~Ficfactor

The wait for Nintendo to finally ship back my Wii and copy of Brawl was made significantly less interminable by my realisation that I suddenly had the free time to play the final Metal Gear Solid.

And well...

I've cleared all the MGS games and I feel I have a fairly strong grasp of the intricacies of its massively convoluted history, but even I was left lost as to what on earth was going on during some of the more left-field revelations. And my tenuous grip on the main story was weakened every time I had to take bathroom break during the ludicrously long cutscenes, like a movie villain stepping on the hero's fingers as he hangs from a cliff.

But that said, even if you feel that you're just enduring endless exposition in serious need of some ruthless editing (anyone who has sat throught the game's mission briefings will know what I'm talking about), the story, elaborately tangled as it is, in enthralling and the gameplay (which you'll almost forget is part of the package at times) is the best that this series has had to offer.

So I guess like Hideo Kojima I'm talking/writing a lot while not saying especially much, so I'll get to the point. That being the point that I'm getting to, which being the subsequent juncture of this piece is the next part I'll discuss. I'll discuss right here. Here in this next paragraph. A "paragraph" being a distinct portion of written or printed matter dealing with a particular idea, usually beginning with an indentation on a new line, which is what you'll find below. Below this line, I mean.

The game is very praiseworthy, has fantastic stealth-based gameplay (and decent action-gameplay mechanics), astonishing presentation and unsurpassed voice direction and acting in a video game. That said, I would have appreciated an option to also play with the Japanase language track. Surely a "dual-layered blu-ray disc" (shamelessly and hilariously plugged in the game) would have had enough storage space for the second audio track.

So unless you've never played the previous games (even playing MGS1 would just about suffice) or already have and know that this sort of thing isn't your particular brand of vodka, I would recommend playing this game and am also beginning to wonder at what point this journal entry morphed from a brief plaudit into me posing as a videogame reviewer? O_O

So I enjoy a tremendously fun few hours of Brawl at my mate's place, and knowing he probably likes the series even more than I do I let him hold onto it for a couple of days. That I'd be working pretty solidly over the next two evenings may have slightly played into that decision.

Anywho, I returned to collect myyyyy preciousss to find that he'd unlocked a boatload of characters and had bought his own copy. Good for him I intoned, as I had no intention of going much longer without getting some serious alone time with the Subspace Emmissary myself.

Back home I jauntily drove (can one even drive jauntily?), content in the knowledge that I'd sorted out any commitments for the next forty-eight hours, switched off my cellphone and ordered some Indian delivered as the Wii loaded the disc.

As the Wii loaded the disc...

F**K!!!!

Brawl's out in Europe! Brawl's out in Europe!

About goddamn time, but it's finally out! I'll be secluding myself with my Wii, a few GC pads and some abducted friends in a cave for a while.

When I eventually emerge from my abyssal retreat (probably sporting a Zoroaster-esque beard) I shall be tired and emaciated, and yet I imagine whole in a way I never realised I could be.

I just finished watching Death Note over two near sleepless days this past week. This pretty much sums up my experience. Why on earth had I waited so long to watch it!?