Hey, Philip! I'm glad that you decided to settle on Pixlbit with the rest of us. This place has the nice community-focused orientation that we enjoyed over at 1up, so the stuff we post won't get lost in the shuffle.
It happens. As much as we would like to read and comment on everything that is happening, we have other high-priority responsibilities. Even for myself, I've just been reading a ton of stuff, but I couldn't comment on much of anything (until today, that is).
Anyway, Mad Maestro!. It's funny that you mention how many chances you've had over the years to buy it. That game has been sitting on the shelf at my local FYE for years now. Nobody in my region seems to want it, even after being put through dozens of clearance sales. That said, indecision like that has hit me hard over the years and I can kick myself over all the charming (and inexpensive) games I've left behind.
Finally, I'm glad to see that you'll be reposting your old reviews. I don't know how much longer 1up will be active, so at least I'll be able to read the rest of them here.
I don't need to see that picture right now. I bought Circle of the Moon at launch with my GBA, and I played it to death (crappy lighting and all). Just seeing that image is digging up memories of me putting together an enemy drop table, as well as the enjoyment I got out of the game's arranged soundtrack. It makes me want to put aside what I'm playing right now in favor of some CoM!
That said, I really liked the dual card system. I know quite a few gamers were grumpy with it in the past, especially coming off of the equipment splendor of Symphony of the Night. But, each ability had a specific use which made each combination important.
As for getting a good controller to play these games, if you happen to own any PS2 controllers you can buy a converter that allows you to use that.
Finally, I'm guessing those previous copies of HoD just needed a little cleaning. Unless they were submerged, of course, which puts them beyond rescue.
I don't know what happened with Giant Bomb. I used to post there back in 2009, and it seemed to be a normal place. Then again, I didn't interact all that much with the community and opted to write reviews and perform page edits. When I went back there recently I felt uneasy with the community. It was rowdy and I was in no mood to put up with it. And forget about GameSpot; I'm never going back there again. That's where I was before I went to 1up in 2008 and I just want to forget about it.
Anyway, I'll be staying here myself for as long as possible, too.
It's difficult to draw that line in the sand and say no more. You have to be mentally prepared for that, to know exactly what it is you're giving up. You know that Metal Gear is going to continue on, and I can only imagine how bittersweet it will be for you to let it go. Still, I understand why this needs to be done. It's something that I've thought about myself, and there's a good chance I might be joining you on that course of action.
Anyway, coming back to the here and now, I still need to get the HD collection. I only have two games from the series in my library (the first on the NES and Twin Snakes on the GameCube) and I really want to play more of the series, especially the original MSX games that are on the HD set. I also want it for Peace Walker as another game to play online.
That said, I wasn't able to appreciate Metal Gear Solid the first time around (even though I went and bought all the action figures!). I played and completed it, but that was about it. I was playing through games at a rapid pace back then, and short games came and went in an instant. I'm glad that I bought the Twin Snakes, though, because it gave me another opportunity to spend quality time with the game and the series.
I tried to give this game a fair shake, but I couldn't get into it (just like Thunder Force V, which is also on the PS1). The shifting camera angle sabotaged my ability to play Einhander effectively, as I had a hard time picking out threats and dodging projectiles. Perhaps if the game was remade Square could go back and fix the field of depth to make it easier to track enemies and projectiles. Then again, a visual overhaul with proper shading would probably fix that (as it would be easier to judge foreground and background objects).
I'm interested in reading that Jeanne D'Arc review of yours. I've owned that game for years (bought it for $9 when it was on clearance), but have only played it for a few minutes. Also, you should play through Maverick Hunter X; it's relatively short and it offers a very different experience than Powered Up.
As for Vanquish, I wish I could get my hands on a copy of that game. I've been itching to play something difficult and I've heard that game puts up a stiff challenge (especially in the extra modes). So, you might as well give that game a try, too, considering it comes highly recommended.
The same thing happened to me at the start of 2011. I was just buying and neglecting too many of my games and I had to put a stop to it. I know that some of us like to collect games and enjoy that just as much as playing them, but I didn't like that I was buying so much, quickly running off to buy more, and rarely returning to play the old stuff. So, 2012 was my last year of major purchases. I'll buy a Game Boy game here and there, but it's going to be while before I buy something as lengthy and content-rich as an rpg.
That said, there's two things you can do. The first is to stop buying new (or old) games and focus on what you already have. Perhaps play through a set number of games and reward yourself after you've complete a few. Second, you could just ignore that you have a backlog and just enjoy whatever it is you're doing at the moment.
Finally, the whole backlog situation really isn't a problem. It's better to have than have not, which will keep you well protected if you ever stop buying games or if the industry veers far from your interests.
Square-Enix would do well to bring Bravely Defaul over here. With the recent success of Fire Emblem, and now Etrian Odyssey IV, on the 3DS, it shows that the market is there and ready for these games. That said, I need to take a sweep around the video sites to see how the gameplay turned out. If that looks good, then I'll be upset if we don't see this game released in the West.
This is the way it's going to be now, especially for PS3 owners. Warriors Orochi 3, One Piece, Dynasty Warriors 7: Empires, Ken's Rage 2. They're all going digital and if you want the physical copy you'll have to import it from Europe (or buy the 360 version in the US, if it exists). I've basically given up on the series at this point. If KOEI doesn't want to wrestle with Sony and fight for the right to release the games on disc over here, there's nothing I can do to support them. The file size for these games are too large and disk space is tight for me, and I have no interest in paying disc-based prices for digital goods.
That said, I'm fairly certain we'll get Dynasty Warriors 8 over here. You just have to give it a few more months to hear an announcement (we just got Empires, after all).
