SnakeSDR

I've been trying to play through Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker on the PSP for a couple of months now. I'm really enjoying the game and I'm eager to see where the story goes, but I'm finding it difficult to actually motivate myself to sit down with the PSP and play through it. I'm just not big on playing a game on a portable device at home, when I could be playing a console game on a HD television. 
 
It's not that I don't enjoy playing games on the PSP, I love the system, and I've really enjoyed the titles I've played on it. However I didn't buy it for home use, I bought it to play when I'm on the bus or train, and it has served that purpose well. A problem arises with longer games though, gaming experiences more akin to those found on console and PC titles. They encourage longer play sessions, typically longer then a commute or quick bus trip to the shops. I don't want to sit there looking at a tiny screen for hours on end, I'd rather have a more broken up experience that I can attack in short bursts.  
 
Peace Walker does address that, with a nice mission structure that allows shorter play sessions but that isn't really my issue. I love the Metal Gear series, I imagine my username and profile page might give that away. I love Hideo Kojima's unique brand of crazy, the over the top characters, ludicrous plot twists and bizarre supernatural elements that are actually just a convenient bi-product of nano-machines. It's my personal investment in this series and it's characters that is making it hard to play Peace Walker. 
 
How? You might ask. Well I can't just play it for short bursts. I need to see what happens next. I need to listen to every audio tape! 
  
Then I burn out. I either get uncomfortable or my eyes get sore, either way I can't keep playing. Most people would just take a break and come back to it later in the day or the following day. I however then get involved in something else, I get sucked into some other story -- another game, movie or television series typically -- and then I forget about Peace Walker for a while. 
 
I find it so strange, being a huge fan of the series, not feeling the urge to jump straight back into it. Maybe I'm not as big a fan as I thought. Is it perhaps a failing of the format as I initially stated, or does it speak to how spoiled I am by all the great games that have been coming out this year? Either way I'm determined to get through this game. If it were on the PS3 I would have completed and unlocked everything available, but because its on a system I cannot seem to bring myself to dedicate the time to. It's time for me to learn how to play long game in consistent increments rather then large binges. Might be healthier too.

" @SnakeSDR: I'm glad you enjoyed it! ME2 is my favorite game of the year by far. I a'int no writin major, so I won't comment on the writing itself. ;)  But I definitely agree with you on the atmosphere. The Mass Effect Universe is very engrossing and feels pretty organic. I like the way the first game showed off Citadel space: the cleaner and more civilized planets, and ME2 had you traversing the Terminus systems: the more grimy and crime-ridden areas.  I hope we get access to the entire galazy in ME3. "  

" The game is great, admittidly I haven't bought any DLC for it but it has been one of the richest experiences I've had on the Xbox thus far.  The final chapter is easily my most anticipated Xbox exclusive game. Your writing seems fine, although use an apostrophe before the 's' when you say 'genre's' as it's possesive in that context. "

In May I got my Xbox 360, complimenting the PS3 and Wii I've had since 2008. My primary motivation for the purchase was playing the much lauded Mass Effect 2. I could have gotten it for PC, but it wouldn't have ran as well on my modest system as it would on a 360, and it was cheaper for me to purchase the console rather then upgrade my system.  
 
Since then I have played a variety of Xbox 360 exclusive titles (I buy cross platform titles for my PS3 because I'm a trophy whore) but I hadn't gotten to the game I originally bought the system for. I had played through Mass Effect to get up to speed on the story and to carry over my Commander Shepard, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, completing every available mission. 
 
So whats the point of saying all this? Well basically I had done what few have, I had held onto a copy of Mass Effect 2 for months without touching it, playing through my back catalogue of xbox titles I bought on the cheap after the console purchase, and completing and PS3 releases I grabbed on the way. I had the current front runner for game of the year on my shelf, and I hadn't touched it. Madness! 
 
So what finally made me sit on my arse, eyes glued to the screen for 3 days? 
 
The Lair of the Shadow Broker. 
 
Why? 
 
Because I could continue my Shepard's relationship with Liara and stay true to her to hopefully continue it into the sequel. 
 
I don't know if thats a testament to how engrossing the story and the characters are, or to how mental I am. Either way I loved the game. It would have to be one of the best, if not the best game I've played this year -- and I've played some damn good games so far and the year has more exciting titles to come. Outside of Uncharted 2 and Heavy Rain, I've found the characters in Mass Effect 1 and 2 to be the most relatable and well developed characters in any game I've played. I truly cared about what happened to them and how they felt about my Commander Shepard. The story felt like a perfect balance of the excitement of Star Wars battles with the elaborate pseudo science of Star Trek, with a more consistently enjoyable narrative. 
 
Actually, speaking of the science of Mass Effect, the amount of work that has gone into developing this universe is astounding. Everything feels like a lot of care and thought has gone into crafting the history of the planets, races and technology in this series. Everything seems as though it could work, as though it could exist some 150 years from now, and thats no small feat on Bioware's part. 
  
By this point, the praise I'm giving this game is expected by anyone who has played it, or anyone that visits gaming websites even semi-regularly. Still I felt it worth sharing. If there is anyone that hasn't played Mass Effect 2, or even the first, I highly recommend them. If you strongly dislike Science Fiction, maybe this won't change your mind, since the story is pretty deeply rooted in that genres storytelling conventions. However if you like space adventures, with a hefty dose of sciency goodness, plus some solid third person cover-based action/RPG goodness, give these games a look.  
 
P.S. If anyone actually bothers to read this, I'd like some feedback on my writing. I'm hoping to do a bit more of it to improve my skills before I return to Universtity. Any pointers, opinions and even questions are most welcome ^_^

Must. Pre-order. Now!

I'm surprised they are doing a sequel already, but I'm looking forward to it regardless. 3 Player Coop could prove interesting.

 
I got my platinum yesterday, it was a blast playing the hell out of this game over the last few days ^_^

I have 100% for the stronghold, and my platinum trophy for this game, happy chappy at the moment ^_^.
 
 http://www.gamesradar.com/f/assassins-creed-ii-feathers-and-treasure-chests-guide/a-20091118131317820094
 
Thats a good guide for the feathers, has maps, screenshots and video walkthroughs for each district, makes it much easier to track down what you have left.

Shoot zombies in the head.

Alex Mercer from Prototype.
 
If Dane Cook is in a game, Dane Cook would be my preferred choice.