tough boss fight with very limited consumables. If I had enough coffee to fuel Oliver's magical attacks through these two fights it wouldn't be a problem, but I only have one or two. There's no way to leave and resupply (that I know of) so I either have to tough it out somehow or start over near the beginning. I'd rather win than admit defeat.

- TOP 

@TOPGamingBlog

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Visit the Bunker Hill Bros on Tumblr:  bunkerhillbros.tumblr.com

My Mighty Egyptian Empire!

Due to insufferable internet connection problems, Deez and I have never successfully completed a Civilization V match, but we certainly enjoy throwing ourselves at it. I really enjoy the early parts of the game, so it isn't too troublesome to always focus on ancient units.

-TOP
@TOPGamingBlog


Civilization was one of the earliest computer games I was ever exposed to. I watched enviously as my father and brother conquered the world. My first introduction to the series was Civilization II, which remains my favorite computer game of all time. Fifteen years after its launch, I was making friends in college with other Civ II players. It was a no-brainer that TOP and I would get into Civ V in order to play over the internet. It's also a no-brainer that my brother always kicks my ass even to this day.

-Deez
@Deezer509