Drug of Choice

 As I found out the hard way, having piles of games or anything else at your disposal can bring on what some call 'decision paralysis' and overwhelm the subject with sheer abundance.  When I started with handhelds, usually I'd buy a game and play it through to the end (or till I've hit a wall) before buying the next one.  This was mostly due to being short on time and/or money; this is still the case now.  Yet I own even more games and consoles than before.  Go figure.  On to what I've been playing so far.

Toukiden: Kiwami (Vita)

Released for the PSP, Vita and PS4 systems, I chose the Vita port to add to my collection of Monster Hunter clones for the portable console.  The only MH game I've played in length being Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for the PSP back in the day.  As for this game, you're the newest member of an organization defending feudal Japan against an onslaught of Oni (demons).  Another difference from Monster Hunter is that instead of having to capture a monster for materials or cutting them out of its corpse, you sever and purify their limbs to get what you need.  Of course this all goes toward armor, weapons and side quests.  Last I left off, I was going for a full-on beetle motif, as a way of overcoming my entomophobia (fear of bugs).  And while the game has its share of multiplayer options, you can have up to 3 NPC's to pick up the slack.  Cuz I know there's literally no one else on my block playing Monster Hunter, let alone a clone.  An expansion of the original game Toukiden: The Age of Demons, Kiwami features more story, more characters, more weapons; really, more of everything.

Splatoon 3 (Switch)

Next is what I can honestly say is the game where I've spent the most time online.  Ever.  Picking it up again after a long hiatus, I skipped the latest Splatfest and focused on winning new gear from Salmon Run to level up in online battles.  At some point my team went up to one of those giant King Salmonids and I always forget to splat the smaller Salmonids to get their eggs to chuck at the King and cause actual damage.  With Splatfest now done, you'd think that there's the newest Splatoon title, Splatoon Raiders, to look forward to.  But seeing as that's a Switch 2 exclusive, I see a lot of scraping and saving in my future before I can even think of buying it.

Time Diver: Eon Man (NES)

Developed in 1993 by Taito, this unlicensed, unreleased title has long since made the rounds through ROMs and emulators.  And I don't have to download either cuz it's already on my R36S.  This side-scroller stars a crime fighter from the future protecting the world of tomorrow today.  And yesterday.  And also tomorrow.  On top of main character Dan's ability to ricochet off walls and slash foes Strider style, the player acquires more abilities for each level cleared.  Abilities that require points to actually use.  Dealing with enemies and traps that drain your health bar in seconds, Eon Man is one of those games where save points really come in handy.  At least for me.

Street Fighter IV: Champion Edition (Mobile)

Having tried the mobile versions of both Mortal Kombat and Injustice 2 (and not having enough memory for either), fighting games on cell phones were never my thing.  When it comes to Street Fighter, I have plenty of other options.  Whether it's having the roster and soundtrack from Ultra Street Fighter IV (give or take) or firing Hadokens by poking the screen, or buying all the DLC for just over a dollar, something about this port piqued my interest enough to download it and play it straightaway.  If the above pic isn't enough of a sign, this has gotta be the weakest port of SFIV; even weaker than other portable versions you can name.  Yet apparently my phone's processor isn't enough for me to use the online multiplayer.  On the other hand, who's playing this online?

Marvel Cosmic Invasion Demo (Switch)

Without knowing how many physical and digital titles I own, my biggest game collection is on the Switch; my Game Boy collection being a close second.  So even if I skip the Switch 2 (and I just might have to), I've got enough to keep playing for as long as my Joy-Cons hold out.  But it's good to know that games are still being released for Switch 1, like this one.  The latest in a long line of Marvel-inspired side-scrolling beat 'em ups (which ironically, are available in the upcoming Marvel MaXimum Collection), this title stars fan favorites like Spider-Man and Wolverine, along with more obscure additions like Beta Ray Bill and Phyla-Vell as they fight their way across the universe to defeat cosmic big-bad Annihilus.  With pixelated 2D sprites and backgrounds, one can compare Cosmic Invasion to the likes of Scott Pilgrim and River City Girls.  As far as gameplay goes, it's just as over the top.  At the start of the single-player demo, you choose 2 characters to fill one of 4 slots, the rest presumably filled through local/online multiplayer.  Call me spoiled, but if there was an option to fill the slots with computer-controlled heroes, then maybe the solo campaign wouldn't fill so empty.

Kingdom's Return: Time-Eating Fruit and the Ancient Monster Demo Ver. (Switch)

Finally, I'm wrapping this up with a 2D side-scrolling RPG from Inti Creates, responsible for such mainstream titles as Mega Man Zero and Mega Man ZX, and indie hits like Blaster Master Zero and Mighty Gunvolt Burst.  Having tried many of their games, I was excited to check out Kingdom's Return for its anime-ish aesthetics and retro-style gameplay.  Choosing from 4 warrior classes, the player fights their way through colorful platforms and collecting materials along the way.  Those materials go toward restoring and maintaining a fallen kingdom in a building sim minigame.  Compared to IC's past works, I expected a more hearty challenge.  So far, the simplicity of Kingdom's Return leaves me on the fence as whether I'll eventually pick up the full game.

If you've made it through all my rambling, thank you.  Next time I hope to catch up on reading both my physical and digital backlog of books.  And I hope you'll join me then as I continue making my way to the Top of the Heap.  So long, everybody!

One Step Forward

 For this latest blog, I've finally completed something.  Let's get into it!

1/144 HGUC GM II Desert Color Ver.

Because so much has passed between starting the build and finishing it, this is how the kit looked before assembly.

And here is where I was just recently.

I've got plenty of unfinished Gunpla waiting for me, but this was probably my most embarrassing.  At least my other models are in bits and pieces, whereas I was so close to finishing this one.  And this wasn't even a fully painted build.  But one mistake on that front and I've let it sit for months on end.

Ironically, I've had trouble painting parts of the GM you wouldn't even see.  For the back of the shield (above), I was trying out techniques I've seen on YouTube.  Namely painting the whole area silver, going over that with black enamel, and using enamel thinner on areas where I wanted the silver to show.  I've tried the same thing with the bottom of both feet before settling on just painting the thrusters silver.

After that hurdle, I sprayed some flat coat on everything, minus the shield attachment (above), before adding the now finished parts to the GM.

But as any Gunpla builder will tell you, a model's not truly complete until you've put it through a variety of poses for 'the Gram' before settling on a single, permanent pose for the shelf.

Oh, I forgot to add the beam saber effect parts again.  But I've put them so far away. T_T

Looking at it now, I should've moved the shield at an angle where it'd show the GM holding its rifle with both hands.  But let's say it was an effort just putting it up there in the first place.

Though I'm satisfied with the Desert GM II overall, I feel like I could've done more for it considering the premium price I paid vs the retail release.  In the future I intend to build another GM II and paint it.  For the time being, I was gonna wrap up my other unfinished models.  But a cold keeps me from doing much.  And I really wanted to work while my motivation was up.  So we'll have to wait and see how that goes once I'm better.  In the mean time, I've gone back to my comics and games while using the weekend to recover.  Expect those blogs to show up soon.  See you then.

One Battle After Another

 Though still playing Gen 3 Pokémon and Fire Emblem, I've switched it up again; this time to another beloved tactical RPG:

Disgaea DS (Nintendo DS)

Even before the announcement of the newest Disgaea spin-off, Disgaea Mayhem, I fired up this port of the original game one day after months of leaving the cartridge loaded onto my DS console.  My longest exposure to the series, I've lost to the first boss before having to start the game over.  My one other problem is moving around the isometric map, even when using a stylus.  As much as I enjoyed the challenge, I would move on to something new . . .

Disgaea: Vows of the Virtueless Demo (Switch)

Forgoing the complete Switch 2 download for a physical Switch 1 box set with a tea cup, I've decided to play around with the demo and save the data for when I load the cart.  Eventually.

On top of work, errands and watching old Japanese films, I'm stuck on the level Shogun Stupid, featuring baddies that always wipe out my party.  I've burned through my in-game funds, the Dark Assembly won't give me more, and the strategies I've picked up from YouTube videos don't work.  And speaking of blowing in-game funds . . .

Apex Legends (Switch)

My next game is your typical free-to-play slop I don't play nearly as often and takes up too much space on my Switch.  If you couldn't tell from the pic above, what pulled me back in was a collaboration event with the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise.  Specifically a bunch of limited skins and weapons you're better off paying for up front vs grinding to unlock everything.  Something I've learned the hard way when Overwatch had their Gundam event (and Cowboy Bebop).

Virtual Boy--Nintendo Classics (Switch)

To give a clue as to how old I am, my first experience with the Virtual Boy was way back when it first released in '95.  I was at a local Toys R Us as part of a school field trip, and I was lucky enough to try out the console on a kiosk display for a few precious moments.  Not playing nearly long enough for the thing to give me headaches, that was as close to the Virtual Boy as most people ever got before Nintendo finally added it to its online service three decades later.  And it still costs too much for what we actually get.

Without the $100 official headset or the $25 cardboard model, both of which the player must hold up to their face, you're stuck squinting at 2 red monochrome images on screen.  Or rather, that's how it goes if you don't know the solution.

Third-party companies have long since caught on to Nintendo's attempts at VR and offer equipment that's both affordable and adequate for the task.  Such equipment includes the Orzly brand VR headset pictured above.  With adjustable head straps and lenses, and padding along the latter for comfort, Orzly's headset provides optimal hands-free 3D viewing.  Or rather, as optimal as you can get on the Switch.

For someone who uses online gaming services as much (or as little) as I do, the current game selection looks just about right.  I've already found my jam in Punch-Out!! knock-off Teleroboxer, along with the Virtual Boy versions of Tetris and Wario Land.

That does it for now.  Next time, who knows?  Could be more of the same, could be something completely different.  We'll both have to wait and see.  Till then, see if you can out-game me to the Top of the Heap.

Double Time

Between the early-morning shift, getting my bathroom renovated, and binging 90's cartoons, I somehow squeezed in time for games from one of my favorite IP's, Fire Emblem.

Fire Emblem Heroes (Mobile)

I've dropped FEH for a minute after getting stuck in Story Mode.  But since getting advice from an unlikely source, I'm breezing through missions with my team of 5-star, Level 30+ heroes.  Now firing up FEH after the batteries of another game ran low, I started by summoning heroes as I usually do.  And I must have slept on tons of in-game events as I usually do.  Running through one free summon after another, I've gotten some new heroes, a few duplicates, and at least 3 5-star heroes corresponding to said events (above).  Looks like my newest team has been decided for me--as soon as I figure out the damn search engine.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & The Blade of Life (Nintendo Entertainment System)

Speaking of sleeping on stuff, up next is a game I've played on and off since its digital release on the Switch in 2020.  The very first Fire Emblem game, it was originally released for the NES in 1990, and then on Japan's Virtual Console throughout the early 2010's.  Localized in North America for the franchise's 30th anniversary, I paid the extra money for the physical special edition bundle over the $5 download (and the free online ROM).

Besides such quality-of-life additions as save states and rewind, Shadow Dragon & The Blade of Life is we've come to expect from the Fire Emblem games to come.  Except the weapons triangle, which I follow regardless.  But I didn't play too long before switching to . . .

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (Nintendo DS)

After buying a busted DS Lite off the street for $5, and getting it repaired at my local game shop for way more, I already had this game when I decided to fire it up to test the handheld console.  Then I loaded the game onto my DSi XL and it looked and felt way better.  Once I added some protective gear to the XL, this version of Shadow Dragon has become my go-to whenever I could squeeze in some playtime at work (or Fire Emblem Heroes when the batteries died).  Basically the original game with a facelift, I guess I prefer the 2D graphical style of the remake over the 8-bit sprites of the original.  But as much as I loved it, I'd eventually move on.

Pokemon FireRed (Game Boy Advance)

With all the online discourse surrounding the upcoming releases for the Switch, even I've debated whether to pluck down the $20 for either Pokemon FireRed or Pokemon LeafGreen, as per my personal rule of buying just one mainline game from each generation (with one exemption, which I'll reveal in good time).  Torn between what are basically emulated ROMs with no quality-of-life improvements, no online functionality, and Pokemon I've already collected and stored in the Pokemon HOME app, I realized I've already had the solution in the palm of my hand.

In hindsight, I should've started with LeafGreen instead of FireRed to go with this R36S console.  I could always just switch games; I'm not even on my first Gym Leader yet.  But the Pikachu on my team was a bitch to catch considering Squirtle's my starter Pokemon.  My point is that I'm skipping the Switch ports to play ROMs I've almost paid $20 for.  And besides the bad matchups I've had so far, I'm really out of practice since starting--and failing to finish--the last 2 generations.  Hopefully I'll stay with this game long enough to get out of that rut.

And that about does it for now.  Join me next time when I try even more game, and maybe post a toy-themed blog I've promised weeks before.  Hope you tune in then as I continue scaling my way up to the Top of the Heap.

Wok and Play

 When a blizzard hit New York last weekend and overnight shifts at work were cancelled, I spent my days on some overdue spring cleaning, my nights practicing some Asian cooking after digging up my wok, and my late nights building LEGO mini sets and polybags from 'cold storage.'  Starting with . . .

Police Water Scooter (30693)

An error prevents me from showing the product in its original packing.

Grabbing this along with my usual blind-box figures from Walgreens, this polybag toy's a repackaging of earlier LEGO City products; the way Hasbro sells the same Transformers in different colors.  The only difference this time around is the police insignia on the front and a pair on tiny police lights on the back.

Starting small, the set includes 29 parts (minus the surplus) and an instruction sheet.

Though turning up less spare parts than expected, thankfully they replace those the builder would miss if loss.

Though the Scooter couldn't actually float on water, I was able to improvise.

Backhoe Loader (42197)

Front of Box

Back of Box

My second LEGO Technic set (if you count the Ninja Bot from my last entry), I also picked this up from Walgreens after the seeing the real thing along the way.  I knocked this one out after a boatload of chores, over a hot cup of tea.

Including 104+ parts, with some of the larger pieces loose in box . . .

I organized them in plastic containers, which are also where I stash my breakfast cereal for work.

It took me a minute of figure out that turning the tiny knob atop the canopy raises/lowers the shovel on the front.  Perfect for cleaning up those spare parts.

Sports Car (60448)

Front

Back

I've built cars from LEGO's Speed Champions line in the past, but most of them weren't as sleek as this one; just some pegs sticking out here and there.

Coming in 109+ parts, the car includes a tiny driver with his own smartphone.  Bet the phone's not top-of-the-line like mine.

Speaking of accessories, this set also includes a spray bottle and a sponge for keeping the car showroom ready.  And a tiny compartment opens up in the back for everything to rattle loose inside.

Now that I look at it, I could also replace the all-clear piece making up the sunroof, along with the rims on the wheels.  Maybe I'll just swap out the wheels from the Backhoe Loader.

That about does it for now.  The next go-around will feature more polybag LEGO's I've just built after leaving them idle this whole time.  Hope to see you then as I continue making my way up to the Top of the Heap.

Bricked Up

 Among the New Year's resolutions I'm trying to keep is to cut my spending, which includes all the LEGO mini sets I've bought from Walgreens and elsewhere.  Actually, I was dead set on quitting LEGO's and other toys altogether to save money and legroom.  But something happened while spending the holidays with family, specifically when deciding the best Christmas gift for my nephew.

LEGO City: Construction Steamroller (60401)

Actually, it was recommended that I just get some putty for my nephew.  When all I could find was slime, I wound up grabbing this set from the pile and wrapping it.  But though the nephew was old enough, I found out firsthand that tiny building blocks were not his speed.  So long story short, I ending up building the thing myself and giving my family a neat little display piece for their kitchen.  Right after, I was asked a favor . . .

Opmind 5-in-1 STEM RC Robot Building Kit (Samurai/Ninja)

Front View with Remote Control

Rear View

Along with the retro gaming console from my last post, my relatives dug up this building set from the basement, hoping I could complete it for the nephew.  I didn't mind, as it give me something to do between eating, gaming, my phone and Netflix.  A very LEGO-esque off-brand toy, this had more than 100 parts, ran on both AA and AAA alkaline batteries, and even the thumb sticks on the remote control needed assembly.  It could also run on a phone app and assemble into multiple forms.

Though technically my biggest LEGO project to date, the hard part was finding all the batteries.  Much like how playing fewer video games made me love gaming again, actually working on the toys I have had also renewed my love for LEGO's.  Coming back to both hobbies refreshed, there's still one issue left to deal with.

LEGO Minifigures: Series 27/28 (71048/71051)

Series 27

Series 28

This is where it all started and, for a time, where it ended.  Since being able to buy the figures without having to buy the sets,  I've rounded up quite a few (duplicates) through the years.  Never having actually completed a set till I collected the 2nd round of Disney figures.  At which point I've quit LEGO's cold turkey.  But these latest collections have pulled me back.  I needed just 4 more figs to complete Series 27 before my local Walgreens stop selling that and now had Formula 1 Mini Race Cars in stock.  Then they put up Series 28 and against common sense and fiscal responsibility, I grabbed my first 2 (pictured above).  At this point, I'm now committed to completing one set of figures or the other; then, no more figures.  Though I'll keep building LEGO's in general.

While waiting to see how that goes, I've got more toys that I'm excited to unbox.  I hope you'll view my next blog as the Top of the Heap seems to keep stacking up.  See you next time.