Like I said before, Okami got the boot for Twilight Princess this past week. While playing it, tons of apprehension washed over me. I suddenly remembered all the issues I had trouble with the last time, and started to wonder if I could do better this time, and oh God, I forgot about the giant spiders. I have a baby at home now, so I can’t scream like a little girl when one drops on me, like I did last time I played. And no, it didn’t happen just the first time; it happened EVERY time.

Arrrrgh.

I’m actually considering foregoing the game yet again to play something else, primarily because I’m not sure I can handle another Zelda game this year. Zelda games are a lot of fun, but man they can be a pain in the arse with their zany dungeon puzzles and boss tactics. But I will give it another week before I put it aside yet again, hopefully to be finished in 2010.

For those wondering about Spirit Tracks coming out in 2010, I really doubt I will pick it up. It looks just like Phantom Hourglass with a train in so many ways, and unless reviews and trailers can convince me it is most decidedly not so, I’d rather just play Phantom Hourglass again.

In Final Fantasy news, I finally reached a part of the Final Fantasy X story that I didn’t get to last time, so many years ago. I see why a certain friend of mine loved it so much, and I’m eating it up for the same reasons. Could this be part of the reason why I’m dragging my feet with Twilight Princess? Possibly just a little, but not the complete reason.

Still working on the Last Remnant guide review, and I hope to finish and post it before I leave for Atlanta (for a geek fest) on Friday. I’m still going to review Okami as well. I have plenty to discuss about this guide even without playing the game.

Well Okami has the new record of the fastest I have ever quit a game: less than 2 hours.

Apparently I can’t draw a straight line to save my life–which is true even with a pen and paper–and well, you need to draw a straight line to save your life in Okami. Often. After trying to draw a straight line 10 freaking times and failing during a stupid straw dummy exercise, I knew it was time to call it quits. I don’t have what it takes, and it was nothing but frustrating for me. I have too many other games to play than to be frustrated.

Usually when I quit a game, I’m fine with it and I’ve already moved on to the next package. This time, I’m very disappointed. I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that it’s because the game was a gift from a good friend, but it’s mostly because I really wanted to play it. The game is too damn beautiful! I love its art scheme and crazy colors. It’s just too bad that it makes me draw.

So I picked up Twilight Princess in hopes that I’ll finish it this time. I can’t believe I’m going to try for two Zelda games in one year, but I’ve seen me do crazier things. However, after finishing the tutorial section of Twilight Princess, I realized that it has a lot in common with Okami, without the drawing stuff. Both use the same Wii-motions to fight, both have wolves, the wolves dig, and the wolves are out to clear the land of evil. It makes me wonder who stole which idea first: Nintendo or Capcom?

I freely admit that I’m susceptible to the power of suggestion, especially when it comes to games. When the inFamous demo came out, I downloaded it, played it, and hated it. I mentioned my hate on Twitter (possibly my first mistake) and I was hit with questions why. When I blogged about it here, I was e-mailed reasons why I should give it a chance. The demo doesn’t represent the game well, once you get used to the controls it’s so much better, it’s fun for this and this reason. So I caved and bought the game and I’m so very glad I did.

So recently I downloaded the demo for Arkham Asylum, and while I thought the game was incredible, I had the feeling that it wasn’t for me, that I would get frustrated with it too easily. I told some of my gaming friends this, and they accepted it without trying to convince me otherwise. I’ve been struggling to enjoy The Last Remnant ever since.

Then this morning I listen to Kombo‘s podcast, and my friend Joey grilled my friend Matt about why Arkham Asylum was so great and why he should give it a chance. It honestly sounded like Joey reached into my head and pulled out all of my questions about the game, and Matt was convincing me, not Joey, to play the game. I’m so close to convinced. It seems that the demo really isn’t very telling of the game yet again (like inFamous!) and Matt said that once you learn the mechanics of the game (like inFamous!) it becomes so much more fun.

So I’m still bobbling that idea around. However, it probably won’t happen too soon since I have a stack of others and let’s not forget that Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days is coming out at the end of this month. But I’m still really thinking about it, almost to the point that if I get in my car and head towards Wal-Mart I may make a pit stop at Gamestop.

I’m so weak.

I haven’t played a fighter game in a long time, so I expected there to be a little learning curve, but damn I didn’t expect it to be so steep. I’ve really, really struggled while playing this game, and it doesn’t help that there is no real in-game tutorial. There claims to be one, but it doesn’t tell you everything you can do. I’ve had to pull out the manual more than once, and that’s close to a deal-breaker in my book.

I did some heavy reading of the guide tonight and learned that I can go through the story chapters in any order I want, sort of like Chain of Memories, which is a relief because chapter 1 is killing me. I’m taking the guide’s advice and leveling up my character in the quick play rounds, but I’ve basically learned that I suck at this game. Well, and the initial character sucks. He only has one HP attack. ONE! So while Sephiroth is hammering me with his multiple HP attacks, I’m getting wasted. Repeatedly.

I’m hoping that by bailing on the level for now (yes I know it will hurt my Story Point earnage) and playing some of the easier levels to learn the game better will make me like the game better. The reviews I’ve read have been great, so I’m disappointed that I don’t like it much so far. Then again, I’m not liking Fat Princess either and everyone raves about that game.

Btw, to everyone who has suggested I pick up Batman Arkham Asylum, the answer is resolutely no. I played the demo and it’s not my thing. I’m not a fan of being stealthy, and well, what is Batman if he isn’t stealthy? What I played of the demo did make me see why so many people just love it. I just know that I won’t.