I Suppose It Was Inevitable...

... that Gran Turismo 5 would be delayed again. But, word is, it is. Of course, the date was only really announced for Japan, and rumors are that the delay is for a simultaneous world-wide release. However, the realist in me has to be prepared for the worst -- that GT5 is simply a ploy to get people to buy PS3s, and that the game is not in any way real.

Going on Four Years with Company of Heroes

Company of Heroes is one of those games that just hasn't stopped being fun. Given that it has a great multiplayer component, and the folks I play with are generally pretty good and affable chaps, it's no surprise I keep coming back to it. Also, it puts a huge stupid grin on my face.

Had a match last night, a 2v2 with the humans as the Allies. I was the British and just let loose with some crazy artillery barrages. In particular, this AT squad met with an unfortunate end.


These guys are doomed.


Told you.

Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver Get US Release Dates

Never much of a mystery, it was sure that the US versions of Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver would get a March-ish release. However, that's now been confirmed, and both will be available on March 14th. I can say with only a small amout of schoolboy shame that I will be buying both copies -- and taking for myself which my son doesn't want.

Assassin's Creed Complete

Finished up the story mode of Assassin's Creed last night. Managed to collect up all the hidden fragments as well. I really liked the ending, and events leading up to it. Little echoes of the first game, in how Ezio approaches the final fight. The ending added a lot to the fiction of the world, and really gets me excited for the end of the trilogy. There are a few ways they can go with this, and all could be cool. Also, the game had one of the best end credits sequences ever.

Music in Games: Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together

The games I've been into lately, and many in the past, have had such a great collection of music. LittleBigPlanet sports such a great set of licensed music that make it a joy to leap around playful environments. Assassin's Creed, which of course I've been into a lot recently, has some incredible original music by Jesper Kyd. Since so many games I've been playing recently have great music, I've been collecting tracks from soundtracks included with games (like Dragon Age), free downloads from the creator (Kyle Gabler), or via the Amazon MP3 store (which has great selection and no useless DRM). So I wanted to share some of my favorites below. Which games do you think have had great music, original or licensed?

My current list:

1. Sia - Breathe Me (Prince of Persia)
2. Lisa Miskovsky - Still Alive (Mirror's Edge)
3. Jesper Kyd - Venice Roofops (Assassin's Creed II)
4. The Daniel Pemberton Orchestra - Rock The Jungle (LittleBigPlanet)
5. The Go! Team - Get It Together (LittleBigPlanet)
6. Christopher Tin - Baba Yet (Civilization IV)
7. Jeremy Soule - Land of the Golden Sun (Guild Wars)
8. Jeremy Soule - Festival of Lyss (Guild Wars)
9. Jeremy Soule - Guild Wars Theme
10. Inon Zur - Dragon Age: Origins Theme
11. 30 Seconds to Mars - This is War (Dragon Age: Origins)
12. 30 Seconds to Mars - 100 Suns (Dragon Age: Origins)
13. Cafe Tacvba - Volver A Comenzar (LittleBigPlanet)
14. Kinky - Cornman (LittleBigPlanet)
15. Kyle Gabler - Best of Times (World of Goo)
16. Shira Kanmen - Downstream (Braid)
17. Jami Sieber - Maenam (Braid)

New Info for Gran Turismo 5

With the announcement of the official cover to Gran Turismo 5, more details are coming to light from various sources. GT Planet has uncovered more details about game modes and features, including environmental factors like night racing and weather, as well as game modes and cars relating to Indy Racing League and NASCAR. Now that the cover has been teased, the game should be right around the corner, or as my wife says, "Just a couple more years!"

Restoring the Family Lands in Assassin's Creed II

Having just a ton of fun with Assassin's Creed II. There's always something new and interesting to do. The story missions have been a great source of entertainment, and the story that takes you from city to flooded city is full of action, romance, mystery, and more than a few laughs. I've made it maybe halfway through, and the mystery is really heating up, providing more backstory into Desmond's ancestry and the ancient conflict between Templar and Assassin.

However, probably the most fun I've had is filling up the family estates with an incredible amount of collectibles. The Villa Auditore at Monteriggioni holds all the paintings, codex pages, feathers, seals, weapons, and armor that you collect throughout the world. They're all rewarding, especially the art gallery, where you can browse through the Renaissance artwork you purchase and collect in your dealings. The status of the estates provide a valuable mark against you can gauge your progress within the game, and gives a great deal of satisfaction when you can cross something off your list. It's one of my favorite parts of a nearly flawless game.