After playing the wonderful game of Okami (the PS2 version, which is superior to the Wii version. This is since it doesn't lag or have terrible controle detection...thanks Ready at Dawn for focusing on God of War rather than Okami..), they are coming out with the sequel for DS.

PLOT SPOILER:

If you haven't checked out for details at the Gamestop coverage of it, well, you play as another white wolf who gets similar powers after Amaterasu leaves to fight threats in the heavens, and monsters soon return again to Amaterasu's island home.

SPOILER END:

Okami was a great game and the guidebook that was released that covers the whole game and it's many aspects was excellent. I recommend getting it.

Okami Official Complete Works was a great book to get as well.

Wolves in Japan have gotten alot of attention lately in Japan. They have made Wolf's Rain, and making the show Spice and Wolf, based on the great literature of the same name. Plus the Japanese wolf has been talked about in the book, The Last Wolves of Japan, by Brett Walker. And the Shinsengumi (aka the Wolves of Mibu), who embodied the spirit, savage nature, and nobleness of wolves, have been covered over many years in Rurouni Kenshin, Peacemaker Kurogane in anime, and great videogames for the Japanese PS2, like Fu-Un Shinsengumi and Shinsengumi Gunrouden.

The new Okami for DS continues this, and hopefully this trend in media will continue to honor the once Japanese worshipped wolf god, Oguchi no Magami, or Large Mouth Pure God. And one day, maybe wolves can re-populate in Japan once more.

Until that time, look forward to another hit in the future to the great franchise that Okami is.

Shadowlupus

Well technically I was never gone -- I've been here the whole time, lurking about, posting from time to time and reading blogs. I was never really into posting blogs on a regular basis but geez, it's sure been a while since my last one. Anyway, it's past my bed time so I'm just going to *messily* summarize what I've been up to lately.

For starters, I bought GTA IV -- I've been massively hyped about this game since before it was even announced, which is rare for me. Anyway, to briefly sum it up, I beat it, best game I've played it a while, met all my expectations. Was it better than San Andreas? Probably though I had more fun with San Andreas. Did it deserve a 10/10? Hell no! No game does in my opinion, not even Ocarina of Time. I know that many people are saying 10 doesn't mean perfect but even with a .5 increment scoring system, 10 has to be damn close to perfect. I'd give this game oooh, I dunno ... 9.7 maybe, at best? Any game that scores above 9.0 is amazing in my books.

Online play? Could care less about it to be honest, haven't played much of it and I do not care to. Online gaming hasn't been my thing since CS 1.6 and I'm really not into console online gaming. I've played the GTA online and it's not bad but I'm gonna cancel my Xbox Live Gold none-the-less.

Rebought a copy of Final Fantasy VII from eBay yesterday which should hopefully arrive tommorrow or the day after. I only ever beat the game once and I recently felt a sudden urge to playthrough it once more. Unfortunately I sold it a while back so I had to buy it again. I paid a little more than I would have liked to for it but eh -- what the heck? It was an original copy in mint condition.

Speaking of retro games -- actually can the PS1 be classed as 'retro' just yet? Probably not, whatever -- I've decided to start rebuilding my games collection. Current generation games are too expensive for the likes of me so my money would most likely be better spent on old cheap games. I bought a megadrive from eBay as well as Sonic 2 and Aladdin, both of which are excellent games.

Uh, what else .... thinking of buying a GameCube -- I could just buy a Wii but Gamecubes are crazy cheap these days.

Saw the new Indiana Jones movie ... I wasn't too impressed but to be honest I wasn't expecting much from it either. It's an alright movie that doesn't really live up to it's predecessors. There's my impressions for you, see it if you want though I wouldn't reccommend it.

Oh and I just watched this -- Ugh ... I dunno what my thoughts are on this

Hey I'm Tim

I like gaming, I particularirly like shooters, both on and offline.

I'm always looking for clans, I join different ones for different games, and I love the teamwork within the clan

like the sound of me? Add me as a friend then .

cheers.

Memory Card Breaker. You know what I'm talking about, right? It's those stupid memory card holders they put in the PS2 Game Cases.

Here, let me refresh your... "memory":

I swear, last time I entrusted my hard-earned save data to one of those things, I had to fight like the devil to get it out. I nearly snapped the card in half in the process. I could feel it flexing as though it had been grasped by some abyssal raven's claws and then anchored in space by their terrible might!

Therefore, I've decided to rechristen these holders "Memory Card Breakers". Lord knows that Sony's probably made millions from the unfortunate souls who made the dire mistake of sticking their memory cards into these things, only to require a replacement after failing to retrieve it in one piece!

I've been incredibly busy lately... oh, you know... the usual:

- Playing through Skies of Arcadia for the Dreamcast... again.

- Playing through MGS3. I decided to restart since my save data was over a year old and I wasn't about to cheat and adjust the clock. On a side note, I'm obviously not the kind of guy Kojima made the game for. I haven't any... well... stealth. When I play as Snake, everything dies. Everything.

- Playing Halo 2 on Xbox Live... as usual.

I've basically been slacking off. Well, you know how that is.

Damn, I can't wait 'till I get my Xbox 360! I just ordered a stupid Core system, since I had concluded that although the Premium was the cost-effective choice, it's usually only available as part of ridiculously overpriced online bundles, or as an untrustworthy eBay auction. I'll just do the Core & Upgrades thing. With these shortages, some people have had no choice but to settle for less.

Actually, to tell you the truth, I have some interesting plans for my Core system, once I get it. Later on in the year, when the Premiums are capable of sitting idly on store shelves without people buying them up left and right, I'm going to get one to use as my unmodified "primary 360". After that, I'll take out the guts of my ol' Core system and paint the case Lacquer Black using Acrylic car paint. And then, I'll use masking tape to make green stripes in a chevron pattern on the case's side, with a cool center emblem to boot!

Neat idea, huh?

Allan_X, out.