Long time since last update. This is thanks to me getting properly hooked on Bad Company 2 multiplayer. Managed even to get my brother hooked as well. Have also teamed with some lads from Konsolifin (Finnish gaming site) to get some proper killing done. These guys know what they are doing. Anyway managed to finish some other games in between as well. Starting from the top:

Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Haven't touched singleplayer yet and closing in on full 2 days online and rank of level 20. That's a lot considering I don't normally play so many online games. My brother got this game as mentioned as well. We sank really way too many hours on this during the Eastern. Friday went pretty much all day on it with way too much beer and other alcoholic beverages. Haven't had such bad hangover in way too long time. Anyway will be playing in this future, but probably not as much. Want to at least get the majority of the MP cheevos. Currently playing with Medic to get unlock all the weapons. Next (and last) one is the Recon IE. sniper or Rölli as the Finnish gentleman's call it. Not really enjoying Medic tbh. Sure the M60 is darn good weapon but don't care that the second weapon slot is only for the defibs. 

Got one strange Battlefield experience to add. EA has this elaborate stats tracking where it keeps on track of your previous Battlefield games and rewards accordingly. For example if you own Bad Company 1 you get an extra weapon and so on. My BF 1943 on PS3 didn't get tracked so I had to contact the support. Have previously had dealings with them (EA support) and it has always been really good. Anyway got shafted here badly. Had to wait for 30mins and the agent didn't even reply. Ended up mailing them with the issue and mentioned this strange agent. They got back to within few hours and fixed it. And they also added veteran status for every single game by then. Depending on which stats screen you see my veteran status is 8 or 13. Such high number doesn't have any meaning. Other than makes me look pretentious. Also feels like I've cheated. Just can't be bothered contacting them again regarding this.

Battlefield Play4free

Beta has gone public so wanted to check this as well since got the BF bug. It is pretty much like BF2. So not the best looking game, but really smooth. Even with amount of people and vehicles. And just running from a browser. Did a mistake of taking an Assault class here as well. Don't have the same set of good add-ons as Bad Company 2 has. And you are restricted to your class. So no 4x scope for me (yes n00bs like me use it). Meaning, don't get anywhere near the distances here. I know its not a sniper but could have been bit better. After upgrade to the best (Veteran) weapon the game is way more playable. Just slightly annoying that buying with the ingame credits you only rent the weapon. Pacing here is completely different than on BC2 and no doubt there is less cooperative work. My brother had to call me just last night and had to brag that he gone past me (rank).

Battlefield Heroes

While checking the Play4free I went back to play some Heroes. It is way more polished and contained than Play4free. The most impressive is the amount of customisation one can do. Wouldn't dream of paying anything for these prices. At least here you get to keep the gear. Game looks bit kiddy of course and the experienced players (with the gear) gives bit too great advantage.

Deathspank

Picked both Deathspank games from a XBLA sale few weeks back. Got around playing the first game finally. Not the longest and most original game, but I've still really enjoyed it. The writing is at times really funny. At times it can be bit of a dire as well. Still Ben Gilbert's influence really shines through. It has an relatively easy S-rank which is rare treat for me, but I am closing in on that GB quest (8/10). As mentioned I got the second Deathspank as well but really have no interest of starting it straight after.

Gridrunner Revolution

This your average twin-stick(kind-of) shooter with flashy graphics and electronic music. Maybe I didn't play it long enough (15 levels) to get properly into it. Anyway I didn't like this. Didn't like it back in the C64 days either. Llamasoft or not.

Space Giraffe

Decided to check the other Llamasoft game same time. Can't believe I've paid money for this. Visually very similar to Gridrunner Revolution. Same with the music. Steam description mention trance shooter. I can only handle trance in small doses. Not sure why I've bought this to begin with. Gameplay is in vein of Tempest which makes this better of these two. Still I think that Jeff Minter is over rated. Just don't find the llamas sheep and the "crazy psychedelic stuff interesting or funny.

Space Invaders Infinity Gene

Not a good game in my books. I like most of the Space Invaders games, just not this one. Mainly because this is a traditional SHMUP and the music and sound effects are plain horrid. Especially the sound effects after finishing a level must come from a tone deaf. Or maybe it is in purpose such torture sounds. Finished the game only on Easy because the last levels were getting ridiculous. I am sure fans of SHMUPs and electronic music can enjoy this. I just don't care for either. Didn't know that it was so bad. The black and white design is cool thought, could have been bit more of the variation still.

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

Played through this amazing XBLA version again. Wanted to play it through again because I've missed the S-rank first time around. Ended up screwing my save half way through the game and messed the second ending. So had to play it through twice. Playing it twice back to back still didn't make it feel like a bore. It is just amazing game and very good port. Experienced the second ending only for first time around. Slightly disappointing Herman's excuse for having a boat, but I suppose rules are rules. S-rank quest at 9/10 now.

Tales of Monkey Island - Chapter 1 to Chapter 5

Inspired by the original Monkey Island I decided finally go through with this series. Telltale had released this first game for free while back. Which unfortunately didn't run really on my PC. So decided to go with the Wiiware version. Only after getting the whole series realized that there is PS3 version as well. Doh. Anyway, despite the lag and lowish resolution I really enjoyed this. The music and the voice acting continues to relay the same cheery Pirate feel as in the Special editions. Kind of feels like natural progression to these games as well. Have heard the jokes on the two first monkey island games many times already. Good to hear some new material. All and all really funny stuff and relative good puzzles. Really liked the Morgan character. Bit disappointing that they didn't get the same Stan guy though. The end was left slightly open so there might be a second season one day. Although with all the projects Telltale has can't see it happening.

Gunstar Heroes

From XBLA weekly deal where all the Sega games were 50% off. Megadrive was my first console and it of course still has a spot here. Somehow managed to avoid classic Gunstar Heroes. Wanted to some easy retro gaming so this was ideal candidate. And of course easy 200/200 cheevos as well. Which completed the 10x S-rank GB quest. Yau me!I

Not to forget the Indie games:

Inside a star filled sky

The most recent game from Indie mastermind Jason Rohrer. I guess since I paid for this game I am entitled to view my opinion. Did not like. The gameplay idea is amazing. Going inside things is very unique idea. Shame that it becomes such a bore so soon. The awkward shooting doesn't help. Idea and the graphical presentation are nice, but shame the actual gameplay doesn't work for really long periods.

Obulis

This must be from one the indie packs during last holiday sales. Obulis is a physic based puzzle game. A rather casual puzzle actually. Purpose of the game is simply to guide coloured balls to matching vase thing. This is done by releasing the balls from hanging chains. Sound simple and that is the main jist of it. The levels are very smart and only downside of the game is the random aspects. Good timing is required for the balls to bounce of properly which is not as fun (?) as it sounds like especially when the balls tend to randomly bounce to all directions. The presentation is relaxing although the sounds after completing a level is always the same. If you are in market for casual physics based puzzle then this is the thing. In many ways reminded me of another made-in-phone-game-first casual puzzler: Zen Bound.

La-Mulana

Another awesome indie freeware from Japan. Quite similar to Cave Story actually. Especially on the gameplay part and how the game has evolved. Started as a freeware PC game and will be released as Wiiware soon. Didn't wan't to play too much of this since the Wiiware version looks so good. Hopefully the game is released soon. Gist of the game is retro inspired or MSX style platformer puzzler. In direction to Metroid and Castlevania. And Cave Story of course. This is one long as game. The wiki page here at GB gives good indication of that.

Stalwart

I play good share of indie games and flash games that don't make it to these blogs. Simply because these are not good enough. Stalwart is a Flash game in vein of Canabalt. Although way better music and even more retro-like graphics. Check it out here.

Tempted to post a link to gameplay of Stalwart as my random Youtube link since the music is so good, but that would kind of defeat the purpose. So here is the starting screen and link to the game instead. 

I really, really hope they make a second Tales of Monkey Island. TellTale really did a good job bringing Guybrush and the gang back. Morgan was also a great new character.