Lego superheroes and Japanese Highschools

A month removed from completing my first playthrough of Fallout 3 and it's pertinent DLC, I reflect on the experience and find that it was one of the most involving gaming experiences I've had in recent years. It is evident that the current - though new to me - generation of video games is being very good to me.

At the time of achieving the toppling of the Enclave's power center in the DC area I had logged over 150 game hours. The gameplay experience in the FO3 is addictive to say the least. What I did find missing is the narrative that made the previous two so endearing. My guess is that some of those missing elements may return in the next chapter of the series, New Vegas, since many key members of the first two's development team are in the fold.

Having burnt myself out on the Mega-Epic-Sized games - or so I thought for a moment there - I decided to tackle shorter games, nothing bigger the 20 hours or so. I first hit Fatal Frame 2, which I had left unfinished 6 or so hours into the story. 19 hours total and the game was ready to be buried in my closet again. Lego Batman is now safely in my sights as I intend to do with it as I did it's Star Wars colored brethren; collect everything!

But I couldn't possibly ignore the siren song of the perennial king of my videogaming soul: the RPG. I couldn't help but start up Mass Effect as it had been sitting in my closet since December when it was gifted to me. I must say, it starts slow despite the early action, but the implied depth of it is astounding. The quality of the character models, facially in particular, is nothing short of masterful. Only a couple of hours into it so far but it will be slow one for me as I must finish up other things before it...

Like Persona 3: FES which I also started recently but now have 12 hours logged and am absolutely obsessed with. Who knew and RPG/sim would drive me nuts like this? The fact that it's set in such a twisted yet compelling imagining of the Gekkoukan Highschool district certainly is the most likely reason why I've dug the whole schtick. The Dark Hour, as a concept, and all the details that accompany it is something that tickles my wicked fancy. Coffins that will revert to human form once the hour passes, creature that feast on the unwittingly immune to aforementioned transmogrification... I love this game. It further cements my love for the Megami Tensei universe and the Persona sub-series; it may very well be my favorite series of all time.

I just received Brutal Legend in the mail yesterday. Managed to play an hour or so - the introductory sequence - and found it amazing. The game is truly under-appreciated, it's a shame. The soundtrack is obviously great; a chunky helping of classic and not-so-classic metal that would make any red-blooded metalhead cream his/her pants. The action is seamless and very well balanced, so far, and I have yet to tire of the in-game banter. Also, I must state, the title screen is simply the best ever. Hands down. It captures the whole metal artwork and the usual love for vinyl records so pervasive among the rock crowd. If you need to see only one thing about Brutal Legend, it is the title screen...

The opening sequence of the game speaks true to a man like me, so hung up on artistic merit and the soul behind musicianship. The critique towards what metal - and most other genres, truth be told - has become in the hands of the record industry hits the nail square on the head. When Ormagöden makes its appearance it is an awesome thing to see. The way it's animated made tingles run up and down my spine. I must write a love letter to Mr. Schaffer, he has made me happy once again.

As of now, in a preemptive claim, I deem Brutal Legend the Coolest Game Ever and the Most Metal Game So Far.