Gaming deals, good and bad

Let's face it: gaming is an expensive habit.

When it comes to the prices of things, I use a comparison method. For example: I got a decent bike for around $160. A Nintendo 3DS XL system will go for a suggested retail price of $199.99 when it hits this Sunday. Which is the better deal? To me, the answer is clear: the bike!

As you may have already guessed, today's topic is gaming gear and the money we spend on it. Maybe you spent $20 on a $50 Wii game. Or perhaps you spent the full $50 for a game, but it entirely worth that and then some. Allow me to share some of my own gaming deals, good and bad:

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword + Gold Wii Remote + Orchestra CD
For a huge Zelda fan like me, the $70 for this package was more than worth it. Normally, Wii remotes go for about $40, so I essentially payed half of that for a special edition Wii remote and a CD of some of the best music I've ever heard. Ka-ching!

Metroid Prime Trilogy
I got this game Used-Like New for $60. Back when it was first released, one could get it brand new for $50. Even with the added $10, this Wii collection turned out to be a great deal.

Rune Factory Frontier
I include this on the list because of the sheer amount of time I've invested in it. I've played Rune Factory Frontier for well over 100 hours, and it was a paltry $20 to buy.

Steel Diver
Now we get to the bad deals. Steel Diver is a first party Nintendo 3DS title for $40. I wouldn't call the game horrendous or anything, but I would say the price should be in the neighborhood of $5 or so. Just sayin'!

Now I would love to hear from you guys! What do you consider to be the best and worst in gaming deals?   

This is a game that never ends, it goes on and on my friends...

We all have that one game that it seems like it's never going to end! For some, it may be a game that is just simply too hard. For others it may be games like Harvest Moon, Sims, or even Rune Factory! Wait a second, I swear that those last three games NEVER EVER END! Actually I don't really know about Rune Factory, but from what I've heard from Holly (and the impossibly long game time she has spent playing it) I can tell that it's just one of those games! I know for a fact that on Harvest Moon you can actually go on playing for a very, very, very long time. On the 64 version I know for a fact that it will never end. Though I do have to admit it does say that the game is "technically" over, but it still gives you the choice of continuing the game. Most fans say, "Yes, of course I want to continue and watch my kid grow!" Sad spoiler - he never gets any older than the walking age.

The point is, what is the point of these games? I think it's for entertainment purposes only. That's what makes me totally depressed! If they're going to make a game be able to go on longer than they should make it a little more fun don't you think? What do you think about games like that? Are they fun, boring, or totally pointless?

Nintendo Lifeline Top Ten Wii Games

Thanks to everyone who participated in our one-year anniversary celebration! This post is meant to be a gateway to all of the Wii games that made our top ten list, so let's dive right in:

10. Excite Truck
One of the first examples of how motion control could be used in racing games, which seemed a logical fit. Excite Truck still holds up today, even though it was released back in 2006. Little else can offer the satisfaction that Excite Truck has in store for gamers: catching big air, slamming into other trucks, driving through a forest to rack up the "tree run" stars, etc. The control in Excite Truck may seem a little wonky, but it can turn into one of the highlights of the whole thing, if only the player lets it.

9. Rune Factory Frontier
Remains one of the most addictive games in my collection. Rune Factory Frontier sees the player in control of Raguna, who has the typical memory issues, and so is essentially forced to live in the quaint little village of Trampoli to begin a lovely new life. Raguna can spend his days any way he wants: fighting monsters in the dungeons, seeking friendship with the locals, maintaining a farm for profits, or any combination of those things. Though the load times may be quite severe in this game, the graphics will not disappoint.

8. Rhythm Heaven Fever
It didn't take long for me to know that Rhythm Heaven Fever would end up being one of my all-time favorite games. Indeed, it is, at the very least, my absolute favorite rhythm game of all time. With simple, precise control, intelligent rhythms, and an imaginative style, Rhythm Heaven Fever will never grow old for this gamer.

7. Super Mario Galaxy
Mario goes into outer space with totally epic results. Super Mario Galaxy did what no other Super Mario could do: make the weird, quirky world of Mario feel grand and mighty, thanks to the out-of-this-world setting and an orchestral soundtrack.

6. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
I love a good side-scrolling platformer, and it doesn't get much better than New Super Mario Bros. Wii. In addition to exhibiting pure platforming genius, New Super Mario Bros. Wii flawlessly added multiplayer to the mix, which would inspire games to come to do the same. None have nailed it quite like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, though.

5. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Zelda series finds its dark side. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is one of the best adventures I have ever experienced. The minimalistic approach to motion control adds a lot, the graphics and presentation are stunning. Also, the Twilight Realm in this game has got to be one of the coolest locations in the history of video games.

4. Wii Sports
Anyone who has owned a Wii console from the early days undoubtedly has fond memories towards the game Wii Sports. The game was magical back then, and it's still fun to play today. Nintendo orchestrated the release of their motion-controlled gaming console with perfect finesse by including this game as a pack-in.

3. Super Mario Galaxy 2
What's even better than the excellent Super Mario Galaxy? Why, Super Mario Galaxy 2, of course! That's not what my expectation was, however. I thought that Galaxy 2 couldn't possibly add anything that Galaxy 1 didn't already have. WRONG! Galaxy 2 is one of the best games I've ever played.

2. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The developers of Super Smash Bros. Brawl must've been insistent that the game be nothing less than perfect. After suffering from two set-backs in release date, the game finally fell into eager gamers' hands. Not only is Brawl a superb gameplay experience, it's also got an impossible amount of sheer content. You could get lost in it!


1. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Skyward Sword came along just as I was hoping for a Zelda game that stayed true to the spirit of the series while adding something completely different. Wouldn't you know it, Skyward Sword did just that! A fresh graphical style, controls that fans had only dreamed of, and a revamped format to the game world are just a few examples of how Skyward Sword soared.

Favorite Wii games countdown #9: Rune Factory Frontier

Some moments in life, whether we recognize it or not, end up as major turning points. In my gaming life, one such moment was when I asked my buddy if I could borrow the GameCube game Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life from her. She often mentioned it in our conversations about video games, so I figured I should try it out. Sure, it was a little rough around the edges, but it was infinitely addictive.

Rune Factory Frontier is pretty much the exact same way. A little rough around the edges: load times are rather atrocious, and you find yourself encountering them much too often because the segments between load times are painfully small. But infinitely addictive: the game has all of those key RPG elements that submerge the player into the experience like nothing else can. And, like we all know from the time Harvest Moon first began, taking care of a farm and livestock can be surprisingly addictive. Rune Factory Frontier is definitely worth your time whether you're a Harvest Moon/Rune Factory pro or a newbie to the series.

Honorable Mention: Klonoa

As platformers go, Klonoa is a pretty decent game. The voice acting is ultimately corny, but the gameplay's got it where it counts.

A Game I Should Have Finished: Metroid: Other M
Nope, I never did finish this one. Other M belongs to a category that I like to call "Deep, Engrossing Games". In other words, the player needs to devote more than just a few minutes at a time to it. And one can only play so many "Deep, Engrossing Games" at the same time. Right now, those are Okami and Kingdom Hearts II for me, and I barely have time to play those. Someday I will finish Metroid: Other M and give it a proper review.