Now Playing: Professor Layton and the Unwound Future

The third outing for the crime solving quizzical sleuths with British accents is just as grand as the first two adventures. Luke and Hershel (That’s Professor Layton’s first name, BTW) are mysteriously transported 10 years into the future, where a corrupted Professor Layton has thrown the city into ruin, a future Luke is trying to save it, and puzzle are coming out of every nook and cranny imaginable. It’s classic Professor Layton writing and puzzle solving at its best, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve been devoting a lot of time to All Zombies Must Die! as of late, but the professor and Luke keep budding their way into my time, and for good reason!

 

Yearly Roundup: 2011

As 2011 comes to an end, I thought it would be a cool idea to look back at the year in games. Specifically, the year in games added to my ever-growing library. If you’re a frequent visitor to the site (I greatly hope you are!) you’ll no doubt know I do a weekly blog post about my newest games. So below I’ve collected every game I added this year (well, really only half-year, because I started this blog in late July). I’ve also linked any relevant posts I’ve done about said games, like reviews, Modern Classics, and gameplay videos. Enjoy the small retrospective, and here’s to another fantastic year in gaming in 2012!

 

Sunday Roundup: 12/25/11

Merry Christmas everyone!

Not really a tradition and more so my tastes don’t really change, every Christmas I usually receive a few video games from my family. This year was no exception, and I am eternally grateful and pleased that my loved ones get me any gifts, let alone games that I really want to play! Here’s what 2011 did for Jsick this Christmas.

 

What Makes A Game “Rare”?

To follow up on my last post about video game collecting, I wanted to go through some of the games in my collection and discuss why they are considered to be “rare.” A game can fluctuate in price fairly easily and the cause of this change can originate from many different places, not the least of which being scarcity of the item. So as a collector, what do you need to look for in a game, and more importantly, what games should you look for to add that special gem to your collection.

 

Sunday Roundup: 12/18/11

Last week was half-priced PS2 games at GameStop.

This week was half-off GameCube games.

I went nuts.

 

Video Game Hunting & Collecting 101

One of the most exciting part about being a gamer is the joy of finding a new game. It’s always great when a new title comes out, especially for a series you’ve played in the past and enjoyed (like Marvel vs. Capcom 3), but I’m talking about when you find an older game. One you’ve been looking to find for a long time. One that might be a rare spectacle in and of itself. These are the exciting moments I’m talking about. After eight or so years, I think I’ve amassed quite a collection of titles, and I’ve learned a good deal from my experiences. If you’re thinking of starting a collection, already have a pile of games sitting around, or just want to learn the best ways to get the games you’re looking for, this article is for you.

 

Now Playing: Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

Puzzle games are so great. They’re perfect for the handheld market, giving just enough entertainment for short bursts of gameplay, and enough longevity to play for extended periods of time. It goes without saying (though I guess I’ll be saying it) that puzzle games don’t often have stories, or coherent ones at that. What’s the story in Tetris? Stop the world from falling apart by guiding falling blocks into appropriate spaces? Well the Professor Layton series has remedied this problem with a handful of great puzzle games for the Nintendo DS. I’ve recently started playing the second title in the series, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, and I must say, the game has already pulled me in.

 

 

Things Learned From Being A Game Reviewer

I’ve been writing video game reviews for over two years now, and there’s been some things I’ve learned over that span of time. I don’t mean better writing techniques, for which I’ve picked up quite a few, but rather the things you don’t think about until they rear their head. Since not everyone has written reviews before, I wanted to take some time to reflect on my time spent writing, and give some insight on what it takes to be a freelance video game reviewer.

 

 

 

Sunday Roundup: 11/20/11 (The Monday Edition!)

Now that’s more like it.

A great haul this week, spanning from the PS1, PS2, and the Xbox 360.

I love it when I get a great deal on a lot of games.

 

 

 

Sunday Roundup: 11/13/11

Ahhh…
There’s nothing quite like buying a game you’ve been looking for for well over ten years. The satisfaction of thinking you somehow beat the system, found a gem, and finally attained the sought after holy grail of your collection is exhilarating. Until you realize there’s about 400 other rare games you’re still looking for!