POTM: MySims Agents DS

…and the Purchase of the Month for November 2009 is:

MySims Agents DS!

My first MySims game actually. Early impressions show that it is a fun game with really bad grammar issues (lots of “alright”s and I spotted the use of “a while” once). I like the amount of stuff to collect and use in decorating the room, but I only just started it really. Humor is good, too. Will compile a full review of it soon for sure.

BACKLOG REVIEW: Professor Heinz Wolff’s Gravity

The most obvious thing Professor Heinz Wolff’s Gravity has going for it is its art style. A mix of candy canes and Tim Burton-esque level designs, this no-frills Nintendo DS puzzler just oozes style. Background images are vivid paintings, striking to the point of distraction. Even the moody music adds to the overall atmosphere. But is it the be-all, end-all of puzzlers?

No.

To find out why, click below.

November 2009 games releases that interest me

Hmm, it is now 10 days into November, and I realized I need to learn to plan better. For one thing, I should get this list going, ehh, more at the very beginning of the month.

Anyways, slim pickings this month. Oh sure, big name games like Dragon Age: Origins and Assassin’s Creed II are dropping, but who has the moolah for those creations. Surely not me. Besides, I’ve got Fallout 3 to keep me busy on the Xbox 360 for some time now, and there’s nothing really pulling at my heartstrings this month, save for a couple DS games out there, as well as a…PS2 game?! What is this, 2003?!

Nintendo DS

Phantasy Star Zero – released on 11/10/09 (that’s today, y’all!)

Having never played a Phantasy Star game before, this looks like an okay place to start. Action RPG, sci-fi elements, anime influence. Something about a war, but I bet there’s battles involved, as well as gaining XP. Should be enough for me.

Harvest Moon DS: Sunshine Islands – released on 11/10/09 (that’s today, y’all!)

I’ve been sort of getting into farming sims lately. I blame Facebook, naturally. And at least this game’s title doesn’t make me want to vomit and run away in tears. Yes, Harvest Moon DS Cute, I’m talking about you.

Playstation 2

Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier – released on 11/03/09

I love me some Jak and Daxter. Truly great platforming, with the occasional shooting/racing element. Never got to play any of the PSP adventures, having stopped at Jak 3 since a full-on racing game like Jak X left me feeling empty-chested. So it’s nice to see a release for the Playstation 2 even if Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier might be swollen with flying elements. Given the right price, this could be a good time.

Ho-ho-hope December is a little better than this for us casual, poor videogamers…

New trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is quietly coming up to its release date (December 7) and not much is known about the second Zelda game for the DS other than it involves trains and phantoms and many of the same elements from The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. But check out the new trailer below, which hints at Princess Zelda’s importance to both plot and gameplay:

I’ve yet to beat The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, mostly because I’m tired of digging deeper into the same ol’ tomb, but it’s still a great, colorful time that I pick up now and again, and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is looking to improve on that formula in every way possible. It’ll probably make my Christmas list…

Rocking the Weezer hat in Magician’s Quest Mysterious Times

You know what’s really hard to do? Photograph your Nintendo DS screen:

I basically just wanted to show the world that I’ve been totally rocking a Weezer hat in Magician’s Quest Mysterious Times these past few weeks. See? Okay, okay…it’s really a “baseball cap,” but a guy can pretend.

Halloween-themed art from Scribblenauts

Two days late with this, but check out this awesome Halloween-themed art from Scribblenauts artist Edison Yan:

Now, I just need to figure out how to summon a pirate kitty cat of death, as well as the candy corn man. Not that I like candy corn. But a Maxwell armed to the teeth with an uzi and laser pistol riding a pirate kitty cat of death could surely take care of that problem…

Nintendo Announces the Nintendo DSi LL

Nintendo announced at a Tokyo press event there will be a revised version of the Nintendo DS, dubbed the Nintendo DSi LL.

Great. Cause at this point, the world needs one more iteration of the DS. Here’s how it’s gone down over time:

1. The DS
2. The DS Lite
3. The DSi
4. The DSi LL

Evidently the “LL” is in reference to the new, larger screens, which fans have been asking for since the 207 B.C. It’s mostly there for those using the system to listen to music and surf the Interwebz though I wouldn’t mind seeing my tiny Animal Crossing: Wild World items better represented. Anyways, the new DSi LL also comes with two styluses, three in-system games, the DS Easy Dictionary, and three snazzy colors (Dark Brown, Wine Red, and Natural White). There’s probably a stronger battery life in there, too. No U.S. launch date or pricing yet.

For what it’s worth, I love the color wine red, but really feel that things need to slow dooooooown.

Kotaku has a comparison up of the DSi LL to the DSi and DS Lite.

The Top Five Most Horrible Videogames I Own

That’s right: the top five most horrible videogames I own. You may interpret horrible as you please. But I’m putting it all out there, and while I’m almost certain there are worst games in existence (hello, Vampire Rain), these are just the ones I actually have in my collection.

Let the walk of shame begin…

5. Super Fruitfall (Nintendo DS)

Actually, my mother bought this game and then passed it along to me. I think she either beat it or hated it with the heat-passion of a thousand suns. I played for probably a total of six minutes and experienced my life’s quota of Super Fruitfall. Basically, all the player does is hit the directional button left or right to rotate the screen so that fruit will fall into a hole. That’s it. There is nothing else to do. In theory, this game could be played with one’s eyes shut tight. I recommend that.

4. American McGee’s Alice (PC)

Initially, I loved this game. But then again I also found the TV show “Ronin Warriors” to be kickass. I was young, I was stupid, and I was in “love”…see, I played this game with my then high school girlfriend, and it was an interesting experience. I directed and hit the jump button (space bar) while she walked Alice to and fro. Kinda fun, mostly lame. I went back to American McGee’s Alice a few years ago and found it horribly ugly, stiff, and no fun at all. The relationship died a long time ago, I guess.

3. Summoner (Playstation 2)

On paper, Summoner sounds pretty neat. In fact, let’s look at some key points from the back cover:

• Traverse a beautiful, completely original world spanning two continents
• Encounter hundreds of characters and battle in realtime with a 5-person party
• Summon red minotaurs, black imps, golems, and other powerful allies
• Cast spectacular spells, wield an arsenal of weapons, clad yourself in the armor of a warrior

Pretty standard stuff for a top-notch RPG, am I right? Lies. ALL OF IT LIES. The problem was, besides Summoner being flat and unsightly, the in-game worlds were almost too large, with a map as helpful as a cave drawing. I don’t believe I ever even got out of that first major city despite having acquired nine different quests. Combat was tame, and the only time I ever saw a summoning was when I looked one up on YouTube.

2. Mario Paint (Super Nintendo)

Mario Paint is actually an excellent and fun game…when you can play it. My dumb self picked this up at a garage sale without remembering that you need the special Super NES Mouse and Mouse Pad to enjoy life. I thought a controller would’ve been enough, but alas all I can ever do with it is turn it on and stare endlessly at the start screen.

1. Godai Elemental Force (Playstation 2)

SWEET HOLY CRAP ON A DISC THIS IS SWEET HOLY CRAP ON A DISC! I fear that describing this game in words would not do it justice so please, take a deep breath, and then watch this gameplay video. Did you see the part where the ninja sort of glides when he jumps down off the higher part of the level? Yeah, that’s how everyone jumps. The voice acting is a riot until you realize they are trying to be serious, the combat is a joke, and the graphics are as poor gets. I don’t remember how much I spent on this, but whatever it was…I WANT IT BACK, 3D0.

And this completes my very first list here at Grinding Down. Ta-da!

Sushi Academy nom nom nom

Here’s a videogame I secretly want (but now it is no longer a secret):

From the look of things, Sushi Academy is basically Cooking Mama: Raw Fish Lovers Unite. And that’s okay with me. But let’s see what we can learn from Amazon.com, shall we?

Sushi Academy by City Interactive features Old Sushi Master, who runs a world-famous restaurant. His snacks are enjoyed by a vast amount of fans that would love to know the secrets of sushi making. Only a handful has been honored by being taught by the Master himself. Under the Master’s guidance, learn to chop vegetables, cut fish and decorate and serve meals. Create more complicated dishes, and maybe you will surpass your master.

And some key features include:

• Prepare meals, collect the ingredients, and take the exams in the set of colorful mini games
• Get to know the history, etiquette, and rules of sushi making by reading the specially prepared sushipedia
• Create dozens of exotic meals and admire the effects of your work
• Broaden your skills and knowledge on one of the oldest culinary cultures of the world

Oh, Nintendo DS game, you had me at sushipedia. Sushi Academy releases, hey, tomorrow (10/27/09) to zombie-like crowds of fans and hungry people everywhere. I wonder if it’ll come with a special chopstick stylus…

Cheap exploit for those that don’t want to actually play Scribblenauts

As found recently on GameFAQs, this cheat/exploit will allow Maxwell to complete any and all action levels in Scribblenauts with ease:

Just type in “handcuffs,” attach them to the Starite, place a “vending machine” nearby, drag the opposite end of the handcuffs to the vending machine and choose “fill,” then move the machine down to Maxwell and empty its contents.

Here’s a video too:

Granted, I might use this trick once or twice if I find myself stuck on a really frustrating level, such as the ones in Stunt Park or Shoreline, but no way would I use this all the way through. What would be the point of that?