Things I am Playing and Watching
I figure every now and then I’ll make a quick post just to list what I’m currently watching and playing to y’all. So here’s the first one of those!
Playing:
Bit Trip Runner: This game basically simulates the experience of ripping out your own hair, but somehow in a good way. It’s a really difficult 2D side scroller that’s kind of influenced by rhythm games, in that the actions you take all happen to the beat of the song that’s playing. Your playing even affects the development of the music (the more things you collect, the more you affect the music). I like having this game on the go at the same time as a more complex game. It’s good to have a more laid back option for when I don’t feel like playing something for hours (though I definitely played this for hours right when I got it…)
Final Fantasy VI: Not sure why it took me so long to start playing this. I’ve played almost every subsequent final fantasy, but I guess I missed VI during my childhood and never went back to play it until now. I’m probably close to half way done, but I’ve really slowed down with how often I play it recently. It’s very good, and I understand why people like it so much, but the mood changed pretty drastically in the game recently, so it’s a bit difficult to get into it right now. I’m sure I’ll get back to playing it often again soon.
Watching:
Honey and Clover: This looks like it’s going to be a romance anime, lots of focus on characters and relationships. So far it’s okay, fairly funny, but I’m hoping it will improve.
Mawaru Penguindrum: Technically I just finished this show actually… and boy did it have a lot of potential. I did like it quite a bit, but I’m bothered by many things about this show as well. I am a fan of Magic Realism (basically where magical elements blend into the world as we know it. It isn’t always explained, it’s just accepted that it’s part of the universe) but penguindrum took it too far for my taste. I like Murakami novels quite a bit, so I can deal with a lot of wacky stuff, but penguindrum felt like it was being made up as it went along, and certain parts did need explaining that weren’t explained. Despite all of this it was still worth watching though. Still, the amount of untapped potential kind of bothers me. The show made great commentary on family dynamics and love in a really unique way. Very artistic, good music, good characters.
-Windie