Anyways, I was originally walking in because I remembered seeing a used copy of Sacred 2 for around $30.00, which after doing some hearty research, I've come to realize it's a game that I REALLY want to play...glitches and bugs and all.  However, they sold it.  -_-  Damn.  Luckily, I had noticed a copy of Prince of Persia for $18.95 and said "dood, that's hard to pass up, and I've been talking about how I want to play it...so let's rock".

......I really did give the game a chance.  Two chances, actually.  I just couldn't get into it.  I'm not saying it's a bad game.  I'm just saying it's not for me.  I loved the trilogy, but the lack of multi-enemy combat and a general sense of "meh" while playing it just weren't boding well.  The 1v1 combat felt dull and repetitive, the lack of decent depth of field and bad camera angels...I could go into a tirade of issues that I personally have with the game, but I just don't think you'll want to read all that shit.  Plus, I need to save room for this...

Shadow Complex is a game that I'm seriously looking forward to ever since I had heard about it at E3.  I know that's not a very long time to get excited over a game, but between the use of Orson Scott Card's Empire as source material and the fact that it's a 2D side-scrolling asskicker like Metroid and Castlevania, I'm psyched.  It'll probably end up being the first Arcade game that I buy which isn't featured on a compilation disc...along with 'Splosion Man.  Nonetheless, I have this issue that some other people seem to agree on:  why the Hell is this FULL GAME at $15 only coming with 200 achievement points?  I know, I know...it's a small complaint to many that don't seem to give a shit.  However, just because YOU may not give a shit, that doesn't make it less of a problem.  It just means you don't care what the result is.  There are those of us who think that it IS a problem.  So, here's my argument, bare with me and see what you think:

Terminator Salvation is a $60 retail game that lasts around 4 to 5 hours on the hardest difficulty and comes with 1000 points for achievements.

Bionic Commando Rearmed is a $10 downloadable game that lasts 3 to 4 hours on the hardest difficulty and comes with 200 points for achievements.

Where do we draw the line?  I understand that one is a licensed property and the other is a remake.  Nonetheless, what makes a game any less full than another game?  Looking at games like Battlefield 1943, Shadow Complex, Braid, Bionic Commando Rearmed...as well as re-releases like Duke Nukem 3D, Doom, Castlevania: SOTN...

I'm just saying that it's starting to feel a little uneven for completionist gamers out there.  The main reason I bring this up is because I know damn well I'm going to buy Shadow Complex, but I'm going to be pissed when those 200 points are completed...because I will know that there should be more.

With that said, achievements update:  due to my lack of interest in Prince of Persia, I decided to pick up a game that I always wanted to play but never did - Stranglehold.  As a martial arts and Hong Kong flick enthusiast (I'm not the biggest of fans, but I know enough to hold up against other enthusiasts), I owed it to myself to finally see what John and Chow had to offer...and I like it.  Is it great?  No.  Is it fun?  Sure.  Does it have achievements?  Fuck yes.  Amazingly enough, there were actually a couple of people online the night that I started playing!!!  So I even got a couple of those rare achievements for the multiplayer.  = D  I'm going to be breaking 30K soon, but I need to figure out what game to do it with.  Anyone have suggestions?

Until next time...PIECE!!!