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I had wanted to get the Logitech case for my PSP since it came out, and this Katamari “mod” makes it all the sweeter. I didn’t like the premade skin though, so I went ahead and made my own, which still needs a bit of work. Also, the laser printer at work is teh sux0rs. Once I get the Logitech logo off of the front, I’ll have a very Princely PSP indeed. I’d like to do this for the back, too (which I found on this site). You know, it’s gotten to the point where I really should just create a Katamari Damacy category.

GASP! IGN and I agree on something: Super Mario 64 is better on the N64 than the DS. The article is part of their Insider whatsit that they sucker me into with low, low prices every E3, so if you weren’t similarly hoodwinked you’ll just have to believe me. The major point that we agree upon is that control on the DS is terrible compared to the original. It’s decent enough if I didn’t know any better, and quite usable by the uninitiated if its successful use by the witty and attractive Susan is any indication. I do find, however, that I prefer the graphics of the newer version, aliased and pixelated though they may be. The backgrounds and draw distance are both vastly improved. Textures don’t repeat as much and the ever-present N64 fog is nowhere to be seen. Most strikingly, the enemy models are more accurate, as I will show in these images shamelessly (or -fully?) stolen from IGN.

Hopefully those make up for the dearth of pictures recently. Regardless of which graphic style you like better (blurred beyond hope or pointy and jagged), it cannot be denied that the DS version of the enemies look more like they should.

As for the game itself, I’ve only played using Mario and Yoshi thus far so I can’t say much yet. I’ve found a couple of the levels that are new for the DS and defeated Bowser in the Dark World, but then got distracted by chasing bunnies around. Catching them unlocks a myriad of mini-games which I was initially entranced by. This wore off when I realized I needed to get a cover for the touch screen. I’m afraid I’ll scratch it up with some of the violent actions the games want me to perform (like in the curling mini-game). I’ve gotten use to a cover on my PDA, so now I press way too hard on touch screens. I heard that they’ve created some sort of unscratchable DVD coating. They need to start putting that on touch screen devices, stat.

Playing this game has made me realize something that average video game playing has not: the sun is really bright! And hot! It’s, what, 150 million kilometers away? Where’s all of that heat coming from? I mean, it’s not like the sun has a fusion core or anything! Oh wait.

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I had been intrigued by Iridion 3D because shooters, “shoot-’em-ups,” (“shmups” if you wish) are a rare and valuable commodity in today’s world of Madden NFL 2004 and Madden NFL 2004 for the Xbox. However, it turned out that the freshman entry in the Iridion saga was more or less an excuse to have a 3D game of the GBA, and was devoid of things like fun or the ability to have any clue what was happening on the screen. Thusly, I moved on.

Like all decidedly sub-par games, the Powers That Be deigned to give us a sequel. Thankfully this sequel turned out pretty well, gaining reviews of 8 and other numbers such as “not quite 9,” and “better than 7.” IGN, of course, gave it an “8.372719 (not an average).” I was able to find the game cheap, decided “why not?” and bought it.

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I love the THPS series, though I have to admit I came late to the game. In fact, the only reason I started to play Tony Hawk at all was because the original was on sale for five dollars at Fry’s. For the Dreamcast. So not only was I late to the game, but I was wearing the wrong uniform. Nevertheless, I was immediately enthralled by the game, and played for hours on the relatively lumpy Dreamcast controller.

Since I didn’t get into Tony Hawk until after it had been ported and subsequently discounted for everyone’s favorite thinking console, the next game in the series to be released was THPS3, which I bought for the Gamecube just after it launched (more on that later). I had completely skipped over what I at first thought was just another sequel. I have learned, thanks to the Xbox re-release, that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 is the defining game of the series.

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It’s no good.

When the GameStop near my house announced that they were no longer accepting SNES games for trade-in, I made the natural assumption that they would no longer be selling them, either. I figured, then, that it would be a good time to stock up. Despite intending to buy more, I ended up with only three new games. ActRaiser quickly became my favorite of the three.

And how could it not? I mean, I play God! The power of the elements is at my fingertips (provided I have enough SP)! I command a mighty warrior with the strength of at least two or three really strong guys! And my holy messenger appears to be a cutesy cherub! Maybe I’m not painting the best word-picture here. Let’s rewind.

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