The first book of the manga series Diabolo is almost certainly the most disturbing manga I have ever read. What's worse is, the back of the book sounds quite innocent. It makes reference of a possible haunted apartment block along with these two fellows, one who has been granted the mastery of defence and another the mastery of attack by some demon fellow. But the blurb on the back of the book was all full of innocent-looking exclamation marks (!) It made it look like more of a classic adventure fantasy more than anything else. Well I warn you now if you don't want to read a truly disturbing book then do not pick this up and do not keep reading this post. It starts off with a girl who lives in a small apartment with her parents but she isn't very happy with herself because she's so busy all the time and because her parents insisted on bringing her to this new home which she isn't very fond of. On the way home from school each day, when climbing the long stairway of her apartment she comes across a mother who is stuck at home all day on her own trying to take care of a baby, as well a man who has a vicious dog that tries to attack her until a certain man [one of the folks mentioned on the back] helps her out. Without giving much away, from here on out it becomes a sort of psychological nightmare. Lots of very twisted, disturbing events begin to happen and it's up to the reader to figure out how much, if any of it is real. There is quite a shocking event in the middle of the book that apparently turned lots of people off the series, but without giving it away I wouldn't want to say much on it except it detaches some people from the book's story. However, because of the element of the real versus the imaginary and because of the likeable, albeit speedily introduced characters I really enjoyed it. It's very surreal and I'm not sure if it will last a whole series but if you like really freaky psychological horror then it's worth a look. But even the most horror-trodden readers will find this at least really really strange.

I thought this would be as good a start as any to my new Gamespot account. All my games will be rated but I thought I'd give my top 20 in a digestible format as well as a short reason for liking each one, especially since I ,may not get the time to write full reviews for each one. I'd advise you read it from bottom to top since my explanations of games generally get more interesting the more I love the game! 1. Thief Series - Surprise! I love these games because they mix incredibly detailed levels with an amazing atmosphere. Every character in their stories are well developed, from the lowliest guard to the main protagonist. The games are all exciting, involving, believable, terrifying and all in all downright fun. 2. Sacrifice - A highly underrated game. This game breaks the boundaries of genres in video games. The singleplayer is a well written, multi choice filled extravaganza with fantastic characters and a storyline where you can be proud of whatever your character does. The interface and gameplay is like no other and the variety of spells and monsters form a game that is interesting, funny and borderline never-ending. 3. Worms World Party - The best 2D Worms game ever made. It's a fun game, with an unending hoard of singleplayer content. The multiplayer is easy to use, contains dozens of gaming formats to suit any worms player. The game is filled with loads of fun content that can be altered to your hearts content from making your own nation flag to making an entire voice soundtrack for your worms. There is no game on earth that mixes incredible tactics with so much laughter better than Worms. 4. Age of Empires II / The Conquerors Expansion - Simply the best real time strategy ever invented. It has several lengthy singleplayer campaigns all as challenging and entertaining as each other. It mixes the perfect balance of tactical warfare with a controlled resource system that is neither over or under simplified. It literally has an infinite number of maps to play and enough difficulty settings and options to keep any player going. The game feels powerful, varied and most importantly fun. 5. Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (Multiplayer) - Easily the best hack and slash game ever invented. It combines loads of interesting online game modes ranging from standard to utterly bizarre. Objective based online games really promotes team play and is perfect for single players or entire clans. Entirely customisable from maps to characters to lightsaber hilts and colours, the game simply does not get old. It's highly customisable nature means you will never get bored of what the community has to offer. 6. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - Probably the best roleplaying game ever invented. It is literally impossible to finish all the quests in this game. The game is highly customisable so you will never get bored or too powerful for what the community has to offer. Two hundred difficulty settings means this game can be played at any level of skill imaginable. 7. Half Life 2 (Series) - The most involving and exciting first person shooter ever made. All the characters are incredibly believable and couldn't feel more real than if you had a pair of 3D glasses. The enemies are intelligent, challenging and are always fun to defeat. The weapons are varied, each having it's own unique and fun use. It mixes humour, action and horror into one of the best cocktails imaginable. 8. Advance Wars [Series] - The best turn based strategy game ever conceived. Each game has an incredibly lengthy and detailed singleplayer campaign that requires a different way of thinking with each mission. The units are not overly complicated but can be used in so many ways on different terrains that different tactical options never cease. Dozens of playable characters with different abilities combine with it's other features to make it one of the best. 9. Deus Ex - Only just loses the place for best first person shooter ever invented. An extremely lengthy, fascinating storyline with gritty, realistic characters. A unique skills system with various ways of outwitting foes. A beautifully customisable multiplayer system that provides the nearest thing to online fear in any game ever made. 10. Guild Wars - Probably the best Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game ever designed. A game that suits any roleplayer as it contains several different forms of cooperative and competitive play. A game that as an exponential difficulty meaning it is practically impossible to finish everything. A game that rewards patience and skill and promotes improving oneself. 11. Super Mario World - The best platformer, Mario or otherwise. It is a really long game where every level has some different kind of challenge. All sorts of different powerups and dozens of secrets to find means this game takes a long time to get bored of. 12. May Payne (Series) - The best third person shooter in existence. This game combines amazing, but not overdone bullet time moments with some really realistic, yet fun combat. It has one of the best storylines of any game with high quality voice acting along with some amazing graphic drawings. The game is fast paced, fun and a game that anyone in which anyone can appreciate the main character. 13. Super Mario 64 - Mario has easily earned the best 3D platformer reward. A challenging yet amazingly non frustrating game that has dozens of levels to visit. All the areas are replayable with new, increasingly difficult tasks. The final goal of completing all goals is a Herculean task that will entertain and challenge anyone. 14. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island - One of the prettiest and most universal games around. It gives a complete unique spin on the platforming experience which is quite different even to other Mario games. A lovely, lengthy and beautifully made game that has enough replayable content to make it one of the most difficult games to finish completely. [Believe me I've tried] 15. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (Series) - Really different and interesting roleplaying games that contains really well scripted characters. Loads of conversations to be had and choices to made in this game. Has dozens of different items to collect and customise as well as fascinating storylines that have some really fun (and shocking) twists. 16. Super Mario Brothers 3 - A fantastic platformer with lots of secrets and really challenging levels. A really nice difficulty curve means that anyone can play this game. 17. Worms Forts: Under Siege - Best conversion from 2D to 3D game ever. Maintains all the fun whackiness of the old games but, unlike the earlier 3D versions makes brilliant alterations so that it works even better in a 3D environment. Lots of customisables and lots of game modes makes this a top notch game. 18. Unreal Tournament III - One of the most insane online shooters around. Really fun to play on your own or with friends. Loads of different weapons with unique uses along with great maps and amusing deaths. 19. - Ninja Assault - Best Arcade Game I've ever played. It's fun, fast paced, requires good aim and frantic speed. All the elements of a good Arcade Game to play with friends or on your own. 20. Civilizations - So many games at this score to fight for the top 20 position. Had to choose this as it is one of the best turn based strategy games around. Has lots of ages stages and units but never becomes overly complicated or confusing.