My Favorite Video Games of 2006, Part 1

Well, the time has come for my most anticipated posts of the year: My Favorite Video Games of 2006. This year I have decided not to declare a definite favorite, so the games will be in no particular order. I will be doing a short post on each one, including a picture of the cover. (as always, swiped from Gamespot.com)

Unfortunately, in 2006, I was a bit disappointed in a few of the games that I played. Not that any of them were terrible, but there are several possible reasons for that disappointment. First, I had some pretty high expectations for some of the games, some of which were not met. Second, a couple were sequels that didn't live up to their predecessors. And third, a couple were prequels to other games that I had liked that weren't as good as the ones I liked. But, I still managed to greatly enjoy myself with most of them, and I will tell you about a few of the best.

Rayman:Raving Rabbids was the first Nintendo Wii game that I got besides the Wii Sports game that came with the Wii. The Rayman series of games began on the original Sony Playstation, but has since included games for just about every console that has been made since. Rayman is a funny, ficticious little critter that has no arms, legs, or neck. Just a body, head, hands and feet.

Previous Rayman games have always had a unique, offbeat sense of humor, and Raving Rabbids is no exception. In this installment, Rayman is kidnapped by a bunch of really dumb-looking bunnies (rabbids) who force him to perform tests every day for their entertainment. There are a total of five tests for each "day", and you are required to complete at least four of them to complete that "day" in the game. If you read my earlier post about the Wii, you will remember thewide variation of odd test that you are required to take: racing on wierd animals, rescuing little pigs and returning them to their corral, shooting bunnies with plungers, keeping outhouse doors closed behind bunnies, finding and slapping the bunny in a chorus who is singing off key, and many, many more.

For each day that you are successful in completing at least four of the tests, you are rewarded with a toilet plunger. (for some reason, the bunnies have a thing for plungers) After a couple of "days", rayman realizes that he can stick them on the wall of his cell and use them as a ladder to get to the window that is high up on the wall. And, after (if I remember right) 15 "days", you earn enough plungers to climb out to your freedom.

It's not the greatest game ever, but it is very entertaining, has lots of replay and muplayer potential, and makes great use of the Wii controller's motion sensing abilities.

So, it earns a spot on my five favorite video games of 2006. What will the other four be? Stay tuned to find out......

So Many Readers, So Little To Say.....

Hi again, everyone. (both of you) It's time once again for me to satisfy your demands for more salacious (?) tabloid material about myself and my exotic little life. So, read on, and prepare to be shocked and amazed.

It's been a farly uneventful several weeks. We went to PA over New Year's, and saw all of the Graybill family, as well as most of the Peachy family at their Christmas dinner. Karissa travelled well and was pretty good at the family things, as long as no one but Renee and I held her and no one came up and tried to talk to her. I took my DS along, as I have on most of the trips we've taken since I've had it, just in case I have a few minutes to be bored, and for the first time on a trip, I actually played it while Renee put Karissa down for a nap when no one else was around. We had apretty uneventful New Year's Eve- we went to bed early in preparation for the long drive home the next day.

It's still been nice and warm, mostly, though it's getting colder and we had some snow flurries the other day. There is also "winter weather" in the forecast for tomorrow. I've taken my motorcycle out a time or two when it's been nice. I can't wait for Spring!

My leg also seems to be healing slowly. I can run on it a little if I'm careful, but it still bothers me some, especially when the weather is really cold or changes dramatically.

I have finished Psychonauts, but haven't started on another game yet. For the most part, I really enjoyed it, though I thought the final boss was way too easy. I also need to do my "Favorite Video Games of 2006" posts. I don't know if I'll pick a definite favorite this year. I think I'll just put up a short post about each one. Especially since both of my readers are such rabid video game fans. (always leave them wanting more)

I also recently saw Cars. (my parents have it) It's hilarious! As with all of the Pixar movies I've seen, it's cute, clean, funny, and family friendly. What more could you want in a movie?

It takes place in a United States populated entirely by what else- living, talking cars. It' the story of a self-absorbed, over confident, stuck-up race car named Lightning McQueen, who has just finished his last race of the season in a three-way tie for the Piston Cup. The winner will be determined by a race the next weekend in California between the three cars that tied. On the drive out there, he is accidentally rolled out of his trailer, and is lost. In trying to find his trailer, he gets off the interstate and ends up in a little town along Route 66 called Radiator Springs, tearing up the road and doing lots of damage in the process. Much to his chagrin, he is forced to repair the damage in reparation for his crimes.

While doing so, he learns to slow down and notice the beauty and other people (or cars, in this case) around him. He also meets ahost of interesting characters along the way- A tow truck named Mater (played by Larry the Cable Guy), a Porsche named Sally, an old Hudson Hornet, and an old psychadelic-painted VW van (if I remember right) that has had way too much "special organic fuel" back in the '60's, among others. There are a host of other famous voices, too- Richard Petty, Darrel Waltrip, Bob Costas, Owen Wilson, Jay Leno, Paul Newman, Click and Clack, the Tappet brothers (from Car Talk), and a few more I can't remember. A great movie!

Karissa is almost nine months old now, and since she can now crawl, gets into everything she can. She particularly likes cat food, trash cans, and Daddy's guitars and amp. (I bet she'll be a great guitarist someday, since she's starting this early) She does like toys, too, but she never stays with one for any length of time.

Oh, well. That's all of the random topics I could think of to post about for now. Is that enough gossip material for all of you?

Until next time....