About this girl named Rena Lanford.

re: Star Ocean: Second Evolution
        PSP • USA RELEASE
        play time: 17:13

Okay, so Star Ocean 2 is a game where you have two main characters. And this game is unique in the fact that you can choose either one of those two main characters to follow in the story. You still end up with the two of them as your main, but you see one person's point of view throughout the adventure. You can choose between Claude C. Kenny, a human boy who is also the son of two of the main characters in the first Star Ocean game, or you can choose Rena Lanford, a girl who lives on the planet this story takes place on. I wanted to recruit this good looking character, and you can only do that while playing Rena's storyline, and so that's who I chose.

Let me explain my issue with Rena. My dad played Claude's side of Star Ocean 2 and thought she was a pretty decent girl, and so when I started playing the game, I was expecting to come to the same conclusion, as I have a hefty amount of respect for my father's opinions. However, I've come to realize that in Claude's game, which is all from Claude's point of view, you see Rena in rose-tinted glasses, as he very quickly (Titanic quickly) falls in love with her and can see her do no wrong.

But Tri-Ace is trying very hard, far too hard to make you like this girl. Everything she says, everything she does, is an attempt to make you think she's God, that she's the light of everyone's life and without her, you would be lost, with nowhere to go, and this game would have no reason to exist. I recently just finished watching a 45 minute long story scene where I was basically told about (there are spoilers, but really, it's not that much) this planet called Nede. It's an amazing planet full of Ultra Super Special people who are Ultra Super Special, Amazing, All Powerful, Geniuses, Ultra Highly Advanced, and Can Rule The Galaxy If They Wanted. They live in a utopian society, are peace loving people, but so technologically advanced that if they put their minds to it, they could take over the universe and rule it at their fingertips. In fact, they DO rule the galaxy, but no, not with an Iron Fist, they RULE IT THROUGH TRADE (I'll give you a few seconds to think over how stupid that sounds) and PEACEFUL NEGOTIATIONS.

Unfortunately, even in this Ultra Super Special Utopian Society Of Amazing Ultra Super Special People, there were still some Evil People, come to be known as the Ten Wise Men (I think their definition of "wise" needs looking at), and these Ten Wise Men wanted to rule the galaxy with an iron fist. They tried to destroy the Ultra Super Special Nedians who fought back with all their might, and in the end managed to seal the Ten Wise Men away into a prison that had no exit (lo-and-behold, at this point of the game they've managed to escape (probably through the entrance /shot/), and are back to take over the universe again). But this epic battle against the Ten Wise Men made the Ultra Super Special Nedians realize just how much power they had at their fingertips, and they were horrified that if one day something happened, they could turn the entire universe into a war zone because of all their Ultimate Most Advanced Technology and Magic and Science In The Universe.

I am not joking, it was like 20 minutes of "we are the best" info dump. But NO, WE'RE NOT FINISHED YET, realizing just how much power the Nedians wielded (peacefully, mind you), they decided that they would seal themselves away and destroy their own planet, and relocate to a bubble of power called Energy Nede. And they all came to this unanimous decision because they're Ultra Super Special, Selfless, and JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

AND GUESS WHAT?! RENA IS A NEDIAN. SHE IS ALSO ULTRA SUPER SPECIAL BECAUSE SHE BELONGS TO THIS RACE OF ULTRA SUPER SPECIAL PEOPLE. It's absolutely ridiculous. Like her!, Tri-Ace begs us, Isn't She Amazing?! She's the coolest heroine ever! You'll never see someone more amazing!

Throughout the entire game this Rena girl SAYS things. It's like oh, Claude (who I think is pretty human (well, he is Human, he's from Earth), and actually a really nice guy and I'd REALLY prefer to be playing his game if it weren't for Dias) isn't really that great. Claude has less patience, Claude should be happy I like him, etc., etc., etc. Like, there's this one kid in the game named Leon, he's a child genius and can only be recruited in Claude's game (and I don't like him really), and he's kind of a total brat. Every time he shows up in a scene, he says something that belittles others or is really arrogant, and is totally thankless when the group saves his life while he's on a mission to get something that he can "do by himself in two days and has to babysit the group for." Well, Claude gets annoyed and says out loud, "What a brat!" And you know what Rena says? Pure, patient, darling Rena, "Oh, I think he's kind of cute!" It's TELLING ME, "Look at this girl, she likes little kids. She's so patient even though he doesn't deserve it, and Claude just gets mad. He's not as good. Don't you like her yet?"

NO, NO I DON'T LIKE HER. The more she does this, the more I dislike her. I don't think I've EVER disliked a main character this much. Before I said not since Gon, but she goes WAY past how much I dislike Gon. She's HORRIBLE. I just want her to DIE.

AGHHHHH.

Aside from that though, the story is fairly interesting, the game is more difficult than Star Ocean 1 was, and I think aside from Leon and Rena (!!!!!! AGH), I like all the characters. Production I.G. has done a really good job with cut scenes and character animations, and overall I like this game. It's just, Rena is making playing it really, really hard.

(Btw, EVERY character likes her. EVERY boy likes her. EVERYONE thinks she's cute. A LOT OF PEOPLE WONDER IF SHE'S HAVING SEX WITH WHATEVER BOY CHARACTER SHE'S TRAVELING WITH. AGHHHHH.)

re: Patapon
        PSP • USA RELEASE
        play time: 1:17

Contrary to my irritation with Star Ocean 2, I'm finding myself really pleased and amused by Patapon. It's really different from any rhythm game I've ever played, and really innovative. If by innovative you mean the person who came up with it was probably smoking something, but it really works.

It's a little war game where you use rhythms and drum beats in order to do things like advance and attack. Yes, advance, and attack. You control a little army and you're on a quest to go back to your homeland and you have to do things like hunt and fight wars and it's just absolutely adorable. It's also not very easy, but after you figure it out it's fairly intuitive. (Even if I do completely SUCK at it.)

So far though it's tons of fun. I can see why it won Game of the Year last year. :D I might even consider playing #2 after I finish this one if I like it enough. (My dad and I weren't going to do that cause you have to download data. Do not want.)