My belated holiday has finally begun, and though I'm spectacularly bad at actually taking time off (I went to work on Monday and Tuesday, was on the phone to the office
five times yesterday, plan on going in for a couple of hours today or tomorrow, and just this morning I edited two work-related documents), it's good to get away for a bit. It'll be easier once everyone else has left for their Christmas break.
It doesn't appear that we'll have a White Christmas this year. It snowed a few days ago, but now it's reasonably mild, with blue skies and no snow in sight. And while I usually abhor snow, I don't mind it so much on Christmas Eve - it's cozy and traditional, like presents and cake.
Speaking of presents, I'm ever-so-slowly running out of time, and since I'm the master procrastinator, I just know that this will end badly. I believe I've got the most important ones covered - except for one - but I always underestimate just how much time it takes to not just buy presents, but also to figure out
what to buy. Luckily, I've been able to outsource some of the more difficult gifts to people more knowledgeable (and creative) than me (after all, what do I know about what teenage girls want for Christmas?). There ought to be professional Christmas gift buyers...and, come to think of it, there probably are.
Appropriately enough for an at-home holiday (there's work being done to my bedroom walls and floor, so I have been stuck inside yesterday and today), when I haven't been writing, I've been playing games and watching DVDs. Mostly the former, and it's a long, long time since I've played as much as I have this week. So here, then, a few suggestions for those of you still mulling holiday purchases:
Prince of Persia (Xbox): After reading IGN's head-to-head review, I decided to get the Xbox version, and while Microsoft's giant brick has the least comfortable controller, it's working out quite well for this game. So far (I've only played a couple of hours) it's one of the best platformers - or platform puzzlers - I've ever played. It's beautiful looking, with solid art direction and inventive shaders (overexposure, light blooming, glow, particles), a great soundtrack and good voice-overs. The animations are fantastic, and the combat sequences play out like a dance (a deadly dance, or, if you will, a grim fandango), with Mr. Prince somersaulting over the heads of his opponents, twirling like a ballerina, striking out left and right when encountering multiple enemies (which is all the time). Lots of fun, although I'm sure it'll get a bit monotonous after a while, with the jumping and the running up walls and the swinging on poles. But the game has such a wonderful and cohesive atmosphere that it compensates for any shortcomings.
Beyond Good & Evil (GameCube): This is the sort of game - a slightly Zeldaesque action-adventure - that the Cube does well. BG&E looks, again, fantastic, even more so than
Prince. The lead character is very charismatic, very well animated, and very appropriately voiced. The game world is original and aesthetic, in a refreshingly European way, and the gameplay, thus far, is fun, albeit not hugely original, and quite linear. The story? I haven't played more than a few hours (I like to jump between games), but so far it seems much, much better than most "cartoony" action-adventures. And the game certainly tops the overrated, and ultimately quite dull,
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
Need for Speed: Underground (PlayStation 2): I got the PS2 version solely because of the online component, which is missing from the other versions, but thus far I've only played the single player game (hey, I need the skills and the ride before I can challenge anyone!). The game is about on par with
Midnight Club II for pure racing thrills, but it also allows you to customise and upgrade cars to your heart's content, which makes it a much more involving experience. The best arcade racer is still
Burnout 2, however...by a long shot.
Underground is good, maybe even great, but it lacks a bit in course variety, and those crashes are nowhere as cool as they were in
B2.
SSX 3 (Xbox): I've put so many hours into this, I've lost track. I've made it to peak three, and though my rider has maxed out most of her skills, I'm having a very hard time winning anything. Difficult, then, but oh-so-rewarding, and definitely one of this year's best games. It looks and sounds amazing on the Xbox - the sheer drops, insane speeds, and massive combos make this a real trip to play, even if you don't like snow.
Final Fantasy X (PS2): Okay, it's
old, and I've got FFX-2 sitting on the shelf waiting to be played, but I felt like I should at least try to finish it. And it's taking quite a bit of time, but it's a lot of fun, even though it's too linear, and there's just way, way too much talking. Most of the dialogue is quite inane, and the story a tad confusing - endearingly so, because what would a Final Fantasy game be like without the confusing, complex, and frankly nonsensical story? - but the game's combat and character development mechanics, plus the constant changes in scenery, make it worth sticking with. I'm giving it another ten plus hours, but then I'd better be getting close to the end, because it's rare that I give
any game this amount of time.
Additionally, I still have
Manhunt,
F-Zero GX,
Silent Hill 3, and the aforementioned
Final Fantasy X-2 sitting on the shelf waiting to be played, so chances are - between the family gatherings, the food, and the movies - I won't have time to get bored this Christmas.
