Roderick

Good to see you've pushed through to it. Good luck! Ignore the feeling of ickiness.

Waitaminute, I thought wired Xbox 360 controllers were out of production? I had one which came with my console and I'm super happy and careful with because it's my only one. I hate, with a passion, wireless controllers. They're bulky and I need to dick around with batteries - no thanks.

To be fair, this year has seen a teeny bit of a Mario overdose. 5 out of 6 (!) [N]Gamer covers this year have featured Mario on the cover. We had NSMB2, NSMBU, Mario Kart 7, Mario Party 9, Mario Tennis, Mario & Sonic Olympic Shit and Paper Mario: Sticker Star. I don't blame anyone being a little Mario-fatigued at this point. It's understandable with the different development cycles coinciding and the launch of the Wii U needing a strong figurehead presence, but this really isn't doing the character any good. Saturation point way exceeded. I do agree that it's nice to have some games being classic and nostalgic, others being super modern. There is no reason we can't have both. Hey surprise, we actually DO have both! Though I have to agree I am sometimes aching for a nice 2D platform game again. I mean; visually 2D with sprites. That's why 2011's Aliens Infestation on the DS resonated with me so much. If you have this yearning, do check it out.

What's also pretty awful is that compared to Mario, Zelda doesn't even sell that well. It's always put up there as Nintendo's second big franchise, but it doesn't even come close to the sales.

Ahahaha, that's amazing! It's not even a cliche, it's just completely nuts!

Well, I recently got really tired of Zelda. I actually do think they're pretty much alike, specifically in structure. The visual design (though not the visual language) does always change, but halfway through Minish Cap I just suddenly got REALLY exhausted of visiting dungeons and getting an item and defeating a boss. Maybe I want something different in the series (which was promised in Skyward Sword), or maybe I just need a time-out. Core Mario platformers are amazing though. I'm curious where they'll go after Galaxy 2. Hopefully something different, no matter if it's slightly worse.

Yeah. I'm gonna call it out in the review though. Might not amount to a whole lot, but I want to get a message out that it's noticed and not cool. Forgive me for not reading your spoilers yet, Sno. I should be properly in this discussion in a few days

Plus, small hands. And they smell of cabbage.

NOLF2 was so good. I gotta make it a point to replay that.

23 hours in and I am still not even close to finishing. This game is super long! I am rather bothered about the continuous, sex-crazed remarks Sigma makes to every lady in the game. It's pretty clear from the writing they're supposed to be funny, but it's just really awkward. The way I see it, this is the product of Japanese writer/director Uchikoshi not realizing how it would come across.

Key & Peele: Zombo.com edition.

Meeting Ron Gilbert can be pretty special, so I say make some allowances.

I've been playing VLR this week for the [N]Gamer review and much like 999, the big surprises and delights take a while to show up. At first I was lukewarm towards this, but as I uncover more of the story and mechanics I'm loving it. I knew that would happen. I did startle when I read about corrupted save games. Fortunately I made it a point not stop halfway through a puzzle room, but I certainly hadn't encountered the warning online. I just got lucky. Hopefully it's patched soon. Since I haven't finished it I can't say much yet about my verdict, but suffice it to say that it's already a very interesting title and it deserves love.

I had forgotten about that! What was it from again?

Skyfall was rather spectacular. Gonna write down my thoughts right away! [ADDED] And I have. Spoiler-filled article on the film: http://www.filmadeus.com/2012/12/skyfall-sam-mendes-2012.html

Haha, even as a kid Maureen has that expression!

In 2125 I was on a mining colony, on Mars.

Damn it! I congratulate you, Thunderpeel, for spending the time digging this up to make a jerk out of me.

At first I thought this game featured Gnarls Barkley, which would've been equally amazing. Then I saw the first game's designer was Chef Boyardee and my mind was blown after all.

I think we've reached the point now where we can all give up trying to not talk about Far Cry 2 and just accept this is happening and will always happen, forever.

You've screwed the pooch, Toblix. There rests only one option now: move in with your auntie and uncle in Bel-Air. And hope this thing blows over.

To be frank, Hannibal Traven is the kind of dick that would toot his own horn - in third person.

That would have been Real Lives. I will reiterate everyone now: the fake Latin singing is horrendous. When Blizzard did it in War3 it still had some charm in it, but by gum everything else is usually horrible. Well, at least people have stopped using Oh Fortuna or the Requiem for a Dream orchestral version in their trailers...

Why did I never post this screenshot I took last year around these parts?

Plus one rant, I_smell!