And of course, my ‘cast’ for this BetaWeekend:

  • Garion, the elementalist:  Elementalist was a mixed bag for me.  I really really liked some of it, but I was SQUISHY and that was occasionally problematic. That said, some of the spells are simply amazing and the level of complexity you can pull out is just awesome.  I got the farthest with Garion, possibly because I got into crafting.  Initially, crafting put me off, but after figuring out some of the gathering stuff and really getting into it, I was getting amazing gear and a decent amount of XP from it.
  • Liirlin, the engineer:  (pictured last time) Engineer was lots of fun, though there was a bit of a slump around level 6 that was hard to get around.  The med kit was just INTERESTING and I can’t wait to see how that’ll play out in playing with friends.  The kits in general were awesome, and the fire turret is DIIIIRTY.
  • Krukya, the Ranger:  I’m not sure if there were any changes between this beta and last beta in Ranger specifically, but I loved playing Ranger this time around as opposed to hating it with a fiery passion last time.  It helped when I got her a sword and a bow (sweet goodness, the havoc she could wreak with a bow) and her pet was really great.
  • Kestrel, the Necromancer:  didn’t play her long, but Necromancer was diiiiirty.  I’m not sure on my weapon choice for her; I’ll have to try it on the next beta event for longer.
  • Ashur, the Mesmer:  Man.  I’ll admit: Mesmer was my favorite class in the first game and I was so worried how they’d do it in the second.  First beta weekend, I played a Mesmer up a few levels but didn’t quite grok it.  When I tried another one, I had a LOT of trouble getting decent damage and dear goodness but you’re squishy on top of that; at least with Elementalist, you had the damage to kill things usually before they could cream you.  Initially, I was glad that you got a wand but after grabbing a sword again… omg, much better idea.  Bizarrely enough, I found the Greatsword to be one of the better Mesmer weapons; the Illusionary Beserker hits pretty hard and the sword-flinging move is just dirty.  Even then, though, I found myself kiting around a lot to stay alive but it definitely got better and now with some of the higher level abilities, I’m enjoying the class a lot more.  

Man, I cannot WAIT for this to come out.  I love it every hour I spend on it.  Between the fights and the stories and the characters and the beautiful, explorable world?  I am SO ready.

I guess the first time I was too blown away by everything else, but this time I really took a minute to look around.

And GODS, but this game is gorgeous.  So so so so so so so so so pretty and there’s so many random NPCs, so many items to look at or places to find.  I’m pretty sure you could level just by fully exploring Divinity’s Reach.   I ended up taking tons of screenshots just to go UGGGGH SO PRETTY WHY AREN’T YOU RELEASED YET?!

Second Beta Weekend!

First off, I had a BLAST.  After making a few characters, I really got a handle the game a little more firmly and totally loved it.  I try not to spam, really really try, but expect a couple more posts.

…this one I’m just sharing because SERIOUSLY, is it me or does this Norn look like Liam Neeson?  I WASN’T EVEN TRYING FOR THAT and it somehow happened.

Here’s all the characters I’ve tried (seriously) in Guild Wars 2 this weekend.

Honestly?  I love this game already.  The character generator is awesome, combat is fun, challenging and exciting, NPCs are nicely done, and the general flow of the game is just incredibly seamless.  The plots are neat, the game is GORGEOUS and pretty damn smooth for a beta already, and just Love Love Love Love Love.

Going to give the Necromancer and the Warrior some more time before the beta weekends over.  Then, I think, some Experimental Dyeing.

Point the First: using an avocado, a sprinkle of lemon juice, pepper, and some diced onion instead of mayo as a combo with can!tuna makes a DELICIOUS pseudo-guacamole-themed tuna sandwich.

Point the Second: My cat is a doober.

Point the Third: Guild Wars 2is fricking amazing and I want back on the server omg omg omg omg LOVE.

As you might have seen, I’m an RPG fiend and one of my favorites are the Megaten/Persona games. That’s why, despite the 3D being minimal, these two were some of the first I grabbed for my new 3DS. Isn’t it pretty? The 3D is actually pretty cool and doesn’t mess with my head at all. I’m mostly using it for the Resident Evil game, though. I DID have a DS previously.  Well, I had two.  My first was a gold special edition Zelda DS Lite that I saved up for for quite a while back in Jersey City.  It was stolen out of my apartment, along with my GBA copy of FFVI and some other items.  …yes, I still have rage over this.  I replaced it while on a trip to Virginia (I didn’t live there at the time) with a DSi… Which is just the failingest DS you can own: none of the (good) old features like a GBA slot!  new features that don’t even really function well, like internet access (you can hardly load a page due to lack of memory and speed) and a camera (that you could probably fingerpaint better than) and an online store (we come back to this internet speed thing) and the ability to pop in an SD card (that had seriously limited abilities when it came to being useful and mostly only saved pictures)!  Considering I chose to buy that instead of a PSP at the time and it utterly FAILED for me, using that DS literally made me angry.   So new one!  With 3D! And functional internet browsing!  And the ability to watch Netflix videos!  And more games!  This baby won’t be leaving my purse for a bit…
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As you might have seen, I’m an RPG fiend and one of my favorites are the Megaten/Persona games. That’s why, despite the 3D being minimal, these two were some of the first I grabbed for my new 3DS. Isn’t it pretty? The 3D is actually pretty cool and doesn’t mess with my head at all. I’m mostly using it for the Resident Evil game, though.

I DID have a DS previously.  Well, I had two.  My first was a gold special edition Zelda DS Lite that I saved up for for quite a while back in Jersey City.  It was stolen out of my apartment, along with my GBA copy of FFVI and some other items.  …yes, I still have rage over this.  I replaced it while on a trip to Virginia (I didn’t live there at the time) with a DSi…

Which is just the failingest DS you can own: none of the (good) old features like a GBA slot!  new features that don’t even really function well, like internet access (you can hardly load a page due to lack of memory and speed) and a camera (that you could probably fingerpaint better than) and an online store (we come back to this internet speed thing) and the ability to pop in an SD card (that had seriously limited abilities when it came to being useful and mostly only saved pictures)!  Considering I chose to buy that instead of a PSP at the time and it utterly FAILED for me, using that DS literally made me angry.  

So new one!  With 3D! And functional internet browsing!  And the ability to watch Netflix videos!  And more games!  This baby won’t be leaving my purse for a bit…

everydaypersona: I’m escaping from the confines of 2D, hee ho!    Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers is getting a 3DS remake!  This is among the several pre-Nocturne SMT games that hasn’t ever been localized.  This earlier, 32-bit era Devil Summoner series is quite a bit different from the PS2-era Raidou series and has a rad 90s-cyberpunk vibe.  I suppose it could now be classifed as spoilers, with the remake on the way, but if you’re interested in an overview of these previously untranslated games check out HG101’s classic MegaTen article.  …aaaaand the other day’s purchase of a 3DS is now validated.  Mmmm Megaten…
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everydaypersona:

I’m escaping from the confines of 2D, hee ho!   

Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers is getting a 3DS remake!  This is among the several pre-Nocturne SMT games that hasn’t ever been localized.  This earlier, 32-bit era Devil Summoner series is quite a bit different from the PS2-era Raidou series and has a rad 90s-cyberpunk vibe.  I suppose it could now be classifed as spoilers, with the remake on the way, but if you’re interested in an overview of these previously untranslated games check out HG101’s classic MegaTen article. 

…aaaaand the other day’s purchase of a 3DS is now validated.  Mmmm Megaten…

THIS is my Gunslinger, who I’ve spent most of the weekend playing to get her her &@#^*%’d spaceship back. No big spoilers, but the second Risha mentioned her plan/reasons for being on your ship?  I almost giggled myself out of my chair.  Because my Smuggler’s name is NAMI.  You know.  From One Piece.  *continues to giggle about this FOREVER* If ‘Pirate King’ isn’t a title at the end of the game, there is no justice in the world.
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THIS is my Gunslinger, who I’ve spent most of the weekend playing to get her her &@#^*%’d spaceship back.

No big spoilers, but the second Risha mentioned her plan/reasons for being on your ship?  I almost giggled myself out of my chair.  Because my Smuggler’s name is NAMI.  You know.  From One Piece. 

*continues to giggle about this FOREVER*

If ‘Pirate King’ isn’t a title at the end of the game, there is no justice in the world.