In a few short hours my friends will be coming to pick me up. One of those guys has a house a few cities away and we're just going to chill over there for the next couple of days. I won't be posting here until I get back, so until then! Everyone be safe and take care! Now, I'm going to get my things ready, because I'm lagging it. Peace! :)

I slept a little less than 3 hours last night. When I got out of bed I felt ok, but it's catching up to me now since I've been keeping busy. As soon as I woke up I started playing The Simpsons Game. There were a few hidden items scattered around the levels, and I collected them all, achieving 100% completion of the game in the process.

I had breakfast a short while ago: a thin slice of carrot cake with a glass of milk. I'm not sure if that qualifies as breakfast, but at least I have something in my stomach.

I've been making art for a while. I just finished my 4th piece of the day a little while ago. I'm really liking the new ideas that have been flowing through my head lately. I'll probably make one more drawing today, but I think I need to take a nap.

*Edit* I would like to make note of the fact that I am going to get back into the forums. Lately all I've done with this site is post blogs and read my friends' blogs. I will continue to do that, but since I am on break, I will use some of my free time to post in the forums (for games I am currently playing) and possibly in my groups. I've been inactive in those areas for a while, and some more posting should keep me entertained.

The following are the top two worst games for 2007. These games either felt incomplete or just flat-out sucked.

*Note: These games were not released in 2007, I simply played them that year.

Top 2 Worst Games Played in 2007

2. Clay Fighter 63 1/3
This Nintendo 64 game wasn't complete to begin with, and that's what really killed the entire package. The lack of modes, features, and options really made this game feel like a decent demo instead of a full-fledged game.

1. Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This At Home
Sloppy graphics, annoying play mechanics, and uninspired gameplay really made this game seem like a cheap attempt at something unique.

I played a bevy of games in 2007, and although the year has long been over, I still feel the need to make honorable mentions of the games that really made an impact for me in 2007. My official year-in review begins here. This is the first of three video game awards posts. Here I will cover outstanding achievements in video games such as best graphics, best soundtrack, etc.

*It should be noted that I am not only reviewing 2007 games, but ANY games I played in 2007, whether they were released that year or in earlier years. These are the best games I played in 2007, not only the best games of 2007.

Let us begin!
_____________________________________________

-Best graphics: technical
Let's get down to what a lot of people look for in a game: realistic graphics. I don't really look for such a quality in a game, but if it's there, I appreciate it. I don't own an Xbox360 or Playstation3, so I don't really play games with "groundbreaking" graphics, but some of the games I play on my consoles do have really great technical graphics.

Winner: God of War II (PS2)
The environments were huge and very detailed, and the game still ran at a smooth frame rate. The cut-scenes were the most impressive I've ever seen. Clearly, this game pushed the PS2 to its graphical limits.

-Best graphics: artistic
As an artist, this category is really important to me. Games can look realistic, but sometimes it's really nice to see something that's just beautifully crafted creatively.

Winner: Okami (PS2)
As I played this game, it felt more like I was playing through a work of art. Resembling something like a Japanese water color piece or wood-carving, this game was a sight to see. This was definitely the most beautiful game I played all year or, for that matter, to this day.

-Best soundtrack
Music can be considered just as important as graphics. There is something to be said about a game with an impressive musical score. Games with outstanding music capture an inexplicable feeling, and it's something really amazing.

Winner: Okami (PS2)
The authentic Japanese instrumentation blended beautifully with the artistic design to create an epic feeling in this game.

-Most innovative
Sometimes, games bring new concepts to the table. Whether it's a new gameplay format or a new control scheme, if a game can be unique and innovative, it is always something refreshing if it is carried out the right way.

Winner: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)
The control scheme in this game was based entirely around the DS's interactive hardware. You used the touch screen for all movement and attacks and to solve puzzles. You used the stylus to draw on maps and take notes on certain key points. Even the mic was used to shout to someone that was standing across the landscape. It was something really unique, and it was not carried out lazily.

-Best old-school game
Some old games never get old. These games are the timeless titles which even today are revered as some of the best games to still have a good time with.

Winner: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
Even to this day, this game continues to feel fresh and fun. Modern Zelda games still contain elements from this game. The graphics were colorful, the music was great, and the gameplay was simply incomparable for the early '90s. This old-school game proves to never get old, and to this day shines as a masterpiece.

-Best handheld game
Nowadays, handheld games are just as good as console games, and they feel just as complete.

Winner: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)
A unique control scheme, funny characters, great writing, and a good story all came together to make Phantom Hourglass an amazing game that didn't fall short.

-Best story
Gameplay, graphics, and music are all important in a game, but without the proper story to carry out all the action, a game feels somewhat pointless. A strong story helps flesh out a game.

Winner: God of War (PS2)
In this game, the story was fed to the player in small bits as the game progressed. Although the game wasn't too long, the story was grand. And you get to kill a god! How cool is that?

-Best party game
Sometimes it's just cool to play with other people. That's when we turn to the party game genre. These games have a group of people having fun together and watching each other screw up in a game. It's pretty satisfying!

Winner: WarioWare: Smooth Moves (Wii)
Not only is this game fun, but it's also hilarious. The gimmicks contained within each of the microgames are not only interesting, but funny too. The gameplay is fast, and playing with other people only makes everything more frantic.

-Best online game
When you can't play with other people around you, the next best thing is to play with people from around the nation. There is something really satisfying about climbing up the ranks of an online leaderboard and showing others that you're the best there is.

Winner: Mario Strikers Charged (Wii)
Currently one of the best online games for the Wii. Getting online and playing a few rounds is simple and there is hardly any lag. This game is a lot of fun, and the online component is what really shines about this package.

So there you have it. These are the winners of the special achievements awards. Stay tuned for my Top 10 Games of 2007. Will any of these games make the cut? Also, be sure to check out my Top 2 Worst Games of 2007.

Last night I beat Super Mario Galaxy, which was one of the things on my to-do list for the week. As the night continued I went on to beat The Simpsons Game (which was also on my list). My two favorite levels were the levels based on The Legend of Zelda and Pokemon. Not only were they a lot of fun, but they poked fun at both those series.

Later still, I tried out NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams. It has a lot of charm and I played a little today. It's quite enjoyable, and it's aesthatically pleasing to the eyes.

So, I managed to do everything in my "games checklist" for the week. Now, I must come up with more goals for the week. I am definitely going to work on getting more Power Stars in Mario Galaxy. Also, I finished The Simpsons Game with 97% at the end, so I have to revisit some levels and get the remaining collectibles.

I think that's about it in the games department for this week. Today's my older sister's birthday, so I'm going to watch a movie with her and order some pizza. (As much as I dislike watching movies, it's our tradition, and this is probably one of the only days I'm actually looking forward to watching movies.) I also plan on making some art for her. After I started break, I took a small hiatus from art-making (which I know I shouldn't do, but sometimes I can't help but just get sucked back into games). I have to get back into my drawing; perhaps this week I will make a few pieces.

I just beat Super Mario Galaxy a few minutes ago. It's quite the satisfying platformer. I haven't collected every single star; I've only collected a little more than half, so I will still go back and do that.To be honest, it's probably the best platformer I've played in the past few years. ( Once the Gamecube came out, a good platformer was hard to come by; that's when I jumped over to the action adventure genre. )

Considering I just finished the game ( and considering we're already in the year 2008 ), I wonder if this game will make it to my "Top 10 Games Played in 2008" list by the end of the year.

Speaking of end-of-the-year lists, I found myself with many restrictions and couldn't post such a list for 2007. As a dedicated gamer/blogger, I feel the need to post my very own "Video Game Awards of 2007." I'll post that blog soon. ( Better late then never, right? )

My goals for this week included passing Super Mario Galaxy and The Simpsons Game as well as getting started on NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams by this weekend. I was able to do one of those things a short while ago (as mentioned at the beginning of this blog). Maybe I'll be able to finish The Simpsons Game tonight.

That's it for today. Stay tuned for my 2007 blogs. So, how was everyone's New Year's celebrations? Hope you all had a great one! :)

So my birthday was on the 23rd. I had a little get-together. It wasn't anything too big; I just invited over my close cousins, a few friends, and my girlfriend. I had a lot of fun and got some cool gifts.

I didn't do much on Christmas Eve, 'til later on in the night. I had dinner with my family and then my girlfriend came over and spent the night. It was cute: she opened presents at midnight and ate with us. (She comes from a very negative family, so this was her first official Christmas.)

I got a lot of great gifts for Chritsmas too. I got some nice clothes and a few games!

Then on Christmas Day, I went to visit my cousins. There was good food and I had a lot of fun. I couldn't stay too long, but I still had a good time.

Here is my games checklist (birthday and Christmas):
+ Geometry Wars: Galxies (DS)
+ The Simpsons Game (DS)
+ Fire Pro Wrestling Returns (PS2) - (Early birthday gift)
+ Super Paper Mario (Wii)
+ Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
+ NIGHTS: Journey of Dreams (Wii)
+ Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)
+ Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (Wii)

Oh, yeah. I redeemed an old Wii Points card the other day and downloaded the following titles:
+ Beyond Oasis
+ Neutopia
+ Neutopia II

So last night I finished getting all the platinum medals in Link's Crossbow Training. The only ones I was missing were the last two levels', but after a few tries, I managed to beat the high score (by a big margin, mind you).

I'm trying to finish The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time before my birthday, because I know I'll probably be getting a game or a few games that day, and I'll just ignore whatever I'm currently focusing on (considering I've passed OoT about four or five times already). As I was battling Dark Link in the Water Temple, I found out something new about that battle that I had never noticed: if you stab at Dark Link, he stands on your sword and looks down (Bewildered? Confused? Mocking?).

I received two packages in the mail. One was a Christmas present I got for my girlfriend, and the other was one of the crappiest, yet funniest, video games I've ever played: Clay Fighter 63 1/3. I played it last year at a friend's house and found it to be hilarious.

After I got through the Water Temple, I played a little Clay Fighter. The funny thing was that after about five minutes I grew tired of it. However, for some reason, I was compelled to play for a large part of the day. I even made my sister play a couple rounds with me. I discovered that somewhere deep inside that cartridge lies a fighter with true potential. Too bad potential doesn't pay the rent. Clay Fighter 63 1/3 had a decent roster of characters, a complex combo system, and lots of interactive battle arenas; but it lacked a save feature, customizable play options, and different modes of play. That game could have been great, but it wasn't.

So because of that, I spent the large part of the day playing a game that just doesn't feel complete. It's kind of funny to realize that I went from playing one of the greatest, most iconic games ever released in OoT to a mediocre shell of a game in Clay Fighter 63 1/3. I'm not complaining though. After all, I still had a lot of fun.

One of the games I'm currently spending my time on is Fire Pro Wrestling Returns. The WWE brand of video games hasn't really impressed me as of late, so that is why I decided to get into this series. Right now I'm playing Match Maker mode, which puts you as a manager who creates matches for an entire season. You try to earn money and access to other federations as well as gain popularity from the fans. It's pretty cool.

But what cracked me up is the fact that some of the text is translated directly from the game's Japanese counterpart. So for one of the federation descriptions it reads: "Blood and scars long live deathmatch." There was also: "Always on the road heart is always home." Then there was: "More dramatic entertainment dream battle." But the one that killed me was this one: "Thanks very much comedy no. 1."

Haha Idk... I thought it was hilarious! Reminds me of the old NES days when they used to do the exact same thing!

I went to Target with my sister yesterday. She got me the Wii Zapper, which comes with Link's Crossbow Training. I started playing last night and found the game to be pretty addictive. It's not a full-fledged game; it's just 27 levels, and they don't last very long, but it's fun going back and trying to beat my score and earn medals. For $25, it's not a bad deal at all. I find that the Wii Zapper works pretty well (despite what the review said). I like that Link's Crossbow Training is based on Twilight Princess. It has a few of the good songs from that game, different locales, and enemies that were found there. I got through the entire game last night, but I've been going back and playing it to earn all the platinum medals.