2010 update/news/what I've been up to

I've been playing Bayonetta recently. This is the first action game I've played in a long time, and I'm enjoying the focus on reaction times and coordination. I've been working on a guide for it with video that can be found here: http://db.gamefaqs.com/console/xbox360/file/bayonetta_b.txt

I got into Super Robot Wars Z a little bit. It's a great SRPG but it will never see the light of day in english so I've started learning the Japanese menu commands (I won't ever bother learning anything beyond menus and skill/pilot names, though). I'm tired of leaving great games like this by the wayside just because they are in another language.

I've played Mushihime-sama Futari a bit. This is a shmup import for 360 that is region free. It's one of the best (and most difficult) shmups ever. This game makes me realize how low my skills are when it comes to shooting/action/realtime games. You could devote a year to this game and not crack the top 10 global high score list.

I've completed the Military Madness remake on PS3. It's a decent game, but mostly felt like an Advance Wars lite. None of it was particularly challenging, but if you are desperate for an SRPG then give it a try. Unfortunately it seems SRPGs are going extinct on modern consoles, and I imagine they will go extinct on handhelds as well once those increase in processing power.

The next game I'm looking forward to is End of Eternity/Resonance of Fate. This looks to be a good, challenging, strategic game from tri-ace, much like Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume was. There will be the option to replay the game successively, with each playthrough increasing enemy stats. If the demo which can be replayed 10 times is any indication, the game may become quite difficult. Final Fantasy XIII is coming out on the same day but I'd rather play Resonance of Fate. FFXIII is an easy game and apparently you have to do some brain melting farming for random drops post-game, which I abhor.

SRPGs in 2010:

There's Valkyria Chronicles 2, which I hear from import reports is easy and imbalanced.
R-Type Tactics II hasn't been announced and all we can do is pray that Atlus, Xseed, or Aksys brings it over.
Record of Agarest War is coming for 360 and PS3, but it's a second rate Idea Factory SRPG with slow and boring combat, much like Spectral Force 3, which is currently haunting bargain bins across North America.
I predict a new Fire Emblem will be announced for Wii this year, although it won't be out in NA until 2011.
Sakura Wars V is coming to NA, which is sort of a Valkyria Chronicles lite - I'm not exactly sure how much SRPG is actually in this game.

That's it so far this year that I know of. Kind of sad, but wait for E3 or TGS or whatever show they stuff a bunch of sweaty nerds into while pretending to be an all night rave.