My Gaming Freebies and Merchandise

I've been really lazy about keeping up to date with all my nice pre-order bonus or freebies, so this post is basically a show case of all my game-related merchandise that I haven't gotten around to showing up till now. It's nothing fancy, mostly freebies and a few minor things that I've actually bought.

Club Nintendo 2009 Gold Member Award: Calendar

This is the calendar I got in December 2009 for reaching Gold status on Club Nintendo. These pictures were taken a while back and I've been meaning to upload them onto this blog...but I just never got around to it. Basically it's a little stand with cards that feature a Nintendo franchise and a calendar at the bottom. You switch the cards every month. If you flip the card over, you can see a calendar layout (bottom right - February) for each month. I usually just leave the one with the picture out since it looks nicer. As an additional bonus, Nintendo also gave me a mini mario calendar (top right).

Mario Candy Cases

One of the few game-related things I've actually bought. These two are separate candy cases. The mushroom case has little cherry sours shaped as mushrooms inside, while the Question Block case has little coin candies inside. Both are pretty neat and I bought both on whim. Club Nintendo calendar in the background for added effect! xD

SoulSilver Preorder Bonus: Lugia Figurine

The pre-order bonus for SoulSilver. I love the angle of the shot. It actually took me a while to get a decent angle because Lugia's neck is a bit too curved and it's hard to see the whole figurine from a side view. The figurine isn't the best quality, but it was free so I can't complain.

Dragon Quest IX GameStop Event: DQIX Pamphlet

This doesn't seem worthwhile to even mention, but I was actually surprised by the quality of this pamphlet. The cover is dusty, with the title being glossy. Inside has nice art and is very colourful. Being so well made, I could not resist taking this with me and showing it off on the blog.

Dragon Quest IX GameStop Event Prize: Slime Shirt

The second prize at the GameStop DQIX event. There were four of them and I was lucky enough to win one. I wear it with pride! =D As a side note, this event made my brother want his own copy of DQIX! One more convert!! >:)

~Joanna

Currently Playing: Impressions

It's time for another Currently playing update~

1.Pokemon SoulSilver

I'm almost at the end of the game. All I need to do is beat Red. Unfortunately Red's Pokemon are all in the 80s range, while my party is currently at level 60. So right now I'm trying to gain more levels before I stand a chance again Red. After I beat Red, I'll be going after all the legendaries. :3

I'm so happy that S/G/C finally got remade. Johto is my favourite region (love the pokemon and the geography). Commemorative photos are cute~ But that photographer, Cameron, he's EVERYWHERE! :O (Kind of creepy if you think about it. lol.)

Also, the Pokewalker is a neat little addition, as are the pokemon following you. I wish those would make a come back in the next Pokemon games, but from screens, it looks like Pokemon Black/White are dropping these features. :( Well at least I can have my cute little Misdreavus following me in this game. :3

Which reminds me, it's crazy difficult to get a dusk stone in SoulSilver. :/ I think I'm going to have to trade one over from Diamond at this rate...

2. Narcissu

Just finished this not too long ago. I still open the game and use the music mode to listen to all the beautiful tracks. It's a really great visual novel. Of course, I know most people find VNs too slow, but I adore them. :3

SPOILERS!!!!

The ending was sad, but given the way the story was set up, it could not haven been any other way. I think the ending was beautiful. I'm glad they ended it that way. If Setsumi was somehow miraculous saved, it would have cheapened the story. I'm still wondering what happened to the main character after Setsumi died. It's implied he didn't follow her into the sea because he developed those photos, but I'm assuming he died at a later date? I wonder what his choice was...

Spoilers End!!!!

3. Shining Force II

Still making progress through this. It's such a big game, but I'm loving it. Camelot needs to develop another SRPG now! My only complaint is all the females are either mages or archers, where is my obligatory female paladin?! :( I miss Mae from the first game...


Like all old school SRPGs, the story is almost none-existent, but with how fun the battles are, it does not really matter. Plus the major NPCs are really fun~ :3

4. Knights in the Nightmare

I'm so close to the end, I just know it! I just finished with a the preparations (merging weapons, increasing weapon levels, and dividing the EXP between units), so now I just have to actually start scene 47. It's going to be a pain in the ass since the Boss has lots of HP. Dx

SPOILERS!!!

So I was wrong, Melissa did make a comeback. I was thinking I finally beat the game when I beat Zolgonark, but then in came Melissa, absorbing his power and became this new level of evil. God, I am really not looking forward to Scene 47. I really hope this is the final end game boss, because if there is another one with more HP...I'm going to need 3 hours! Story is starting to piece together, but Asgard still hasn't made their move, at least there is nothing indicating they have. :/ Guess I'll have to wait and see what the ending is....

SPOILERS END!!

Mini Updates:

-Still at the Sea of Time in Golden Sun: The Lost Age. I will hopefully resume playing this soon. I've got to finish this before the holiday season when Dark Dawn is finally available. :D

-Finished the Savannah area for LittleBigPlanet.

~Joanna

Now Playing: Impressions

Here's a list and brief look into what I'm currently playing:

1. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
I love love love this game! I love how the battle system is a prefect mix of SRPG and RPG. It combines the best of both worlds. I also adore the demon fusing. It's very addicting trying to see what new demons you may end up getting through fusion. Fusion taps right into my gotta catch em all pokemon obsession, although I'm not too focused about getting all the demons, more about seeing them all. XD

Story is pretty interesting. Although, the gameplay and character interactions are what really keeps me playing. I must say, Midori is my favourite character at the moment. She's cute, funny, and strong. I love how she thinks she's a magical girl saving the earth~

Also love the role playing that is peppered throughout the game. Some of the responses are pretty funny (like telling other characters that so-and-so is your girlfriend). The game is also pretty challenging. I had to really try during the third day's fight with Beldr. Overall I am really enjoying my time with Devil Survivor, and I'm wondering which ending I'll end up getting. =D


2. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky

I picked this up because I love pokemon and Amazon had a killer price on it (24.99 CAN as opposed to the regular 39.99 CAN). I also wanted to try an easy rogue-like. First off, this game is adorable~ It's so charmingly cute that I can't help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside playing this game. Second, for a pokemon game, it's got a pretty interesting story. I was thinking that because it's a spin-off, the game would not have a great story, but surprisingly the story is pretty good.

Also this game is perfect for collecting fanatics like me. You have the opportunity to recruit all 492 pokemon (correct me if I am wrong). There is something insanely addicting in trying to collect all the monsters. The game can get a little challenging, like when you run into monster houses, but usually a bit of leveling or the right items will be enough to work your way through. I like that the game isn't too easy (of course for a rogue-like it is easy). In the end, I am very satisfied with it and I look forward to the rest of the game.

-interesting tidbit: I got cast as a Totodile. I never much liked the pokemon, but now I'm warming up to it and I plan on making my starter for SoulSilver a totodile now. XD Picked Charmander as my partner because I love the Char-family.


3. Wario Land III
I never got around to finishing this, so now I am trying to do that. While I got really close to the end, my game file was wiped clean and I had to start over. Strangely enough the game still saves and I've almost made it back to where I was before the save file got erased. I'm really enjoying myself, I love the blend of platforming and puzzle solving. I wish I could get the other Wario games that I missed out on. Plus Wario is just too lovable~ hehe.

4.Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Doing a complete run of The Lost Age for my backloggery buddy Phoenix's marathon and also because Golden Sun DS is being released this year!!!!!!! I'm currently at Gaia Rock and almost done with it. All I need to do is go to Mikage dragon and fight it. The game is just as fun as I remember it to be & the music is awesome, but I'm amazed at how much I forgot with regards to the puzzles. ^^;;; But that is ok, it makes the game more challenging.

5. Shining Force
I made it to the second last battle, but I'm really taking my time with it. Part of the reason is that I am attempting to level all my units to 20, but the other reason is that I've been busy playing the games listed above. ^^;;; Anyway I hope to finish it soon (yeah right) ^^;;;

Mini Updates:
-I'm on scene 44 of Knights in the Nightmare.
-I'm on the last level of Super Mario Advance, but I can't seem to beat Wart. :/ (currently on hold)
-I finished all the Challenges for Professor Layton and the Curious Village. I am now currently working on the Wi-Fi puzzle. Week 12 Puzzle has me stumped. (currently on hold)

~Joanna.

Pumpkin Craving: Halloween 2009

As I did last year, this Halloween I also craved a game-based pumpkin. The picture is a little blurry, but I'm interested if anyone can guess what the craving is suppose to be of. Not to worry, it is not suppose to be obscure, even people who do not play games may recognize what I craved....or at least that is the hope that I am entertaining. ^^;;; I'll put up an answer in a few days, till then I'm interested in what people say about it.

Maybe I was a bit too optimistic. no one responded. ^^;;;;;;
Anyways, the answer is Haunter, pokemon number 93.

~Joanna