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Round 001: Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii: Osu! T

As I've totally made clear now, right now I'm vacationing in Taipei, Taiwan -- and even though it storms an awful lot and the house I'm in sometimes starts to stink of dead and dying water molecules -- yes, water molecules can die, science doesn't apply in this city -- there are a lot of things that make up for it.

One of these things is the existence of a whole lot of video game stores around here, as well as Japanese otaku-inspired districts and places you wouldn't see anywhere in the United States. Seriously, just seeing all of these things makes me really want to open up a video game store back in California just so that I can emulate everything I've seen here. Sort of like Pink Godzilla Games, in Seattle -- an Akihabara-inspired video game store, designed by and run for the true gamers in our world. Not like GameStop or EB Games, those crazy chain stores. I'm talkin' true gaming. You're with me, right? Good.

Anyway, I went down to one of these stores the other day, while avoiding motorcyclists and drivers that apparently run on nothing but caffeine. I'm dead serious -- these guys drive like they're being chased by a troupe of Barnum & Bailey clowns. I had to go Solid Snake on them just to get to the store -- but it was all worth it, because I got to buy two of the games I'd been meaning to play ever since their predecessors came out: Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii: Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2, the equivalent of what Elite Beat Agents 2 would be in the States, and Jump! Ultimate Stars, the sequel to (wait for it) Jump! Super Stars.

 

Being the music guru I am, I dove headfirst into Ouendan 2 -- and goodness, let me tell you, this game is incredible. If you haven't played Ouendan or its American counterpart yet, you're sorely missing out. (Which is what people kept telling me before I picked up Ouendan 2, but that's a different story.) Basically you're hitting circles with your stylus -- yes, this is a game for the esteemed Nintendo DS -- to the beat of a song. That's really about it.

Sounds simple, right? It is! But the speed at which these circles come at you, along with the (very often) insane rhythms that you're forced to hit 'em at, can confuse the best Bemani experts in the world. And not being a gamer of that pedigree, I totally failed Ouendan 2.

 

Or at least, I thought I would fail it. Instead, the game led me to become a pro in less than a week. I was perfect, even flawless, at hitting tiny circles with my stylus. When playing multiplayer with my little brother, I won incessantly and effortlessly -- and I mastered the game.

 

At least, that's what I thought when I reached the last, and hardest difficulty.  And needless to say, the game punished me for it. And after weeks of trial and tribulations, I finally beat the game -- feeling very, very, very, very accomplished. I had never felt more happy in my life. Which is a totally nerdy thing to say, 'specially since Ouendan 2 is a freaking video game. But trust me, I at least thought I hadn't felt more happy in my life. Because it was that uplifting, to beat this game.

Now, after finally conquering Ouendan 2, I'm going to drop it. Or I'm going to try. It's a really addictive game, even through all the punishment it drives you through. But my brother has Jump! Ultimate Stars beat right now, and I'm not letting anyone in my family beat a game before me -- 'specially not my little brother. He's going down.

Right after I get this next high score.

Best regards,

Ryoji "Gotta get that five million!" Yokosawa 

Posted Aug 6, 2007 by ryojikun | 1 Comment | Share It

Filed under: moero! nekketsu rhythm damashii: osu! tatakae! ouendan 2 piledriver Video Games

Round 000: The Piledriver

Ladies and gentlemen, you've reached The Piledriver -- the video game blog where Ryoji Yokosawa puts all the gaming thoughts and obsessions he can't be bothered to put anywhere else. (Or more specifically, the thoughts and obsessions he's embarrassed to put anywhere else.)

Each entry, Ryoji -- who's obviously enjoying talking about himself in the third person right now, seriously, what kind of self-centered nincompoop does that? -- plays and reviews (if you can call it reviewing -- he'll probably just write a paragraph or two and call it a day, that lazy *) one of the games that everybody says he should play, but he hasn't. This is a lot of games.

He's not very bright, nor very talented, and he certainly isn't the most gracious of gamers -- but he'll do his best for y'all. Maybe you'll even be entertained when he discusses his poor, yet immaculately pleasing, personal life! You'll find all these things and more when you enter The Piledriver.

In any case, thanks for coming, seriously! And let's do what we came here to do: beat up Ryoji. play some video games!

Best regards,

Ryoji "I talk way too much" Yokosawa

Posted Aug 6, 2007 by ryojikun | 1 Comment | Share It

Filed under: the piledriver

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