So

So. I haven't written in this little beige box in months. But what to write? I guess games, because nothing else in my life has been all that interesting as of late.

House of the Dead 2 & Return I'm a sucker for classic arcade games, and even moreso for compilations of said titles. The terrifying trifecta of Taito Legends, Capcom Classics Collection and Midway Arcade Treasures together provide the very best games the arcades have had to offer. Other compos aren't so lucky. House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return sticks two light gun games together. I love light gun games. I love games that involve or revolve around the shooting of the undead. House of the Dead combines these two pastimes and does so with splendor, but it's still just two games, neither particularly cerebral, and neither even close to the quality of Umbrella Chronicles. Worth it if you have spare cash lying about. Check your pockets.

Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol May shame be heaped upon you if you have no love for Chibi-Robo. I loved the GameCube game, and I love the DS sequel, on a smaller scale. Part of what made the original so good was the exploration of a modest house from a tiny point of view, a house occupied by a family of idiots. And not just any idiots. The Sandersons are the type who could set themselves on fire and not realize it for days. There are no Sandersons in Park Patrol, and that's a strike against it. But, then, there are no Sandersons in Tony Hawk or Madden, either, and that's why I staunchly oppose those two franchises. Park Patrol is Chibi-Robo doing the Harvest Moon thing: grow flowers, add playground equipment, protect park from goony little blots called Smogglings. Highly recommended.

Planet Puzzle League Tetris Attack, again, with a slicker presentation, touch controls and online. I like it.

Yoshi's Island DS I've been playing this game off and on again recently, and finally managed to complete it just the other day. That doesn't sound like a herculean task when discussing a game where babies are carried by dinosaurs, but many of the stages – this is true – many of the stages were designed in the Seventh Circle of Hell by none other than He Who Is The Dark Lord Satan himself. Can't say anything bad about the game play; it's just really freaking hard, man. Lots of auto-scrolling stages, lots of one-hit kills from lava and spikes. It's not as good as Yoshi's Island, but, then, what is? Worth your time if you don't mind having your anger issues outed to the world. Seriously, this game would drive the Pope into an obscenity-laced fury.

Contra 4 Speaking of games that are good but way too hard, this. Contra on a two-screen portable, just as cool as always, but screamingly difficult. And no extra life codes.

New Super Mario Bros. Also not new, but I've been playing it a lot lately, and I've come to believe that this game may, in some perverse way, actually be the best Mario game since Super Mario 64 (this is prior to Galaxy, mind.) It's just a really good, SMB3-like game without all the extra junk that you'll hoard but never use.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Do I need to repeat how much I love the Ace Attorney series? I love the Ace Attorney series. The Phoenix Wright trilogy has wrapped up, and now it's Apollo's turn. Pretty much the same thing, only with the crime lab stuff from PW1's fifth case. Apollo is just as clownishly lovable as Phoenix.

Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection Where has this game been my whole life? Seriously, Metal Gear Solid is pretty awesome, a fantastic cinematic Metal Gear game that plays so similarly to the original NES title that it's kinda scary. Can't say I have a problem with that. The collection also contains MGS2 and 3, but – completist that I am – I will finish them in order.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl What more needs to be said?

Thundercat and I will be traveling soon. Hopefully, I will have some great stories from those experiences.