I took more time off from gaming than I’d planned to, but it’s all good. When you’re not feeling it, you’re not feeling it. After lounging on my sofa watching K-dramas with my sisters for a month, I’m just about ready to get back in the saddle. I realized two things: 1) I love Picross, and 2) I need a break from Action RPGs for a while. Nothing personal, just that sim games and turn-based RPGs are more relaxing and that’s what I need right now. So here’s what I’ve been messing around with for the past two weeks.

Anno 1404 – I’ve played it before, so I just started it up as rehab. Getting back in the groove with some sun and sea and hungry peasants and all that. Such a gorgeous game… I started the story mode again but then I remembered that Guy Forcas and Cardinal Lukius are going to mess up my fleet and ports in a couple of chapters and got upset. This time they’re not going to have their own way! That said, I only play about 1 hour of Anno a week so they’ll be at large till 2019, probably.

Picross e – Obviously just Picross e is not enough to satisfy me. That’s why I have Picross e2, e3, e4, e5, e6, e7 and e8 lined up to play once I’m done. I play it in snatches during the day. Like, once every 10 minutes or so, nothing crazy. I’m really happy because now I’m good enough to play Free Mode (with hints). I used to get so nervous about making mistakes and having to start all over again but it’s not so bad as long as you don’t guess. Picross is the best!

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse – Slightly improved sequel to SMTIV, which I quite enjoyed when I wasn’t getting lost in Tokyo. I’m enjoying the faster pace right off the bat, the more navigable map and the smaller cast. None of the faffing about with Jonathan and Isabeau for 20 hours that I suffered in the original.

This time I’m going to be nice to everyone and take my Law route as it comes. It sucks having to choose choices you don’t agree with just to get the route you want, so I’m not going to play along with that nonsense any more. I’ve played about 5 hours now, just hit level 10 and headed off to Ueno to find Nozomi. I’ll write a proper post about it when I hit level 20/play 10 hours, whichever comes first.

Enkeltbillet – Mediocre otome game I tried to play but lost interest in before even meeting all the main guys. The character designs are okay, I got a good laugh out of the “English” and it has gameplay in the form of HanaIchi-style quests.

The problem is that the characters are too dumb. Especially the main character who goes running off with a stranger in a foreign country. Idiot. And the idiot strangers who take her in. And the idiot incompetent tour agency she was with. And the idiot foreign guys who randomly show up and start pawing at her. The whole game is just stupid. I want to say it’s dropped, but somehow I still want to play a little more. Even though it’s bad and I will regret it.

Right now my main game is Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse Picross e. Lying is bad. I pick up the 3DS meaning to play SMTIV but “just one puzzle” syndrome kicks in. But I’m making good progress in both of them so I’ll post about one or the other next time. See ya!