Castlevania - mirror of fate (3DS)
6/10 - 88% complete 9hrs

Nice graphics, if a bit heavy on the purple, very Castlevania in play style, but far to short. With the plots swapping between the three characters it means each story is very very quick to play with little replay value. Once a new skill has been learnt, you may as well stop using the old ones as the design team did!

the map doesn't carry over between stories, resulting in a lot of backtracking and

With no power boosts, you might just be playing a cheap Gothic beat-em up. nearly every monster and boss can be beaten with button mashing.

It fills in a nice bit of background on the history of the Belmont's, but its not worth getting at full price - if you see a cheap second hand copy tho grab it.

(I did laugh at the Luigi cameo)

Pokemon Mystery Dungeons - Gates to infinity
5/10 ( total play time inc Magnagates in the Demo 22hrs)

Main complaint - a complete lack of game - the improved graphics and pointless 3D have been push to the top of the development pile at the expense of the rest of the game. The main story line is extremely linear, and forced on you. There is little chance for exploring, - previous games had engaging plots with lots to do and several twists, opening new areas and quest- here new dungeons just pop up with no explanation, and you can only do one mission per day per dungeon, making it very tedious to play; take quest - get to level 4/5/6 - collect widget -return - enforced sleep - repeat until the game forces a dream sequence or plot map on you ever 4/5 missions.


I got very attached to my team - Gygax the Axew and Ooshy the Oshawott, I like the new combat/ powers mechanism, makes is much quicker and easier to hop between effective attacks and buffs. Its a shame there's such a limit selection of Pokemon starters compared to red/blue and sky/time/dark. There was something very fun and innocent about the Pokemon personality test, and other than Axew none of the gen5 starters really grab me.

 The building up of Paradise is clever, and I had great fun with the Beartic Hockey and Salvage Treasure but with the lack of grinding until after the main plot, means that once again the game is dictating your play speed. The removal of wondermail codes is also a sour note - i get that people may have been using them to make the game easier/ throw out the balance, but its a single player game! if that's how they want to play, that up to them.

I really really want to like this, I love the style, the new battle features but I just can't - its very slick, but theres very little substance to it. hopefully some of the DLC will add a new story, even just a tiny one would do!

ok - what I have I been up to this week?

my last essay and literature review are done. 2 exams at the end of the month - one seen, one sort of seen (I know what topics and the basic format of the question, but not the specifics)

My asparagus plants have come back - I have a really good weeding session and cleared back all the grass that was encroaching, and I think I'll get a small, healthy crop - its onlt year 2 so I won't take to much.

 The garlic looks and smells amazing, and my rhubarbs are huge. Storm's man from 2 plots over was quite envious. It tastes good too - we had crumble for tea, I stewed it with vanilla, orange juice and raisins.

turnips are looking good, carrot I think are growing, and I still have a set of onions to plant, but Its been really rainy the last day or so.

nest installment - a review of Castlevania on the 3DS I think

I know, I know, I really should update more often! As soon as I finish Uni (1 essay 2exams!) I will try to do a bloggy thing at least once a week.

Anyway, knitting and spinning have been a bit slow after I took a bad fall in the rain. I'm job
hunting, so if anyone knows of places looking for graduates could they point them out to me!

On the job front an anti-bully/anti-discrimination group Gamers Against Bigotry, that I volunteer for, looking for interns in Austin, Texas. If I was any closer (ie actually in the USA) I'd be all over this myself! The guys in charge are lovely, and its a chance to do something good!


The allotment is looking pretty empty due to the cold weather, but I have got lots of lovely garlic growing. I actually pulled a couple of piece up as the were getting crowded and used them as wet garlic. I think I have some yellow and pink carrot sprouting, and the mini green house is full of bean, tomato and cucurbit seeds.