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I’m still in the early hours of GTA IV: The Lost and Damned. There are noticeable problems, and the “biker gang” mechanic feels a little bit like a concept cooked up early on that never really works out properly in actual execution — the driving is too erratic for the gang to ride in a coherent formation. Despite these issues, it’s still Grand Theft Auto, and it’s still amazing.

I was reminded why I love the series when, after a shootout with the police, I was one bullet away from death and yet managed to scale walls, run through industrial yards, and eventually escape by hiding under a bridge. I’m back, Liberty City.

For my tastes, the last 10 days or so have been far more exciting than any single week last fall. Street Fighter 4, GTA IV: The Lost and Damned, Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection, Flower, Noby Noby Boy, and Retro Game Challenge have all entered my library. We talked on a recent episode of FWR about the usual spring game drought –  a concept that seems pretty ridiculous as, in the middle of February, we’ve been served a release schedule that looks like it was taken straight from November. It’s about time.

There are many things I like about Street Fighter 4, however the inclusion of dialogue related to the “controversy” over whether or not Chun Li’s thighs are too big is not one of them. I was defeated by Rufus who made a point to criticize my “hamhocks” and “mad cankles” after the round was over. Chun Li has always been a strong character. Do people really expect her to look like effing Twiggy? Can we please get over at least a LITTLE bit of this body image bullshit once in a while? Chun Li kicks ass. Get used to it.

Just unlocked Robot Ninja Haggleman 2 in Retro Game Challenge. It’s similar to Mega Man in its jump-and-shoot mechanics, with some Super Mario Bros. head-stomping and a weird puzzle-game-combat element that I can’t really find a paralell for offhand. In short, an excellent puzzle platformer with beautiful music and sound effects, rendered in 8-bit graphics. *sigh*

Thank you.

Alright. I don’t think people should steal games, but I do hate the thought of much of the culture being lost due to its commercial impotence. How else am I supposed to play the legendarily bad Atari 2600 molestation of Pac-Man? I think I’ll work up something longer on this eventually, but Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection got me thinking about it. I have all of the titles on that disc through emulators of some sort, but I am still happy to pay new money for the work that went into the games. Until we have more and more accessible archives of gaming culture, the responsibility for archivism falls on the individual. So nab some old roms and let’s get archiving. Give companies that make quality games in the current era their due reward. By the time these games are no longer commercially accessible your local library will probably have a copy.

These are screens from the sequel to Retro Game Challenge, which we will only get if you purchase the one that released last week. I don’t ordinarily push games like this, but I am totally in love with the first. It captures my nostalgia while offering classic game types that are informed by the changes in gaming between now and then. My favorite so far is top-down shooter, Star Prince. I’ve always been a sucker for a good top-down shooter.

I pulled down my copy of the Metal Slug Anthology for PSP today after listening to the 02/12/09 Retronauts podcast. I agree with the hosts that the loading times are ridiculous, but it’s still a great game. I NEVER played any of these games before I picked up this anthology a year or so ago, and I would recommend any fan of the Contra series try it. I am terribly glad that Retronauts survived the 1UP sale. I don’t know what I would do without my retro gaming news. As a side note, IGN’s Retrocity takes a different but also enjoyable regular look at retro games. If anyone knows of good retro games podcasts, I am always looking for more.