Game Diary: February 17, 2009: Mix 'Halo Wars' With 'Flower,' Add 'Overkill'

This is what I played during my three-day weekend.

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"Halo Wars" - Played the full campaign and one skirmish (so that I could fight as the Covenant at least once). Took mental notes in preparation for my Friday AM embargoed "review."

"Flower" - Played through the first two levels. Taking my time with this one.

"House of the Dead: Overkill" - Played one level of this Wii light-gun shooter. At least the developers were trying to be funny, but I can't say that I've ever enjoyed the gameplay of on-rails light-gun shooters. I want more control in my games, the wonderfully paced on-rails "Starfox 64" notwithstanding. I have so many games to play that this ode to Tarantino z-grade horror-action-schlock is going on my shelf (no, not the keeper part of the shelf!).

"Street Fighter IV" - Played a few matches against the computer via my PS3 review build. More on this in an article I'm posting this morning.

"Far Cry 2" - Played past the halfway point of this ever-unusual first-person shooter. I love its leisurely pace, but I think this game is too long. Is that a contradiction? I must admit some disappointment that the second half of the game's landmass -- which is now accessible to me -- looks so similar to the first half. The terrain's roughly the same. Too bad. I was hoping for cities or something, not more beautiful African jungle and savanna.

"PixelJunk Monsters - My wife and I beat enough levels of this game over the weekend to make the credits to roll. But we still have much more to do.

Next: Not only is it a low-gaming Tuesday, but I'm packing for Las Vegas tonight to attend the DICE summit. I might leave the DS and bring my PSP. I'm not in the mood for the new "Fire Emblem" or my on-again-off-again fling with "Chrono Trigger." I think I'm in more of a "Loco Roco 2" state of mind."