March '11.1

It's the Vernal Equinox! I'm a fan of both spring and summer, thus the first days of each always put me in a good mood.

Let's talk about games.

First off, not sure why some people aren't enjoying Marvel vs. Capcom 3 as much as its predecessors. I've been told that it's "not a Marvel vs. Capcom game" which makes no sense to me. It plays similarly to the first, you can tag in members on your team or have them jump in for a single attack, you can play as Chun Li, Spiderman, Morrigan, and Wolverine...it's a Marvel vs. Capcom game. Essentially it's a fighting game, which is has a narrow fan base, I'm sure, so I don't know what people were expecting; you fight using Marvel comic characters and Capcom game characters who are trying to save the earth from Galactus, the Destroyer of Worlds...not much to it, but it is a lot of fun for people who enjoy the genre.

Also, I've been having a blast playing what a few of us at work had dubbed "Super Boobie Taisen." Super Robot Taisen OG Saga Endless Frontier (there's a mouthful) is one of those very Japanese Atlus games that can be difficult to find, but if you're into fun turn-based gameplay, beautiful sprite animation, and ridiculous attacks that blow off the character's clothes, this is worth hunting down.

Speaking of very Japanese games, Hyperdimension Neptunia is a fun game that takes a look at the console wars from a very unique angle. Nippon Ichi (or NIS, now) has been a favourite developer of mine since Disgaea and La Pucell Tactics, and now that they're partnering with other companies like Idea Factory, Gust, and Compile Heart, their games are getting pushed out fast. Hyperdimension Neptuinia plays very much like their last game, Trinity Universe, where the player is given a dungeon where they encounter random enemies throughout and a boss at the end. The 3D graphics aren't nearly as detailed as something like Gears of War, but this is a great example of how graphics don't really matter, and what makes a game entertaining is the gameplay. The 2D graphics are set up like a traditional RPG, with one character on each side of the screen as they talk, but, like Trinity Universe, they move beautifully as if they're breathing, their hair sways, mouths open and close...it's clever. The story is enjoyable because you're essentially playing a personified Sega console who's been kicked out of the game industry by the personified Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony consoles. Again, if it sounds like your thing, I'd say hunt it down.

I'm a little behind in my Bioware games. I haven't even touched Mass Effect 2 even though the third is on it's way out later this year, and I bought Dragon Age 2 when it launched, but I vowed to finish the story of Origins before beginning the sequel. For me, that means beating the expansion Awakening. I haven't downloaded all of the extra missions like the Witch Hunt or Leliana's Song, but I have gotten about halfway through Awakening, and am liking just as much as the original game, in spite of it's lack of characters from the main game. Since my character survived slaying the Archdemon, she's gone north to recruit more Gray Wardens, and I was a little surprised that Zeveran and Alistair didn't follow suit. Oghren is in my party, though, and seems to be the only one that I can have run around with me and kill some darkspawn, and I've come across Wynn, but she has her hands full.

Never in my life have I ever wanted to be a doctor in any respects, but I did enjoy the Trauma Center game on the DS. I knew they made more and even created some for the Wii, but I never got into them much. The first one was enough for me...until I gave Trauma Team a try. I'm hooked! The multiplayer idea from the previous Trauma game came back into this one, and it's incredibly fun. I especially like the fact that there are six different characters you can choose, each in a different field of medicine, each with a different (soap-opera-ish) story. I'm amazed at how much fun I've had patching up an ulcer-infected stomach with my fiance!

Since Homefront just launched, I've decided to give it a try in the next couple of days. I'm not expecting magic as I'm not a huge FPS fan, but I'm anticipating the story to see how it's going to pan out. I also have Enslaved on my plate, along with the new Castlevania, and some older games like Heavenly Sword and Mirror's Edge. I should probably go and beat the first Assassin's Creed, too.

Anyway, in regards to me not being in school, my sister told me that I should work on my Aislin story/comics, so I've decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and make the most of a bad situation. As of now, the first four books are written out, with the fifth being nearly done. Originally, I wanted it to be seven books long, but I think I have enough material to make it to ten (without any overkill). I think I'm going to go for it. I'm sure Deviant Art will be loaded with character designs, soon.