A weekly log of the games I’ve played accompanied by some random thoughts about them

Sunday, September 14, 2008
Rock Band 2
I’m sure it’s not surprising I had to play this on the day of release. I wasn’t expecting much, just more of the same with some new. I hadn’t really kept up with reading about the game though, so my lack of expectations were based on my personal cone of silence. Which wasn’t there for any reason at all. The most worthwhile improvement for me is the Band World Tour segment. This is the one I think I enjoyed having company over or playing with my parents, but that’s something that was lacking when I finally got to play with my parents over Xbox LIVE last week. I liked playing with them, but it kind of sucked not being able to advance in Band World Tour at all.

But with Rock Band 2 that has all changed. Not only can I do Band World Tour solo, but I almost feel like not playing it through yet just so I can do it with other people, be it my parents or anyone else. I’m also really happy at being able to create a character that isn’t tied to a particular instrument. That way I can have multiple characters if I want to, not because I have to. This was a very welcome update. I even put a couple tattoos onto my punk rocker alter-ego. Beyond that, it’s basically more of the same but with Band World Tour, which is to say it’s a bit more fun than its predecessor. Now to get the band back together…

Grand Theft Auto IV
Completed all ten of Brucie’s car theft missions. Hopefully there’s more like these later on in the game. Roman wanted to go to the cabaret again–guess he missed me since I haven’t called up him once ever. Guess I had to oblige so I took him on our social sim date. After that, called up Little Jacob to stock up on armor and ammo and called it a night. B-O-R-I-N-G.

Monday, September 15, 2008
Grand Theft Auto IV
Delivered another package for Little Jacob and easily took down the gang that was waiting for me. While I guess it’s accurate, the shotgun feels pretty overpowered for small skirmishes like this. It’s almost like I got it too early in the game. On the flip side, when I got prompted to do some of those Police vigilante missions, I don’t have enough firepower or strategy (or brains) to complete a couple of them. At least not without the Police car I have on “loan” blowing up first.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Grand Theft Auto IV
I’m back to doing the main story missions with Mikhail Faustin even though it looks like I have another set of side missions with Brucie now. So, now I’ve killed his daughter’s biker boyfriend (and his biker gang) and blown up a garage with a truck full of explosives. I don’t miss the latter kind of mission — driving around in some vehicle without getting it damaged or blown up or anything like that. The level of annoyance of this type of mission is second only to the Grand Theft Auto III missions of hit this armored truck until the life bar ends. It’s tempting to go back and complete the new side missions some more before I continue on with Faustin and Dimitri’s mission arc, although I’m now a bit more eager to see where the game storyline takes me.

Q.E.D.