December tends to be interesting time of year, doing things we perhaps do more regularly like spending time with family and the once a year things like going around the streets to look at the Christmas Lights. In gaming terms, it means looking back and voting on games of the past year (MGS4 for me, might not quite be on MGS3 level but not played anything to match it this year. Excellent end to a heartrending series) while looking forward to the year and games ahead. It was looking for somewhere that held a list of games coming out next year, or a schedule that I found this site. Got a couple of games, like Heavy Rain and Overlord 2 that I dearly will hope to do well but there are more then enough games for me to play now.
On the PC, I recently decided to go from the beginning of the excellent Heroes of Might and Magic series, having played a bit of all of them in the past. I chose Lord Ironfist, otherwise known as the Knight faction but the level difficult in that is wild. First level is easy, build up for a week then attack gateway, second is the ideal of formidable, punishes you for silly errors but not stupidly hard and you should be able to win it given time. The individual ones were you face Slayer (Barbarian), then the two magic types (sorceress and warlock) one at a time are the right level of difficulty. The 4th level and the last level though are excruciatingly hard, any mistake and your main army gets wiped out, no time to build, the enemy always stronger, needs to be toned down. Heroes of Might and Magic 2 has a far more engaging story, a longer campaign mode, more choice of forces and though early, the difficulty level is right. Still got Neverwinter Nights 2 to play and catch up with my sister and father but that can wait.
On the PS3, I plan to play more of the Untold Legends with my sister, an awful game saved by the enjoyment I get playing with her. I take the wizard, she takes the rogue and we batter our way through, laughing as we go but single-player wise I plan to finish the evil attempt with the very funny Overlord. My current hold up is that I wish to fill my helmet which takes a 1,000 minions sacrifice, I probably have about 700 minions overall and reluctant to go short on them. With the helmet boost, I can go into the abyss area's before the final section.Eventually I will play it as a "good" character, felt guilty over dumping that mistress. Need something shorter, I'll pick up Fifa 09 and manage Chester City (with custom keeper), spent money on fitness and tightening up the backline, lack of goals or conventional wide players though are a problem.
I'm also reading a book on the WWI commander Earl Haig and Cadfael books after recently finishing Tom Holland's excellent book, Millennium. Never read one of his books before but it is both informative and entertaining look on when our ancestors truly believed Christ would come to earth, to end the world, and the clash between Kings and Popes. I enjoy history books about war or rather commanders in them, further back then WWI or more modern wars usually, figures of some controversy or ladies who did more then conventional society would have expected like Lady Marsh (granted, relatives more fascinating then her) and Lady Hamilton. Novels I tend to read are in the Dragonlance mold, fantasy and magic, I tend to find myself liking the villains or morally less then pure then I do the saintly ones or the warriors but so few new (good) ones around it would seem and was disappointed by the Acaia book. Though in truth, I will just borrow from the library any book that I hear is interesting and appeals to my taste so not picky. Any suggestions on book would be most welcome, else I just keep a list of books that catches my eye when the Times reviews them?
On boxing day, I'll be settling down with my father and a beer to watch Villa vs Arsenal, a game Arsenal need to win to draw level with Villa. Soccer has never been in the family but some reason I have become a fan of Arsenal, and England. Sometimes so it is a joy when England youth matches are on, or an international youth tournament. I feel relaxed, young players have a long way to go and it is interesting to see which nations might suddenly emerge strongly or young players might make it. Such games can give a vital reminder that soccer is just a game so I don't get so worked up with Arsenal's current struggles, the board room infighting concerns me more then current form. Disappointed with Liverpool game last Sunday, we needed a win, took the lead and proceeded to throw it away, conceding a sloppy goal, making mistakes and losing our heads, both when Cesc came off injured at half time and when Ade was sent off. My boxing day prediction is a Villa victory, we will miss Ade badly but we are capable of great things on our day so who knows.
Most of all though during this Christmas week, I'll be enjoying time with family. I hope that, whoever you are with or if you are alone, whatever you are doing, you have a happy last few weeks of the year and a have a wonderful New Year.
Magic Hat