Well,  here it is only a few days before PAX - and due to my new job I won’t be able to attend.  That sucks, I finally am on the west coast during PAX, it’s only about a three hour drive and I still can’t make it.  Ever since moving I’ve been incredibly busy - it really cuts into the gaming time.  Although, since the new job allows me to work out of my home office so, I’ve managed to get a bit more in.  Of course I didn’t continue any one of the games I’m in the middle of now.  Nope, I started replaying Parasite Eve.

Parasite Eve (PSX)

It’s been such a long time since I’ve played this,  I can’t even remember if I ever beat it.  Anyway, thanks to an incredibly slow work week I managed to play up to Day 5: Liberation.  If this next week stays just as slow I’ll be able to finish it off.  Parasite Eve is a great RPG one you should go back and revisit if you have the means.  It’s such a massive departure from the Final Fantasy series, that’s probably what appeals to me the most.  I think I’ll pick up a copy of Hideaki Sena’s novel, which from what I understand is fantastic.  That reminds me I still have to pick up a copy of Birthday…

Company of Heros: Opposing Fronts (PC)

It’s been a while since I’ve played COH and I noticed this weekend that the expansion pack Opposing Fronts had finally dropped below $29.99 on Steam.  So, I picked it up and immediately rejoined the fight.  I really want to see Company Of Heros Online.  I’m not sure it will see a US release, for now it looks as if it is only being release in Korea and China as free to play.  Free to play and microtransaction games starting to gain a foot hold here in the US but, we still may not see a release here.  Even if we don’t see see the Online game it is possible we will be seeing another expansion soon.

Team Fortress 2 (PC)

Heavy!  Actually, I haven’t played Heavy since the update.  I started to play last night and then noticed the Opposing Fronts price drop.  But, I swear I’m devoting some time to it this afternoon.

Persona 3: FES (PS2)

I’ve only been able to squeeze in a little bit of time leveling since returning to work after my whole broken wrist saga.  I didn’t play enough of Persona or any of Persona 2 but, it appears that all of the games are not connected - one of these days I need to seek out a Persona wiki and read up on what the hell is going on.

Final Fantasy IV (NDS)

Not too much to say about this - it’s a updated release of a classic game.  I’m currently about half way through and not sure exactly when I’ll be finishing it since I don’t have to commute to work anymore.

At some point several days ago I was in Fred Meyer looking through the PS2 games and happen to find another item to add to my pile of shame list. So, I walked out with a copy of Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection. I had planned on playing the first game in the series but, I forgot I would need a PS1 memory card. Oh well, I’ll have to run up to the used game store and see if they have any one of these days. So, instead it was on to Metal Gear Sold 2 - a game I clearly remember beating on the Xbox but, about which I remember almost nothing. Anyway, I’ve currently played up to the fight with Vamp, maybe sometime this week I’ll get to put in the time needed finish the game.

On Sunday, I was able to knock Persona 3: FES off the list as well. I’ve managed to make it up to level 12 in the tower after only five and a half hours of game play. In game, I’ve also joined the kendo club and student council, heh. I’m not sure if I’ll beat this one considering the main story and the add-on clock in at over 100 hours of game play. Heck I’m not sure if or when I’ll beat any of them once I get back to my regular work schedule.

• Shadow of the Colossus
• Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES
• Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection
  
• God of War
• Okami
• Devil May Cry
• Final Fantasy XII
• Ico
• Katamari Damacy

Again, if anyone has any suggestions on additions let me know.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2 is finally out!  Looks like I have something new to play while riding the train to work.  I’ll report back in a couple of days and let everyone know how it is.

Other then my time playing Space Invaders Extreme, I haven’t been gaming all that much.  While I have played to much I have picked up a couple of games on Steam.  With all the news of Beyond Good and Evil 2 from Ubidays I decided I should probably go back and finish the first one.  Since, I lost my copy for Xbox long ago Steam was the obvious place to get it.  Of course, I haven’t made it past the point Jade recieves the mission to take pictures yet.

I also picked up a copy of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One.  The longest video game name that I can think of is a pretty decent game.  It is a point and click adventure role playing game.  Which almost makes me wish there was a version on the DS as well, since I would love to play on the train.  I’m actually a bit glad I’m not just playing through in one sitting since, it seems to have fallen into the “kill x number of y” game play mechanic pretty early in the game - Steam reports that I’ve played for about 1.3 hours.  I have faith that it will break free of that as the time goes on - I hope.

Other games I’ve played for more then ten minutes include: Metal Gear Soild (ePSXe), Resident Evil 4 (Wii) and Shadow of the Colossus (PS2).

It’s been around for quite a while now, Sony’s PlayStation 2. Yet for some reason I never made room on my shelf for one - until now. Target has decided to celebrate my birthday by lowering the already low price of the PS2 to $99. That’s just the thing I said it would take for me to dive in and finally get the dying system. Now, that I’ve got the PS2 it’s time to start working on a PS2 pile of shame. I found a copy of Shadow of the Colossus on a nearby shelf so, I’ve got a good start I think. Unfortunately, Target was out of memory cards so a quick trip to eBay was in order. Hopefully, the card will be here tomorrow. I did, however, start the game and defeat the first Colossus. It’s a good start of what looks to be a great game. As if I don’t already have enough games that I need to find the time to play here is the start of my pile of shame list:

• Shadow of the Colossus
• Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES
  
• God of War
• Okami
• Devil May Cry
• Final Fantasy XII
• Ico
• Katamari Damacy

Anyone out there have any other suggestions?

*edit* Added Katamari Damacy and updated Persona 3 to the recently announced Persona 3 FES.