Week: End Game: On 09.23.2012

It’s finally time to forget all the stresses from your weekly lives by unwinding with a few video games, but first we’re going to tell you what we’ve been playing this week! That’s right, it’s another edition of that epic tale that keeps on spinning: Week: End Game: On! So, after you check out the dirty details below, make sure to tell us what you’ve been playing or plan on playing this weekend! We’d love to hear it! Now, let’s get rollin’!

Nicolas Vestre

The first order of gaming business this weekend is to complete New Super Mario Bros. 2. I’ve gotten every single hidden exit and Star Coin, so all that’s left is the Star World. I ended up having a really good time with this game, even if it didn’t exactly overflow with originality. The Star Coins were usually challenging to find, and I loved having the Super Leaf and Raccoon Mario back. Later next week I’ll pre-order New Super Mario Bros. U, so there will still be plenty of Mario in my life in the near future.

Based on Andrew’s glowing review of Fractured Soul, I bought an eShop card and will be playing this intriguing game as soon as I’m done with Mario. Anything that resembles Mega Man makes me happy, so I’m betting this game will agree with me.

Kirby’s Dream Collection has proven to be a lot of fun. So far I’ve beaten both the main and hard mode on Kirby’s Dream Land, which I had done previously on 3DS Virtual Console. Kirby’s Dream Land 2 is great too, and the animal helpers are awesome. What wasn’t so awesome was getting the Rainbow Drop in World 4. Not only do you need your fish partner, Kine, but he has to have the fire ability on hand. To make matters worse, there are some blocks in the way of the underwater door, and the only way to get rid of them is to spit out the precious fire ability, inhale and spit out the blocks, and then inhale the fire ability again. Man, was that frustrating. I’m glad I never have to do that again.

Other than that, I’ll keep inching my way through Harvest Moon: Hero of Leaf Valley for PSP. I really want to beat the main story before A New Beginning comes out for 3DS.

Bradly Hale

Well, it’s another weekend of Rune Factory: Frontier and Dragon Quest V. I’m playing both games for very specific reasons: 1. Rune Factory is getting my time due to an article that I have coming up for the website, which takes a retrospective look at the game and the impact it made on the Wii and the market in general, and 2. Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride is getting another playthrough in preparation for Dragon Quest X. Though, Dragon Quest X hasn’t been officially announced for North America, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that, because most every other Dragon Quest game has made its way over here (and has sold very well in the process) it’ll find itself stateside eventually.

That being said, it’s been a while since I’ve played Hand of the Heavenly Bride, however, after firing it up, I almost immediately remembered why it’s my favorite installment in the series. The plot is so accessible, yet meaningful, and the characters are off-the-charts awesome, even if they could use a little depth. To be honest, though, I just adore very traditional JRPGs. I don’t like all the fancy bells and whistles of newer roleplaying games, so whenever I get a chance to sit down with a Dragon Quest title, I’m filled with delight. Nothing beats the feeling of grinding a dungeon to topple a giant boss, then go reap the rewards at the nearest town, where the next plot point inevitably unfolds. Yes, it’s formulaic. And yes, it can get repetitive – but what game can’t? The turht of the matter is, I just find comfort in the conventionality of it all.

Nevertheless, this will probably be my gaming line up until the beginning of October when I can get my mitts on Resident Evil 6, Pokemon Black Version 2, and, of course one of my most anticipated titles of the fall, Code of Princess.

Po-Yi Ho

I don’t go crazy trying to get all the stars and star coins in Mario games. I do go crazy, however, to get Perfects in Rhythm Heaven Fever. I suppose there is no better way to relax after a busy week than to enjoy tapping out some beats. Of course, I do occasionally rage when I miss a beat … I swear I didn’t miss that beat. I swear. None of the rage matters though when you complete a track perfectly. In this case, I hope I actually have on the Wii remote strap, otherwise I will probably have to buy another remote after I finish celebrating.

Other than that, I might fire up my Pokémon Platinum in anticipation for the October release of Pokémon Black and White Version 2. It’s always a good time strolling through some tall grass, getting ambushed by some random Pokémon, and blowing it away with Whirlwind. There is more serious business though: I was never dedicated enough to transfer my Pokémon across games but I am planning to change that since I sort of love my Ambipom and Lopunny. Although, firing up any Pokémon game is like opening a box of chocolates. You never know what you will end up doing. It doesn’t matter what I planned to do, I always end up making poffin instead.

And with games like Torchlight II and Guild Wars 2 distracting me, it will be a busy couple of months before the release of Wii U.

Katharine Byrne

I’m psyching myself up for another trip to Silent Hill this weekend. I played Wii’s Silent Hill: Shattered Memories last year, but a friend of mine lent me her entire Silent Hill collection not that long ago, leaving me with Silent Hill 2, 3, 4: The Room and Silent Hill: Origins to get to grips with. I’m slightly sad that she doesn’t have the very first Silent Hill, but I think the four games I’ve just mentioned will be more than enough to be getting on with. I’m not entirely sure which one I’m going to start with yet– perhaps Origins seeing as how it’s meant to be a prequel, but I may just dive straight into Silent Hill 2 and finally see what all the fuss is about! Any suggestions, readers?

Well… what have you guys been up to in the gaming world this week? Sound off in the comments below!