It's-a me, Ezio!

Hey, long time no see

So I've recently found Chip & Ironicus' LP website, and watched much of their MGS2 playthrough up to where they've currently stopped. And I have probably never laughed so much watching an LP. They have now set a new benchmark for how I should do my own LPs, although I know I'll probably never reach their level.

However, it has already had an effect on how I play games. While they're pissing about making guards dance and strutting a pump, I've been playing Assassin's Creed II, which I've become horribly addicted to. In a game which is essentially MGS meets GTA infused with the DNA of the Da Vinci Code, you can forgive me for letting their attitude to playing seep through to my own style of play.

I suddenly find great enjoyment in talking to the guards as I sneak past them. I can't help but laugh at such ludicrous situations as carrying a dead guard across a huge crowd of people just to throw him in a haystack, AND NO ONE BATS AN EYELID. I suddenly have gained a grand new insight in just how fun sneaking around like Batman crossed with a ninja really can be.

Of course, it helps that AC2 is a massive improvement over its predecessor. I've been enjoying every minute of it. The world feels more alive than the Medieval Middle East. The story is so much more interesting, since it looks at Ezio's life and his motivations for becoming an assassin, rather than just "here's a list of people to kill, go kill them". Also, those "truth" sections are highly gripping in a very strange way. I don't know why, but I love them. Maybe it appeals to the puzzle lover in me, and my perverse interest in conspiracy theories (which I never believe in, I just find them fascinating to read about). And the gameplay has very few of the flaws the first game did. OK, sometimes the jumpy bits are still a little awkward (due to the semi-automatic directional system), but it's bareable.

Also, DANNY WALLACE! I've been a fan of Mr Wallace since I read his utterly brilliant book Yes Man a few years back, as well as the book he co-wrote with Dave Gorman in which they travelled the world looking for men with the same name as the latter. The man is hilarious, and weird in a wonderful way, so to have him offering advice and information on your targets is a massive plus for me. Yes, that alone is enough to elevate the sequel over the original. Weird? Maybe. But I don't care.

Apparently I get to go flying soon. This should be fun. (Also: not a spoiler, it's shown on the back of the game box and mentioned in the trophies, so there :p)

I've also been playing Resident Evil Code Veronica X, as well as Super Mario 64, two games I've yet to complete after all these years. I have very little to say on either right now, though, other than Resi always confuses me and Mario feels a little dated now, but is still good.

And that is all for now. Go away.