My few weeks of graft are over. I'm pretty tired and looking forward to my impending time off next week. Feels like I've been gone a month, mainly because I've worked a month's hours in two weeks. Figures.

Whilst I was there I managed to finish TWEWY in the not so early hours of July 3rd (like 5am), did about 12hrs of SSBB and unlocked many characters, trophies, stickers etc etc. Bought FFTA2:GOTR and did about 8hrs of it, plus I acquired Diary of The Dead, and Bleach Series 2 Vol 1 on DVD. Also, I got home to find another kitten! Do these things multiply when they get wet? This one's a little ginger 'un, and incredibly cute. There will be some pics next week hopefully in my time off. They're growing up quick, they won't be little for long!

Next week, I will be mostly playing DQVII, and here's a preliminary kitty pic:

Next week I was going to have a week off, and finally, after over a year, an Internet connection again. That changed a little bit, I now have no week off, but two weeks away from everyone in sunny/rainy lincolnshire in favour of staying in the capital of the country. Not a holiday though, but graft. Hard graft. Should be good though, and certainly a change of pace. I hope there are some good curry houses in the vicinity of where I'm staying too. I've no idea just how busy I'll be yet, but I really hope the TV in my hotel room has a scart socket, or at least AV sockets, as I've got my Wii and SSBB with me (there'd better be a TV!)...

So, no new reviews on my website next week. No new fanzine being written, and probably no ability to do much in the way of net based activities. One day, I reckon I'll do all the stuff I consistently claim I'll do, and that will be a grand day. Until then, just have a guess at what I might have reviewed or written about on www.extra-life.co.uk.

Ta ra.

In what seems to be an effort to remain untraceable and out of the eyes of the authorities and identity thieves alike, I have just moved house for what is now the 5th time in just two and a half years! Now, the pre-school mathematicians amongst you will have worked out that is one move every six months. Once every six months... That's just too much. It is fair to say I'm getting absolutely sick to death of moving house, but I think that this time we'll stay put for a little longer, mainly because the house was bought, not rented (not by me though). Nevertheless, long time readers of this blog who are aware that I am averse to the words 'Paste' and 'Ticket', can now add 'Packing' to that repertoire. Three words in the English language that I now try my best to stay away from, and believe me when I say it's difficult to avoid 'Paste' when I'm putting together my fanzine in photoshop...

But, the house! It's a good house. It is the first time I've moved into a detached house (parent's houses notwithstanding), and the most important part is that I now have a Dedicated Gaming Room (DGR). Not like the 'Gaming Attic' in my previous abode which was a smart room, but a little on the pokey side and as such I couldn't keep half of my games in there. No, in the DGR there is room for ALL! All 600 or so of my games, all consoles, all Manga, Anime, Gaming Peripherals, PC, CDs. It looks a little like a smaller version of the Genshiken common room on one side, just a wall of media. I also have on good authority that as of June 30th I'll also have the Internet back once again, which of course means I then have access to pron. Sorry, I meant Xbox Live, yeah, and maybe my Arcade games will work again. I even have a week off then too, so maybe I'll finally get some things added to my poor neglected website (because I had no 'net, no other reason) and get a review or eight up (The World Ends With You, Ninja Gaiden II, Beautiful Katamari and Naruto Rise of a Ninja should get up there among other games).

Finally, my Kitten, Kiki, has now reached the age where she fights (plays) with everything, including cats 5 times her size! I'll get a pic of her up here at some point.

And don't be clever by saying 'I don't'!

Ninja Gaiden II is here, and I'm glad I've played it before reading any reviews. I hate when you look forward to a game, see a review that is't quite what you perhaps expected and in many ways, it puts you off fully getting into the game. I've been waiting for Ninja Gaiden II for long before it was announced. I needed Ninja Gaiden II, and not too long ago I read some previews that mentioned something of an untoward camera. Bit worrying, but because I wanted the game so much, I cut myself off from any more info on it, got and have so far played up to about half way through the 3rd mission (set in Manhattan, and it looks like the Cloverfield monster got there first).

I love this game! Its excellent, just what I needed on 360. Brutally violent (but OTT enough to not be gratuitous), mouth watering weapons, silky smooth action, beautiful, and so far at least, a decent camera (and you've quite a bit of control over it anyway). One thing, it's a bit easier than I expected. The first boss was as far removed from the first boss of the Xbox game as could be. It literally took me seconds to take out, which was a bit disappointing, but I suppose it was addressing the fact that many players (including some I know) never made it passed Ninja Gaiden's first boss. Fortunately, the second boss, a clash with the demonic Genshin, is much more attuned to the familiar Ninja Gaiden level of difficulty that ninjaphiles have come to know and love. After this weekend I won't have much time to play it until the end of the month (more week off-age ahoy!), but rest assured that this game will garner a lengthy review on my website. I can't wait to see the rest of it. I wonder how Team Ninja will perform in future NG games without Itagaki...

Tales of Legendia - Still only about 5hrs into it.

Tales of the Abyss - 26hrs played.

Tales of Destiny - 23hrs played

Tales of Destiny Director's Cut - 5hrs played.

Tales of Destiny 2 - 4hrs played.

Odin Sphere - still had no chance to play.

Tales of Rebirth - 6hrs in.

Dragon Warrior VII - 15hrs played.

Beautiful Katamari - Complete!

Mystery Dungeon Shiren the Wanderer - Complete! (and reviewed on my website)

Tales of Innocence - 20hrs played (need more than an hour to do the next bit, difficult to find that hour)

Tales of Eternia - 20hrs played, currently power levelling.

Star Ocean 2 - 5hrs played.

So, as you might have guessed my Tales fanzine is edging towards the point where I'll hopefully soon be able to start reviewing things and get on with it in force.

Also, I'm moving house in the next week or so, so gaming time just took a dip. Bah.

Finally, I'm getting road rage. I'm getting very angry at people who refuse to drive at any other speed than 50mph. In a 30, 40, 60 or 70, or even through a red light. It is always 50mph. Is it a Lincoln thing?

Just how good is 'The World Ends With You'? It's a rhetorical question of course, I'm playing it, and its the most refreshing DS game I've played in ages (and I enjoy many a DS game).

It might be somewhat convoluted and feature way to many concepts to be fully comprehensible, but this is the game keeps on giving. The story is expertly told, and not for a long time have I been so excited to find out what happens next. It's like my favourite anime/manga serie, but with interactivity. Brilliant characters, even if they are built upon characters I've seen before, they grow out of the stereotypes to become people I really want to see more of. This game drips of quality, the character design, the stylized take on Shibuya, the astounding soundtrack (I can't stop listening to 'Calling'), not to mention the brilliantly crafted story that resembles a cross between Gantz and Battle Royale. This game is going to get one heckuva good review! And FLCL_Neku, your avatar is awesome

Also, I passed my Driving Test today, 3 minors. The confines of Britain are my oyster (no passport -_-;; ).