Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (GBA)

And so it's out with Circle of the Moon, and in with Harmony of Dissonance. I've played it for almost an hour and a half already, and I'm enjoying it. There's something not quite right about it, though. Maybe it's the way Juste (your character) has a bizarre blue glow and shadow trails. Maybe it's the fact I had to start again completely powerless. It could be that L and R perform dashes rather than special moves. Or perhaps it's that you don't have DSS (like Circle, which is effectively the same as the souls in Dawn of Sorrow for the DS). It could even be that you don't feel like you're actually in a castle for much of it (so far), with strange rooms and caves and caverns and things.

But in other ways, it's more like Castlevania. Specifically, some of the baddies from Super Castlevania IV reappear, like the bone snake thing, and the bone towers (which were in Circle, bit in a bastardised form). You collect money too, and can manually "twirl" your whip.

And then it has bits like Dawn. Like a shop. And great added bits like the ability to quick save anywhere. You can sort of tell it was made between the SNES and DS games, anyway.

So to the game itself proper then. I've killed two bosses already. There was a bat cluster, and a big skeleton with a large sword who I whipped in the kneecaps. I've seen about 25% of the map, collected the Ice and Fire books, loads of armour upgrades, and assorted relics including Lizard Tail. I'm really missing the double-tap-to-run and double-jump powers though. I'm sure they'll become available at some point.

I'm saved up near a boss door for now. That's for next time's play, though.

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (GBA): COMPLETED!

After trying several times to kill Dracula, I gave up. The final boss has two phases: one where he appears and disappears, and has three attacks - poison clouds, laser beam, and meteor strike, and after that he flies around a lot, then turns into a load of bats and a giant eyeball. The first phase was easy, especially if I used the DSS card combo that effectively grants you double energy. The second, however, was not.

Dodging Dracula flying around was simple enough - just use Roc's Feather to stay at the top of the screen - but the bats and eye was a real pain. I could use Poison Cloud myself to kill most of the bats off, and get a hit or two in with the eye, but most of the time it was unreachable, or a bat somehow dodged the cloud and hit me.

So I left it for a bit, and wandered off to find the card needed for Summons. It was in the hall where I'd previously killed the Golum boss (GameFAQs helped here with it's Card FAQ), and after a bit more exploring of the castle, gaining another level and some more upgrades, I set about killing Dracula again.

Summoning Thunderbird to get the eyeball worked a treat! I just needed four Summons, and he was dead! The game was over, the credits came up, and I unlocked Magician Mode (where you start will all the cards). Aces!

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (GBA)

Damn that Devil thing! I either get past it unscathed and then have my HP demolished by the Dark Armours, or the thing kills me. Thankfully, I found a fantastic way of killing Hugh without me losing much energy at all - shoot a load of crucifixes away from him, then jump over him and them as they come back, they all pass though Hugh and Super Damage ensues. Aces.

So after a couple of attempts with this tactic, he was dead. Then I realised that in order to get back to a save point, I had to pass the two Dark Armours and the Devil again! With almost no energy left! Gaaaah!

Thankfully, I fluked it, but then got hit by an Electric Skeleton. It did only 2 damage, but since I only had 3 in total, I was a bit alarmed. But I did it!

I then went and found Dracula and easily saw off his first form, before tailing it out of there and spent an hour exploring the castle more for power-ups, cards and potions and stuff. Suitably powered up, and with a new card combo that halves the damage I can take (effectively giving me double HP), and then tried Dracula's second form. Five times. And died every time.

I think I have a tactic that'll win, though...

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (GBA)

I'm getting near the end now. I can smell it. That, and I've uncovered more than 80% of the map and have only one "magic power" left to obtain.

Killed Camilla, who was actually very easy once I took my time about it and actually dodged her attacks rather than blindly trying to whip her. My axes proved very useful too. My power-up gained was Roc's Feather (isn't that Link's power-up? Hmm...) which lets me jump very high indeed.

Then it was off to the top bit of the map, which was full of nasty Dark Armours and a Devil which is so hard he might as well be a boss. I found another warp though, which helped, and then came across Hugh. Who I must fight. So I did, and died. I don't think he's going to be especially difficult, but there's a Devil and two Dark Armours to get past before I even reach him, so when I finally get there, I have only half my energy remaining.

Tony Hawk's Project 8 (360)

Spent about an hour playing online, and managed to get the Complete 50 Games Online achievement. Had some decent games, with no restarts like yesterday. I just wish people would think a little more about what they're setting up - Walls mode with the full map and only three players simply doesn't work. You have very little chance of even seeing any walls by the other players, let alone being forced into colliding with one.

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (GBA)

Off I went to the bit where the acid water was, and as expected, it became normal water again. I then worked my way through quite a few lizardmen, ice women things, and some witches, before finding a huge ice demon thing which killed me.

So I tried again, took a slightly different route, and found a save point. Just past that, was the next boss - Camilla (who is the woman right at the start of the game who is trying to resurrect Dracula). We had a little chat, she implied that Hugh has become a follower of Dracula, and then turned into a winged devil woman riding a giant skull. And killed me.

Tony Hawk's Project 8 (360)

I chipped away at the Pro goals for a while, managing to bump about four Ams to Pro. Still at Rank 6 though. I still can't see how to get to the goal in the Slums either.

I then spent quite a while playing online, partly to get the Complete 50 Games Online achievement, but also as something else to do in the game. Most of the games played were Trick Attack ones (which are dull), but got in a few games of Graffiti (my favourite) and some of Walls (which is like the Tron light-cycles thing - ace!).

Some idiot kid kept setting up a "first to 5,000,000" game, then restarting it as soon as he lost the lead, which was annoying.

Didn't get the achievement, but I did complete 20 or more games online, and have played it online a few times before, so can't be far off.

Guitar Hero (PS2)

I was going to have a go at completing a few songs on hard, but decided against it and and went straight in to Quick Play instead. Improved on my Easy and Medium scores on about 5 tracks, and set scores for the first time on another 5 or so. I even managed Ziggy Stardust on Medium missing just one note (which I don't think, technically, I missed - it just failed to register). Bah!

Tony Hawk's Project 8 (360)

I felt the need to play some Tony Hawk, so I dusted this off with the intention of bumping my rank up from 6 to 5. Of course, I didn't. I got Pro for one goal I previously had Am for, and found about 8 more gaps. Also got another Owned goal. And that was it.

There are at least two goals in the Slums area I can't even get to, which isn't helping me get at least Am for 100% of the goals.

Assorted NeoGeo CD games (NeoGeo CD)

Shock! I bought a new console! OK, so it's an old console, but it's one I've wanted for absolutely ages. Someone on rllmuk was selling it with four games and some, uh, "backups", for a not-to-be-missed price, and lo - it arrived this afternoon.

And it really is very nice. To look at, it's like a giant Sega Saturn, and the interface is almost identical to the MegaCD. The joypad is like a big version of the NeoGeo Pocket stick on a CD32 pad. It's ace.

So I played Metal Slug, Magician Lord (which has the worst animation of any game ever made), Samurai Spirits, Top Hunter and Last Resort.

Mario Kart 64 (Wii)

One of today's Virtual Console downloads was this. Well, it would be rude not to download it, yes? So I did.

Firstly, the graphics look a lot better than I remember. This could be because I've more recently played some of the N64 game's tracks on the DS version, and the DS isn't quite up to N64 standards. However, I was surprised at how sparse the tracks were. Of course, once I get to Wario Stadium I'm sure things will improve, but the four tracks on Mushroom Cup that I played (on 50cc, first place in each!) were certainly bare.

Still a lovely game, though.

Lumines Live (360)

I downloaded all the expansions for this yesterday, and had a go with some today. Firstly, was the new Heavenly skin thing, which was nice but as it was just one skin, it kept looping over and over and I got a bit fed up with it. Then I tried Advanced Mode, which seemed easier than Base, although I didn't get anywhere near the high score I had on Base.

Then I tried Base again, and unlocked two more skins, and moved up my high score board a few notches. It's a shame you can't compare your scores with others on your friends list.

Finally, I had a go at getting 300 blocks in 600 seconds on the time trial - and got almost 400! Achievement GET! Aces.

Wii Sports (Wii)

Just a few random plays on this. Took part in bowling, golf and tennis training modes, but didn't really improve on my high scores. Tennis is a bit hard, isn't it? I then moved on to doing Fitness Mode, and got an age of 58. Rubbish.

Super Castlevania IV (Wii): COMPLETED!

It was waaaaaaay harder than I remember it from 12 or so years ago, but today I conquered the game. Excellent.

Dracula took 8 attempts (although I'd tried yesterday about 20 or 30 times), but in fact, his final "form" was much easier than his first few. I managed to force myself to only get a hit in when it was safe, concentrating on avoiding projectiles rather that smacking him in the face. This really helped. Getting my health back up to full twice during the fight helped too.

Game over then!

Super Castlevania IV (Wii)

So very, very nearly there! Finished A (and killed a Mummy at the end), then moved onto B, which was a bit of a boss-a-thon in the end, with some bats, Death (it seems the other Death wasn't Death at all), and a big blue gargoyle thing.

And then, Dracula! Thankfully, at this stage in the game you can continue from just before each boss, so I don't have to go far back each time I run out of lives. Which I did. A lot. I can't even get rid of more than half his energy. Rubbish.

Crackdown (360) (Demo)

It's Saints Row! In the future! And you're the police! And it's not as nice looking! And it has some kind of lock-on targetting! And I don't really like it all that much!

Super Castlevania IV (Wii)

Really getting very hard now. I did manage to completed all of Level 8, and then (with much cursing) Level 9, but now I'm on Level A (hexadecimal level numbers FTW!) and it has become too hard again. Grr.

I can manage the first bit, then the bridge (Run Forrest! Run!), but it's the bit with the spinny spikey thing that chases you up the level that I'm stuck on. I just can't seem to get half the staircases to register that I'm walking on them!

Heavy Weapon (360) (Demo)

Hmm. OK, so it's yet another dual-stick Robotron/Smash TV/Geometry Wars/Mutant Storm game, but it plays like a sort of vertical scroller. Yes. VERTICAL. I know you scroll from left to right, but everything attacks you from above. Anyway.

It's actually quite good too. Not so good that I went and bought the full version (I have far too many other games to play at the moment), but I may well do in the future. I did play up to the end of the 4th level though, where I was killed by the seemingly easy Super Wrecking Ball Thing. Who clearly fooled me as he wasn't actually that easy. Since I died.

Lumines Live (360)

Got further than ever before on Base mode, getting as far as a new skin, but only managing 60,000-ish points. How on earth you're supposed to get half a million, I have no idea. I then played Time Attack, and got the 150 (actually, 181) in 300 seconds achievement, and managed 299 for the 300 in 600 seconds one. Not happy there! Grr.

Super Mario Bros (Wii)

When did this get so hard? I don't remember it being hard. It's never been hard. But still, I can't do 8-4. I'm stumped on the water bit in the middle of the level. There's a bit where you have a spinny fire thing and two Bloopers and I can't get past them. One Blooper starts high, the other low, and you can't weave round them fast enough. Even luring them both to the top or bottom doesn't seem to work as you can't swim fast enough to get past them.

I swear it's cheating.

Super Castlevania IV (Wii)

Yes, I'm back. I've had a week away from games, and I have returned anew. Or something. Time to get in and complete some of those games I'm very nearly there with. Like this one!

Sadly, I didn't manage to progress much further. I got as far as 8-2, on bit with seemingly random spikes that come out from the platform above, and are impossible to predict or dodge. So I died. A lot. Rubbish. And I'm so close as well! Grr.

Lumines Live (360)

Well. I thought I'd try to get a few more achievements, starting with the "clear a round of Base in Challenge Mode". So I cleared a round (which I must have done before too), and nothing.

More luck was had with the 150 Second Time Attack one, as I got it on my first attempt! Aces.

Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 (360) (Demo)

Hahahahahahahahaha! Isn't wrestling ace?

New Rally-X (360): COMPLETED!

Yes, I am well aware that it's one of those goes-on-forever games, but the thing is, it has 12 Achievements. And I Achieved the last two of them today: get over 100,000 points (which for some reason isn't listed on my score table, even though the achievement itself is - bizarre) and Complete Stage 16. So I've never managed to "do" all of the achievements on any 360 games before, and then I do two in three days. Ace.

Sensible Soccer 2006 (Xbox)

The other game was this. And I'm not really sure what to make of it.

On one hand, it's really trying to be a new Sensible Soccer. On the other, it just seems wrong. Where it works: simple controls, similar pace of game, same menus, same game "feel". Where it doesn't: camera angle is wrong. Two buttons? Wrong. No widescreen, borders top and bottom too. 3D players don't fit.

It isn't a bad game, by any means, it just isn't the New Sensible Soccer I was hoping for. It's just another football game with the same name.

For the record, I played a few matches as Liverpool (losing to Norwich 4-3), and a few as England in the World Cup (drawing them all).

Outrun 2006 Coast 2 Coast (Xbox)

Well, Ye Olde Xbox got dusted off today so I could play two games I bought over Christmas as they were cheap. First up was this. It's basically Outrun 2, but with the Outrun 2SP levels in addition, and a new single player mode. And it's lovely. Just as lovely as Outrun 2 was, only more so.

Played Arcade Mode for a bit, and reached goals A, B and C (and failed D), then went into Mission Mode (or whatever it's called) and did all the first set of Flagman events, and some of the Girlfriend events. I then went and bought some stuff with the "Outrun Miles" I'd "earned", including some more audio tracks, and another game mode - Outrun 2SP 15 Stage Mode.

Basically, it's all 15 possible stages, one after another. Ace! I only managed to get as far as 13 though, being about one second from the checkpoint. Bah.

Super Castlevania IV (Wii)

And now I'm on Level 8. Well, Stage 8, or whatever they call them, anyway. The boss at the end of stages 6 and 7 were not especially difficult. Well, the one on 6 (some ghost dancers) was tricky, but each time you died you could pick up a replacement life, so it didn't actually matter. I got to the boss at the end of Stage 7 with no spare lives, but luckily managed to kill him on my first attempt - although I had just one chink of energy left when I did so!

I'm now in some sewers or something. Nice.

Super Castlevania IV (Wii)

It turned out the spinny room was solved by just holding on for longer, as a platform eventually appeared. I'd obviously just got impatient and tried something else. I got to the boss at the end of the level (Death wasn't it, it seems), who was a big golum thing that shrank every time he was hit. Thankfully, he was really easy, as I didn't have much health (and no energy) when I got to him.

So Level 6, and it's a lot harder than I recall. And, if you die (as I did on the swinging chandeliers), you go right back to the beginning rather than just back to the start of the current section.

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (GBA)

Decided to try and level up a few times before attempting Death again, and also found some Chain Mail (which was better than my armour at the time), and realised that equipping two Cursed Rings would boost my strength and defense hugely (although my luck would drop - not important for a boss fight though, I don't think). I also found a HP Max upgrade too, which would help.

It still took me five or so goes to kill Death, although it was his second, skeleton crab, form which was difficult. Thankfully, the axes I'd found really helped, as so I killed him eventually - that's the second Death today! I got a power-up which "cleanses water", so no doubt that means the acid water I couldn't get past before is now clear for me to touch.

New Rally-X (360)

Another achievement! This one was for completing Level 12. That leaves me with just two - one for completing Level 16, and one for getting 100,000 points. If I'm careful, both should be easily achievable.

It is getting rather hard now though, as some of the cars now start further up the "map", rather than them all starting at the bottom (and, most importantly, behind you), so they're harder to keep track of. Loads of boulders in the way don't help much either.

Ms. Pac-Man (360)

Level 21 get! More achievements get! Higher score failed!

Those later levels get a bit hard, don't they? Everything seems to move far too quickly, and the power pills do nothing at all. But I got to level 21 which was my goal on it for today, so that was alright.

Super Castlevania IV (Wii)

Got through the level I was on without too many problems this time. I'm not keen on the Indiana Jones style whip swinging, however, as I tend to let go at the wrong time and die.

The end of level boss was a two headed dragon. Like the two headed dragon in Circle of the Moon. Sort of. A bit. With the aid of my axes, I killed it without even getting hit, on my first go, which was good.

I then moved onto the next level, where I found Death, and killed him. I'm pretty sure he's in every Castlevania game ever, you know. Anyway, killed him, and after that there was a room that turned around whilst I hung on with my whip in the middle. I had no idea what to do after the second time it span round, and so died. Tch.

Super Mario Bros (Wii)

Grr. Still can't get past 8-4. It's not that it's especially difficult, it just seems that I lose most of my lives on 8-1 before I can get there.

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (GBA)

Aha! I think the rivers of acid bit was the wrong route to take, as I found another way to go today, into some sort of warehouse or something. And there, so my dismay, I found Irritating and Unnecessary Gaming Cliche #2 - crate puzzles. GAH!

How many games must people RUIN with crate puzzles? And why are they always actually crates? Surely other things could be used instead? Broken Sword 3 and Lost in Blue both had game-almost-breaking crate puzzle sections in them. -10pts, Konami. angrystare.gif

At least they weren't hard. I suppose that's something. I just hope they don't have the SuckySuck(TM) bit (Irritating and Unnecessary Gaming Cliche #1) at the end of the game now too.

Anyway. So I worked through the warehouse bit, killed a load of Poltergeists and Lightning Armour baddies, as well as some King Moths and Manticores, and eventually found myself at the next boss - Death. He didn't seem to be especially hard, as I could easily see off his flying scythes with my spinning balls of fire, and he was soon killed, but then he turned into a giant skeleton crab (Irritating and Unnecessary Game Cliche #3) who promptly killed me.

Viva Pinata (360): COMPLETED!

Right, before I start I really should qualify my "completed" status thing for this game. Yeah, so I haven't done every last thing possible (yet), but I have had every single pinata resident at some point, and - most importantly - I have not gained all 1000 points worth of achievements. That's 50/50 achievements. All of them. So I can take that as "complete", seeing as there's not really another way of completing it, is there? Well, aside from the few remaining awards, I suppose. And the maximum level gainable is 108 (and I'm on 94), but still. Complete. No arguments.

So aside from getting the last achievement this evening (50 hours play), I also made the last few pinatas resident (all of which were various coloured Flutterscotches). I romanced a pair of Goobaas (which I'd not done, even though I thought I had), Master Romanced the Badgesicles (and got all the variants of them), got some Fudgehogs into the garden, and started the arduous task of romancing pink, purple and brown Flutterscotches. Oh, and I got the Visitor Award for a Galagoogoo too.

And this is my first completed game of 2007. Amazing.

Viva Pinata (360)

And I'm now on Level 90. There really isn't a whole lot left to do, I don't think. Master Romanced Lickatoads (which I thought I'd done already, but obviously not), and Macaracoons, and also found all the variants for both species.

Apparently, 108 is the maximum level you can get to. I have no idea how I'll get that far with so little else to do, though.

Ms. Pac-Man

You know, I don't think I've ever actually played Ms. Pac-Man before. I just assumed it was Pac-Man in drag.

And it is, sort of, but slightly better aurally and graphically, and with different maze layouts (and not the same ones every level either). So why not? It's only 400 points anyway.

I quite like it. It does seem to play like it's a public domain Pac-Man clone (like the Amiga had fifty-sixty-twelve of) rather than a sequel, but it's nice anyway. I've reached level 7 or so, and unlocked 10 of the 12 achievements already. It seems to have gotten harder more quickly than Pac-Man, however.

Viva Pinata (360)

No more levelling up today, but I did Master Romance Cocoadiles and Mothdrops. The Mothdrops were a real pain in the backside, as I couldn't get two out of their house at any one time without them instantly disappearing back inside. It didn't help that my Cocoadiles and remaining Chippotamuses kept deciding to choose the tiny bit og land my romance sweets were on as a bed, preventing my Mothdrops from eating them.

I very nearly exploded the controller.

Viva Pinata (360)

After getting all the variants of my Roarios, and sending some of them away, I moved over to my Water Garden and proceeded to empty it of almost every tree, plant and pinata. Then I dug a pond which was about 70% of the area of the garden, and planted stacks of bullrushes, water lillies and water cress. The reason? To tempt in a Chippotamus - the only pinata remaining that I hadn't had resident.

Pretty soon one appeared, and then I sent off for another, and then Master Romanced them. This took me to Level 86, but some variants made of them, and then Cocoadiles, Quackberries and Juicygeese after that bumped me up to 87.

Sent some of my Chippos off to people, and now I'm about to start romancing Cocoadiles - hence the Quackberries (which I'm turning to Juicygeese)...

Viva Pinata (360)

It's like other games don't actually exist, isn't it? I've ditched Animal Crossing and Viva Pinata has stolen my life.

Ended up today with a pile of Roarios (I was sent one in the end as I couldn't get them to stay) and level 84. I did some pinata-pruning in my Grass Garden too, by selling them, and also got a few more variants for Candarys, Sparrowmints and some other pinatas. Sent out some pinatas to people too, and got some in return. Aces.

Viva Pinata (360)

Level 80!

Romanced my Bonboons raw, then decided to try and get myself a Roario. This involved getting lots of Doenuts and Zumbugs into my garden, and while I waited for a Roario to show up I busied myself with getting the Master Romancer award for Goobaas and Rashberries, as well as all the colour variants for those and the Doenuts and Zumbugs. Sent out some of my excess animals to people too.

Since the Roario was a real pain (he needs to eat two each of the Zumbugs and Doenuts, and only eats one per visit), I had time to get the last two full growth awards for plants - namely the Oak and Gem trees. So that's all my plant awards got now!

Sadly, I ran out of day and no sign of a Roario moving in. Bah. Mind you, I have worked out I need to play for another 8 hours for the 50 hour achievement, so I could get it done in that time.

Viva Pinata (360)

Level 75 now! Played for about two and a half hours today, mainly breeding Mallowolfs and Parrybos (which finally made it into my garden, helped along by one I was sent). I tamed a Bonboon too, and set about breeding Jameleons. I've already Master Romanced them, but I need three for each Bonboon to romance.

I built a mine, and along with all the gems, seeds and other assorted things the Diggerling dug up, I also got a Dragonache egg! I bought a Cluckles to hatch it (well, got three actually and got all three variants), and I then had a Dragonache! I then set about maturing it, which you have to do by feeding it a Snapdragon flower, a Dragumfly, a Reddhott, a Salamango and some milk. It was huge, though, so I had to send it away. You can't romance it or anything anyway though.

Next thing to do is actually start romancing Bonboons, I think. Although I only have one at the moment...

New Rally-X (360)

I'm up to level 11 now, I think, and I got a pile of achievements in one go today, including the do-level-7-without-dying one, which I thought was going to be really hard. That means I'm in with a chance of getting all 200 points for this game!

Super Mario Bros (Wii)

Bah. Got to the watery bit of 8-4 this time, only to die. I'm sure this version runs faster than any other version I've played as well, which doesn't help.

I've found the continue option though - you press A and Start on the title screen. That's NES-A, not Wii-A, so is 1 on the remote.

Viva Pinata (360)

Got lots done today. Master Romanced some more species (more Flutterscotches, Profitamoles) and then set about taming sours. Released one Tour Of Sour block at a time, and got a Mallowolf and a Cocoadile. Used my Crowla and Sherbat to distract Dastardos to get myself a couple of achievements, and also scared Professor Pester off with the Mallowolf for another one.

I then started growing and fertilising a load of plants to get the Master Green Fingers achievement, and so now I only have one left to get - the 50 hours played one. I can't tell how long I've been playing so far though. 190-ish game-days, but I don't know how many real-hours that is.

Thanks to everyone who has sent me pinatas today, by the way. You're all ace.

Super Castlevania IV (Wii)

Just a short go. I got through a large section of the next level, up to what seemed like "almost the end", only to lose all my lives falling through holes. You see, rather than land on the platform below (which I'd been standing on moments before), the screen doesn't scroll down again and you die. Bah.

Super Mario Bros (Wii)

Hey! Nobody said this was on the Wii Virtual Console shop today! Well, probably lots of people did, but I didn't hear them. So i found it myself and downloaded it. Lovely.

Of course, I managed to get to World 8-1 on my first go, but then forgot how difficult it is. And there's no continue function in this version! Nooo!

Viva Pinata (360)

Gah! I tried for two hours to get a second Chewnicorn into my garden, feeding them over 60 gems (that's 60x360=21600 coins worth), when I could have just got Gretchem to catch me another in minutes for around 10000 coins. Anyway. Finally, managed it, and romanced them too.

While all that gem eating was going on, I set about breeding Flutterscotches. Got the Master Breeder award for Black, Yellow and Red ones, and made a start on getting some Blues. It seems that when you mate two Flutterscotches, you get white ones from the egg, regardless of the colour of its parents, which is a pain as you then have to evolve them yourself. Oh well.

Viva Pinata (360)

I started today on level 59, and finished on 64. The main contributing factors to this were the Horstashio romancing, followed by the Zumbug romancing, and then the appearance and residence of a Chewnicorn! I got one as I had grown a gem tree, was a Master Romancer for Horstashios, and fed it 15 gems. 15! Lawks.

Sent and received a load of pinatas today as well, mainly remnants of my breeding frenzy. Someone sent me a Crawla, which was much appreciated, and I'd soon turned it orange by feeding it my Bird of Paradise flower.

Viva Pinata (360)

Ace! I got a Horstashio in my garden, and by feeding it loads of apples, it decided to stay! Not that I kept it for long, as watching an episode of the TV series had showed me that feeding them a blackberry and a daisy turned them into a Zumbug. So I did that!

Now I have a Zumbug to play with. However, Zumbugs and Horstashios fight, so I've posted it to myself whilst I set about breeding Horstashios. And Buzzlegums.

Viva Pinata (360)

The breedathon continues! Firstly, I bred a load of Barkbarks, then Ponockys, and then some other pinata species I'd previously had resident but hadn't romanced for some reason.

Then I went back to my water garden and set about Master Romancing my Salamangos, and since I had a fully grown oak tree, I tried to coax a Eaglair in. Without success. Bah.

New Rally-X

It's just Pac-Man only more "free flow, yo", isn't it? Not that it matters, as I bought it for 400 points anyway. Only played it for about 10 minutes, but that was long enough to rack up 7 achievements. Go me!

I never really "got" Rally-X before. I think it's one of those arcade games somewhat forgotten in the UK. I certainly don't recall ever seeing it in the arcades, and it was only because of emulators I even knew of it's existance, really. But it's pretty good. Garish colours though!

Viva Pinata (360)

Haven't played this in a while. My Wii came along and my 360 pretty much got forgotten. But I've been meaning to get back into Viva Pinata, so I did.

Today was filled with breeding. I managed to become Master Romancer for about 8 different species, including Kittyfloss and Syrupents, and also made (and Master Romanced) Lackatoads, Twingersnaps, and Four Heads. The result of all this was that I got three achievements - one for reaching Level 50 (I'm at 56 now and started at 48 today), one for 20 species Master Romanced, and one for hatching an egg with a Cluckle.

I now have 11 of the 50 total achievements to gain, after which I'll declare the game complete, I think.

We Love Katamari (PS2)

Even though I've completed it, I'm still drawn to rolling stuff up. Not least because completing it seems to have unlocked new levels. For starters, there's the roll-people-up-with-the-Sun bit from during the game credits, which I managed 58 on. Slightly better than 1, which I got the other day.

Then there's another where you have to roll up all the countries in the world, starting with the small ones. You actually have to know your geography to do this, as borders are not well marked. I found it best to start with Europe, then Africa, much of Asia, then South America, the rest of Asia, then Australia and then whatever is left. Ace.

Super Castlevania IV (Wii)

Well, I wasn't going to buy this until after I'd done all three GBA Castlevania games, but it seems I did. Oh well.

It's pretty good. Better than I remember it (which is good), but not really as good as recent 2D outing in the series. Anyway. I've killed two bosses, and I'm now on level 3-1. I think.

Castlevania: Circle of the Moon (GBA)

Dragons SLAIN! Hurrah! I found a pattern I could stick to that made them much easier to kill and dodge, and so they were soon dead.

And then it was off on another wander around the castle opening areas I couldn't previously get to, since I can now push big crates out of the way. Found some more HP/MP/heart upgrades, and then wandered into an area full of Ice Armour baddies and some sort of acid water. Eurgh.