Mark

I am continuing my first play-through of Dragon Age II. I have to say that I’m liking it the more I play and am getting drawn into the story which, while not as EPIC and Dragon Age: Origins, is still more compelling than 90% of competing MMOs. As I play this game, which occasionally hints at the greatness of its predecessor, I silently curse EA for (my theory here) forcing Bioware to push this out at an accelerated pace. Here’s hoping that the expansion(s) realize true greatness.

This week has been frustrating in League of Legends. I’ve played three games in a row where a major critic has emerged from the players on my team. Said critic would then berate my teammates and me while displaying no real skill, leadership, tactics or strategic abilities. During the last game, I became so annoyed that I started insulting the critic with such fervent, unholy zeal that my teammates turned on both the critic and me and told us both to shut up. Outraged and hurt, I decided to concentrate on at least doing better than the critic. Despite giving it my all we lost horribly. I did do better than the critic, at least.

Finally, I continue my epic struggle to find a truly compelling mobile phone game. Thus far, I’d have to say I haven’t found anything on the iPhone or Droid platforms that can really compete with a solid DS game. Of course, the typical price point is vastly different but still, the processing power, sound, video capabilities should be there. (Raises face to the heavens and shouts, “Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy….”)

Noah

How-de-do. At first I thought I hadn’t played anything, but then I realized there was a little time where I got in a game of League of Legends– a practice game where I finally tried Udyr (“The Animal Spirit!” or something) against super-easy bots. It went pretty well– I can see there’s a real science to juggling his four different transformational abilities at just the right time. One ability makes him temporarily move (not attack) faster, one causes an every-three-attacks area of effect fire attack, another casts a shield and slightly heals and the fourth speeds up attacks. Clearly I’d need dozens of games in with him to get this tempo down, and maybe someday I’ll try that when I’m bored. In the meantime I still enjoy playing Garen, Galio, Kog Maw, Sivir, Miss Fortune and getting better at Jarvan.

What I have been surprised with is the divisiveness and effectiveness the new champion Nocturne has created. People’s opinions about him being overpowered are settling down, and I’m starting to see he’s got a better designed power set than I initially thought. Still not a champ for me, though.

And then… and then I played Heroes of Newerth, which this last weekend had a 66% off sale to buy the game– only $10 versus the usual $30. Having grown so fond of and confident within LoL, I decided this was the perfect time to get into its main competitor (DotA aside). Wow, was that a mistake. I originally started my impressions here, but they got a little long, so you’ll have to look forward to seeing those tomorrow.

Jason

I made a grim discovery over the past few days.  I absolutely SUCK at the Angry Birds games.  Big time.  How this is even remotely possible is hard to fathom, but for some reason I just don’t get it.  Sure, I can get by a good chunk of the levels, but it takes me forever.  My wife on the other hand was able to pick the game up and blaze right through it, mastering every level and discovering every little secret there was.  Just knowing that my wife is better than me at ANY video game is unsettling…

In a sad effort to boost my ego back up, I decided play something that I was familiar with – Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood.  I put the title down months ago without finishing it for some reason (Cataclysm *cough*) and it’s been a nice change of pace.