Wheeeeeeee DOWN WITH COMPUTER GAMES wheeeeeee
At this point in time, everyone should make the sign against evil, find a priest and prepare to de-haunt the crazed hamster running around, but nobody is able to do seo because, guess what? They don't believe what they are seeing!
And you're right. I didn't really say down with computer games. Just maybe 'down with MMOs for now, play Titan Quest and Lego Star Wars II'. I am obssessed. It is the start of the stupid holidays, and I am already doing homework. So my routine becomes more than a bit warped, since I am actually restricting my gaming time in order to a) tip my hat at my parents as a sign of filial piety, b) avoid going blind and killing my eyes, and c) avoid getting killed by my older brother who is (unfortunately) in love with both of our new PC games too. (So Ets, your thesis about me having all the comp to myself is proven false! Bwahahaha.)
The good thing about having a smashing graphic card is that you can play so many computer games. The down side? The same.
And (heresy of heresies) I am kicking GW. Kind of. (Dodges stones from Myst, Ets, Simone, and a whole lot of people) I know, I know, GW is like my brand-name or something. Unfortunately, the graphics and music got pwned by Titan Quest and Legos Star Wars II. The former is one heck of an RPG, and the latter is damn funny. Try running around in control of a silly little Lego Star Wars character like... uh... Obi Wan and then waving a mini lightsaber around. And then turn around and accidentally cut up Luke. Or kick your enemies off a cliff. Or... fall off a cliff yourself (though losing a portion of your gold is really heartbreaking). I swear, this game is t3h best.
Unfortunately, Legos Star Wars II has its downside. Trying to wave a lightsaber around or fire a laser gun is like whacking the same buttons over and over again (it is a kiddy game, after all). So at the end of the day, my z-board feels greatly abused, my fingers are too numb for me to play GW, and I end up having difficulty even using my fork because all my fingers feel like an elephant just stepped on them.
Not that Titan Quest isn't spam-heavy either. Mouse-click on your enemies to whack that. Great idea- except one click= one hit= mob getting pissed off at you but still not dead. So the result is frenzied mouse-clicking, button whacking (sparingly), and drooling at the marvellous graphics. I worship my dad, but I worship his wallet more for that graphic card of mine.
I've also since figured out a good way to convince my parents to buy a new comp or upgrade the other. Sit there, and watch your brother play Titan Quest. After two days running of such worshipful behaviour, your parents are sure to reconsider the "no new comp policy" because of your obvious admiration of the graphics, the game, and your passive behaviour. So don't violently beg your parents for a new comp. Behave like... like... a rabbit waiting for pellets.
For the game inclined: Titan Quest is in the ancient world, and you begin in Greece (though thankfully, you don't stay there forever). You begin the game just chopping things up, but you level quickly and they don't clutter up the game with a lot of quests that require you to run everywhere. The side quests simply lead you from one area to another, and ultimately your progress on your side quests leads to your finishing of your main quest. Along the way there are tons of crypts and tombs to explore, and they don't have that awful creepy music when you fight the undead. Instead, there's a lot of traditional and nice instrumentals, and you get to portal to an outpost to sell your junk anytime you like. It's the new Diablo 2, but so much better. And for those who never liked inventories that are treat swords and necklaces alike as 1-slot items, you'll be happy to note that the untidy-people-unfriendly inventory system that requires you to arrange your items in your bag is BACK.
The voice-acting is fairly good, the storyline is actually quite credible (enough to satisfy this fan of Greek myths, though perhaps not in-depth enough to make Ets happy :P) and the GRAPHICS. Reflections, grass-swaying, tree-swaying, and it's not just mindless programming. When you walk, the grass actually gets squashed beneath your feet. When birds fly past, the grass moves credibly. Ripples, waves, the changing from night to day, lighting- it's uber. You'll find yourself running around to kill things all the time, because it's got that non-stop action quality, but you won't mind it. It's not all senseless. Scenery changes, plotlines, new and more crazy-looking mobs- it's as great an RPG as WoW is a great MMORPG.
As for Lego Star Wars, there's only this much to be said: Whack everything. You never know what you will find. :D
