Guild Wars ... I was iffy on it, but here I am on 'Day of Release', and I'm a level 2 Elementalist. It is fun so far, but I wonder how long I can play solo before I get into serious trouble ...

I finished LEGO Star Wars on the GBA the other day and have been noodling around in Free Play mode since then. It is telling that I didn't immediately repeat areas I loved in Free Play, because there was only 'like', not 'love' ... unlike in the PC version.

I'm writing the review now ...

Medal of Honor Pacific Assault?!?!? I had already forgotten this ... now my review is up at GamerDad

Heretic Kingdoms: The Inquisition

Well, my review is up at GamerDad (4/5 stars) for this nice little game. It was just released in the US, but I got it late last year when Merscom went direct ship for online ordering. It was well worth it.

At the same time, Jay Powell from Merscom is at IGN's RPGVault in the Soapbox feature. He talks about smaller games and the emergence of budget titles that are a real value ... like Heretic Kingdoms. I see those types of games becoming more and more important ... especially to PC RPG fans ...

GamerDad has posted my LEGO Star Wars review. That was quite quick, since I only finished it on Friday.

I'm almost done with the GBA version, but that won't be getting such glowing reviews ...

So, Dungeon Lords is going to be delayed until mid-May. That is kind of a mixed bag ... on the one hand, I *had* been hoping for the game, and would have loved to get my hands on it next week. But on the other hand, it is only a few weeks, and I know that the team really needs the time to finish up and get it fully releaseable.

Good luck to DWB & Chuk & all the HP guys finishing this up ...

Wow ... I finished LEGO Star Wars, and what can I say but that is one fun game.

There were a couple of frustrating areas, and I'm still not sure how I feel about the amout of spoilers I played through, but overall it is a very satisfying game experience. Now I have to go and review it ... and finish the GBA game. I just finished Episode I on that.

I really didn't want to be spoiled for Episode III.

Sure, I watched the trailers, checked out TFN and the official site, but was very careful to avoid some of the more spoiler oriented sites and forums. You see, for Episode I, I was too busy with two babies under two years old, but for Episode II, they were old enough where they had seen Episode I and IV, but we were iffy on letting them see Episode V or VI, so I wanted to know as much about AotC to be sure they were ready.

So I wanted to be fresh for Episode III. Sure, there are things we all know will happen, but it is the entire framework that will make the experience.

Then along comes LEGO Star Wars. I finish Episode I, which was really cool. Then I work through Episode II, which was even cooler, albeit seeming too short (was it, or was it just me enjoying it so much?). Then I come to a door marked 'III' ... what to do ... could I hold off until after seeing the movie?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING?!?! That decision took three seconds, and I was through ...

So now I'm spoiled, but not anticipating it any less ...

OK, as if it isn't bad enough that for my 39th birthday my wife and kids got me Lego Star Wars for the PC ... my wife decided to 'surprise' me with Untold Legends for my newest toy, the PSP. Unfortunately I already had it, being it was the only game I *really* wanted for the PSP.

So we went back to Target where she bought it and returned the game. Then we headed to the game section where - no surprise to me - there were no PSP or DS games I wanted. BUT, there was Lego Star Wars for the GBA. I had made a resolution about this:

The Star Wars: Flight of the Falcon Principle - Remember that the very best Star Wars GBA games are mediocre, and most are pretty lousy, so do *not* 'day of release' purchase anything Star Wars for a handheld system ... wait for reviews.

Oh well, I broke it ... so what do I think?

The PC game is loads and loads of fun, and just completely encourages exploration.
The GBA game has cool action, nice graphics, but respawning enemies that make you think fast and discourages exploration.

We'll see as things progress ...

Well, I've been published again! Twice!

GamerDad is running my KotOR 2 review on the front page - http://www.gamerdad.com/detail.cfm?itemID=2200

And from there you can get a sneak peek at what is coming next - my VtM: Bloodlines review - http://www.gamerdad.com/detail.cfm?itemID=2201

Cool ... now I just have to finish some more ...

Lego Star Wars for the PC has arrived!

It was the top of my birthday list, and I was very pleased to get it! It is a very fun game, simple to pick up and play, but with collectable galore that make it very challenging to conquer!

Dungeon Lords ... this is still the game that has my attention ... I am spending loads of time playing around with it and discussing in the forums. There have been many new things listed by the developers as fixes and tweaks, and it just looks more and more promising.

Question is - am I getting ready for another Jedi Knight II or setting my self up for a Deus Ex Invisible War?