What is the best alternative Christmas game?

http://cinemassacre.com/2012/12/22/whats-the-best-christmas-movie/

He's interesting as always, especially about Die Hard as an alternative Christmas movie, which is always an interesting conversation piece.

It's making me think about what the best alternative Christmas video game is. Going through my memories of games I've played over the years it actually didn't take me long until I came up with both Hotel Dusk and Last Window, neither of which are particularly heavy with the Christmas theme but both of them take place around Christmas and even have their moments.

The one moment that jumps out at me right now is from Hotel Dusk, where Kyle Hyde and the little girl are decorating a Christmas tree in the hotel storage room, surrounded by an unlikely yet likeable group of people who come together to have their own little party and appreciate what they have. It's a nice cosy moment in this detective story and you even get to place the decorations on the tree yourself.

My top 10 games of 2010 (finally!)

Now then, after some careful consideration of all the games I played that were released last year I have come up with my top 10 favourites. Without any further delay let's start!

10. Donkey Kong Country Returns

It's a good challenging 2D platform game but it's so low in this list because it's nowhere near as excellent or as magical as the original SNES trilogy were for several different reasons. I probably shouldn't go into too much detail about them here but there is one I can't let pass and that is the blow move. What a stupid idea that was.

9. Ace Attorney Investigations

This is an interesting third person adventure spinoff of the brilliant Ace Attorney series. I often found my interest waning while playing but I can't think of any other reason why than it being so different to the original series. There's still a lot of great humour and characters, especially the charming and quixotic sidekick Kay.

8. The Crystal Bearers

I hate calling this game by its full title: "Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles The Crystal Bearers". It's just too damn long. Anyway this is a rather enjoyable sandbox style adventure game where you throw things at other things with your telekinetic powers. The game's plot is fun in an Indiana Jones kind of way and it isn't too long. It also has extremely quick load times!

7. Dragon Quest IX

This traditional RPG is advertised a lot for its networking features and it's many many extracurricular quests but I have to say I completed the main game without doing any of the extra stuff and found it to be a pretty solid RPG all on its own! I love the fact you can avoid enemies too. I was doing that most of the time and just had a really nice time adventuring in the world! Met some great characters too - my favourites being the kidnappers. It may not be as good as DQIV or V but it's a genuinely solid entry in the series.

6. Last Window

I've posted a lot about this enjoyable and easy going point n' click adventure game. The dialogue between the characters is what kept me playing the most and it hits that sweet spot of "cosiness" that makes you want to keep playing. Makes for a fantastic way to pass a boring commute.

5. Pokémon Ghost Black ReTold

Not actually a game but a "kinetic" style visual novel where you just press a button to advance to the next section. This game is FREE homebrew and a whole playthrough lasts 10-15 minutes. It's great because of its use of images and music to tell a wonderfully eerie story and it brought one of the most compelling experiences I've had this year on my DS. Please play it on your DS!

4. Sin & Punishment 2

Fantastic sequel to the N64 rail shooter that improves upon it in every conceivable way! It's very high on this list because it's incredibly stimulating and satisfying to play!

3. Sonic Colours (Wii version)

I've posted alot about this game already but here I'll say why Sonic Colours is higher than Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Donkey Kong Country Returns. Generally it's a much purer, more addictive game than the other two and it is much more considerate to the player, therefore earning it all the praise it can get. Also, no load times!!!

2. Cave Story (WiiWare)

This is number 2 because it's already been topping lists for six years and it took an unbelievably long time to be available on WiiWare. Actually that's not the real reason. I'd nearly still put it at number 1 if it wasn't for the next and final entry on this list:

1. Watching "X's Adventures in Minecraft" on YouTube

I couldn't play Minecraft over the last year because my computer was extremely temperamental so I had to watch this video series recommended to me by everyone I expressed curiosity of this game to.

So wow, two things that I loved straight away about this. One was where X was spending his first night in a tiny cubby hole he dug out for himself while he could clearly hear the eerie moans of zombies outside. The second was where he was making his way into a deep dark unexplored cave. It was an amazing experience watching all this going on accompanied by his commentary.

This is my game of the year because it captured my imagination like no other. I still haven't actually played it but I will now that I have a newer, less temperamental computer! I won't actually build much I'd say. Just whatever I need to go adventuring and exploring!

Mysterious Last Window perforated instruction manual pages

I mentioned the perforated edge on a page in the Last Window instruction manual already in a previous post:

http://irishnintendofan.blogspot.com/2010/09/last-window-secret-of-cape-west-for.html

but I didn't reveal what was inside as I was waiting until I completed the game. However, now that I have completed it there is one thing about it I'll reveal about the perforated page if you would like to know:

There's a puzzle with an offer to win a wallpaper for your mobile phone. Nice little bonus there!

Game and Watch style game found in Last Window

A good ways into the game, Kyle Hyde obtains a handheld LCD game. This game is called "Pinkie Rabbit Land" and is fully playable. It's not necessary for the story at all but you can just play the LCD game to your heart's content. The gameplay consists of a rabbit going up ropes to catch carrots tied to balloons and climbing back down to put them in baskets whilst avoiding ninja projectiles. It looks and feels very closely to a Game and Watch game. The downside is you can't save your score.

There's also a billiards game where you slide on the touchscreen to hit the ball with the cue. It's a nice addition but for me the Game and Watch style game has more appeal!

So yeah, if you didn't want to play Last Window but like the idea of these maybe you can find a copy of the game that has an appropriate save point.

Just completed Hotel Dusk - I recommend it!

I guess I should've saved yesterday's post for something to write about today!

Oh well, might as well say a few words about it. If you like reading then it's definitely worth checking out. The game's really easy too. I was never too stuck to figure out anything and the use of the DS was pretty neat as well, even though people don't really praise that aspect of the DS anymore since it's what we've come to expect now. I never got a chance to use a rumble pak with the game but I would've if I had one. Also, when I say the game's easy I mean it's mostly about watching the way the characters talk with each other and then you already know where to go so you just go there to have another scene where the characters talk... as is the nature of adventure games. If you're a fan of them then it really is a slice of heaven. That "cosy" feeling I get when I'm playing a really good adventure game is definitely present here and the fact that it isn't too difficult serves well in terms of the game's pacing. In fact there's only one instance where I used a guide and that was when I was looking for a penny. I don't believe for a second that a penny would be a nuisance to find and I didn't want a game making it so!

The tone of the game has a grown up, dignified feel while at the same time not being too stuffy and boring so most people who like reading would enjoy it I'd say.

Another cool thing about this game is that it contains its own novelisation which unlocks chapter by chapter as you play through the game with features like its own bookmark and everything. It's a nice bonus!

There are a couple of other really cool things about this game but they deserve their own post! Stay tuned!

Still playing Last Window!

A game like Last Window wouldn't normally take me this long to complete after buying it about two months ago but I like it so much I'm actually savouring it.

It's an extremely easy going game and it's great to relax to. There is a looooooot of talking in it but hey it doesn't pretend to be anything else than what it's sold to be - an interactive novel. It's just a couple of puzzles that are tricky. I just completed one particularly cryptic puzzle by myself and I'm delighted with it. I normally just play it when I don't have podcasts to listen to, which has helped spread the game far and wide over these dark Winter days for me!

Even right now I'm looking forward to snuggling up with it when I've other stuff done.

Eating like Kyle Hyde

In my recent sessions of Last Window I've come across sections where Kyle Hyde sits down to eat in the café on the bottom floor of his apartment building. The first was a burger and I've just finished the scene where he eats pasta carbonara.

I've never eaten pasta carbonara before so I thought I'd try it out for myself. So I went to a restaurant that served it and had some there.

It's not bad but I prefer tomato based ones like napolitana or bolognese. It's a pity I couldn't have it like Kyle did with extra mushrooms. I bet it would've been a lot tastier! It wasn't cheap either... How could Kyle afford it? Earlier in the game I got the impression he was strapped for cash!