I never mentioned this but about a week ago my gerbils escaped.... AGAIN. (2nd time) This time I really lost hope, cos' I couldn't see them. I had an idea where they might be but it's impossible for me to reach them where I thought they were hiding. So I placed some food out, just so that they could last at least a few more days.

The next day, I woke up and went to the bathroom, and when I got out, I saw Dante (the brown one) right close to me outside my room door. I tried to be patient and catch him when he's closer but he ran away. I chaaaased him down and fortunately he didn't run into some corner I couldn't reach, and then I finally caught him. That alone I thought was a miracle. So the only one left is Vergil (yellow gerbil). I saw him once in the kitchen but he ran away and hid behind the dryer as soon as he saw me, as usual. It's impossible for me to catch him when he's behind the dryer, or the washing machine, or the stove, so I could only wait, but he's not gonna come out until I'm gone, so I left him for the day. I even placed water out for him this time, considering he doesn't spill it.

I didn't see him for a few days after that. I thought I 'locked' him in the corner behind the dryer since I closed all the exits using wooden boards and boxes and such, but after 2 days I realized the food was untouched and I finally peeked behind the dryer to find that he's NOT there! And so I lost hope. I assumed he was somewhere else in the house and that's he's prolly gonna die, cos' I'll never be able to find him. But guess what happened today...?

I came back home and heard some rustling sounds from a paper bag that's placed close to the gerbil cage. I looked inside and there he was O_o''' The paper bag was placed right up, not lying down. I don't know how he could have gotten in there and get himself caught. O_o If the paper bag was lying down to begin with, it's impossible that a gerbil would have the strength to push the bag back up from the inside. Plus, even if it had the strength to do so, it could then very easily push it back down, but it was stuck in it. And because of that I 'caught' him... without even having to catch him for real myself. O_o'' How could that have happened then?

I thought it could have been my roommate. She's just back from Korea and I thought maybe she found it and put it in the bag. I didn't think she'd touch them so I thought maybe she didn't want to put it back in the cage herself. But when she came home and I asked, she said it wasn't her. So if it wasn't me, and it wasn't her, then who was it?!! It couldn't have been my sister... could it? O_o' Ci wei, you didn't come to my place and catch my gerbil for me did u? LOL Plus, there's no reason why you'd be at my place... and you won't ever want to touch my gerbil. And it couldn't have been my manager cos' he NEVER comes into the house without telling me in advance.

And so that led me thinking... was it Vincent...? O_o...... Vincent... the ghost in my dream. Ever since my sister told me the story about her best friend's daughter who could see spirits, and ever since that weird ghost dream of mine... I kept thinking I have a spirit with me in the house. I don't really believe in ghosts but I guess my scaredy personality makes me think of that. Of course I'd wish never to be able to see any spirit of any kind, and that I'll never have to hear any weird noises or stuff to prove that there really is a spirit or some sort beside me, cos' I highly believe in the wonderful phrase - ignorance is bliss.

So, fortunately, in some mysterious way I got caught Vergil and he's well and alive back in his cage. That saved me an ass lot of trouble. It'd have been impossible for me to catch Vergil a 2nd time... >_<!! Oh well.. whoever or whatever it was and however it happened... I'm grateful for it. *Bows*

By the way, for those interested, enjoy the holy sweetness of Devil May Cry 4. I know this is not an awesome quality 'footage', but this is how IGN and people of that department get their stuff... by 'secretly shooting'. =) So forgive them and just be glad you have something new to see. And if you really really can't stand the quality, go watch a high quality one at Capcom's DMC4 site.

I got a few comments after watching this vid. 1) SSWEEEEEEETTT!! 2) Wicked graphics!! 3) Fuckin' kewl gameplay!! 4) Godly muzak!!! 5) Interesting story!! 6) R0X0rss!!! 7) Love how Nero is absolutely one-handed!! (notice that his right arm is 'cast-ed') 8) Now I have no doubt about buying the PS3 (it's only a matter of when). Good bye to $500... T___T....

I forgot to mention one thing... Doesn't Godhand look just like Zell?!?!?! (For those of you who dunno (OMG I can't believe u don't!), Zell is a martial artist from Final Fantasy 8) Seriously, I'm imagining that's exactly how Zell will be if he has his own action game!! @_@

And here is a sweet introduction to the game and its system. Dammit, I so can't wait!!

Behold the funniest, and possibly, the most seemingly ridiculously enjoyable game soon coming to the PS2.

I am SOOOO BLOODY GONNA GET THIS.

And for your information, Clover is a division under our almighty hero, Capcom. Apparently it consists of some of the makers of Devil May Cry 1 and Resident Evil 4.

Dream log: Guardian ghost...?

Holy shites!!! I just had one of the weirdest and goriest dreams ever!!! In in a way I'm glad I still remember the important parts of it so that I can tell people about it but hell... it was WEIRD!!

First thing, I don't even know where I am, whether I'm in the US, Singapore or Indonesia. I was speaking in English and I have two Indonesian maids who apparently could speak the language as well. In the dream I was at 'home', although the place doesn't look like any place I've been to.

And the strange thing that had been happening according to the dream, was that things in the house seemed to be moved very frequently. It wasn't me, it wasn't the maids. Objects just kept being moved/shifted to different locations, even after we moved it back to its original spot. The maids and I started to wonder, and we scaredly concluded that we might have a ghost in the house. To confirm that, I decided to bring up my courage and 'ask'.... "Um... Mr Ghost... if you are there... can you please respond by shaking this thing...?" It was something (I don't know what) that was hanging by the window, but there was no wind so it wasn't moving.

Right after I asked, that thing started shaking vigorously. The maids and I creeped out but then we were certain that there WAS a ghost in the house. Maybe it was a first time thing, so we were originally scared, but it seemed that after a while we weren't afraid of him anymore since he doesn't do anything bad to us. He's just... there. (I guess he loves moving things around?) And somehow I got to know that his name is Vincent, and how I knew it, I have no clue.

And then one day, there's this weird outsider man who came into the house and I think argued/fought violently with my family in the dream, who don't actually resemble my family in real life. I don't remember this scene perfectly but I know that this outsider man was acting violently towards my family and it got to a point where I was afraid he'd bring harm to them, and so I screamed for help, "Vincent!! Please... stop him!!"

Immediately after I said that, the outsider man reacted strangely. He somehow cut himself in the neck (not deep cut) and then took a pencil and brushed the tip across his cut. And somehow, as if reacting to the lead in his bloodstream, he started... 'mutating'. He literally went out of shape, like... bumps started growing on his body and his head was tilted in a strange manner, his arms... as if twisted... Urgh! Anyway, after that it seemed his body was entirely vulnerable to physical hits... and for some reason, Vincent then even controlled my family and made them punch the outsider man HARD in the face!! (What for!?! Revenge!?!? I dunno!!)

And because of the vulnerability, that impact literally bashed the man's brains, eyes, and insides right ouf of his head. ........ HOLY FUCKS!!! I've not even been playing violent games or anything!! Where the hell did my fucked up brain get this sort of idea for a dream!?!?! O_O!!! And so the outsider man died, as a pulp on the floor. And that's when I totally freaked out and woke up. Why did Vincent do that...? I have no idea. His actions were merely an answer to my plead for help, but it was overdone.... Now it makes me wonder if I really do have some sort of spirit lurking around me all the time... someone I can't see but who can see every single little thing I do... as if watching over me... or not. >_> Am I over thinking things....?

So that's it with the dream... I made sure I wrote it so that I won't forget it for life. LOL. It was creepy but it was interesting nevertheless. Maybe I could use it for inspiration for story making or something...

And here's the song "Godsibb" that I was previously talking about. It is SOOO GOOOD!!! It's alternative music with a mix of beautiful latin choir + exotic electric guitar. It's a must listen!!!

First thing to mention, my Basara 2 FIIIINNAALLLYYYY arrived. WHAT A MIRACLE!!! OH HOLY GOD!!! And I haven't opened it!!! Why?? Cos' I'm still thinking if I should sell it!!! =_= But chances are no, I'm gonna keep it... But I still haven't opened it!! AAAHH!! Oh well, it's not like I really need to... but I'm curious what the instruction manual looks like.. >_> Dammit.

And now, guess what? I finished Xenosaga III!! MWAHAHAHA!! Surprising? I think not. But considering I beat it in 5 days, a total of 40 hrs, I think I completed it pretty fast =) I was sooo trying to rush through the last 2 days but the bosses got harder and more annoying, it took so long to beat him, and only after several defeats. >_<

This is the actually the first Xenosaga game that I played and completed WITHOUT following a walkthrough! What a surprise!! I figured it's a self explanatory game in terms of where to go and what to do next. Of course I have no clue where there are optional bosses and all that, and I didn't do any single side quest, mostly because I don't want to bother with it. For the most part the game's pretty easy, except for a few particular bosses who can be really annoying and cheap. But you'll find a way to defeat them somehow... even if it's by luck. XD

So I guess it's time for a small review! XD Inevitable! Mwahahhaa! I didn't write it in the previous blog entry cos' I haven't finished it but now that I have, it's time! LOL

Graphics:
Graphics are good, pretty much the same as the first two Xenosaga games. Nice textures as always, although as usual some things may look rather obviously polygonal. Character, costume and E.S. (re)designs are also very well done, although many look the same/very similar to the previous games. Environment/dungeon designs are mostly rather plain, spacious and empty, though with good texturing, but the entire series has been like this so I get used to it quickly.

Storyline:
This is the main thing when it comes to Xenosaga. I doubt many play the game for the sake of playing the game. As far as I know many play the game for the story, so the story is its life. As much as I'd like to say the good things about the story, I must say that I am not one in any position/right to judge the story. It is sooo deep, complicating and overly confusing to ME (and most people, I think) that I understand barely a third of everything, or less! But from what I think I understood, the story is interesting. It's entirely Sci-Fi and is based greatly on mythology, and has a lot of references to the bible and Christianity. That alone is good, but it has SOO MUCH MORE to it, that it has this huge database, or rather, encyclopedia of terms/names/defnitions/etc of its own. Not understanding/knowing enough WILL gauruntee you absolute confusion throughout the story and games. But considering you have better understanding than I ever will, Xenosaga should prove to be intriguing, in one way or another. =)

Gameplay:
Xenosaga III's gameplay is unfortunately the weakest of the 3 games, the strongest being Xenosaga II in my opinion. Some new things are introduced but most are minor. In general, the battle system has been simplified into a more generic and typical RPG battle system. The most disappointing thing is that they removed the tech attack's own gauges and combined it with the boost gauge, forcing you to prioritize performing tech attacks or boosts. Naturally, tech attacks are way more imporant, so you will most likely forget ever using boost, which makes the battle system bland, not to mention slower paced. They also introduced the 'break' aspect in battle. Every time you take damage, your break gauge will fill up little by litte. When it's full, you will go into 'break state'. While in that state, you will lose 2 turns and not be able to do anything at all. So other than your health gauge, the break gauge is now also something else to look out for. The good thing is, everyone has a break gauge, including enemies, making it fair for all. The E.S (mech) battles are very simple (straightforward) and to be honest, quite boring, but they're important in relation to the story, so it can't be helped.

Music:
Kajiura Yuki (music composer for Xenosaga II) also does the music for Xenosaga III, but for some reason the in-game music this time does not impress all too much, but the cutscene background music is mostly great, especially in last 2 hours of the game. Some regular battle themes are repetitive and they get boring very quickly, but there are some, especially the last boss theme, that are very nice. A lot of the music is orchestral and that is just wonderful. =) I'm more the orchestral freak, I realize. XD Try to pay attention to the music during cutscenes, especially, cos' that's when most of the greatest music in this game plays. The BEST song rated 20/10 (by me) in the entire Xenosaga III OST, HAS to be this one called Godsibb. I don't even remember where it plays in the game, but it surely is THE BEST OF THE BEST.

I guess there're a few things I can say, none of which is important, as always. First of all, HEY IT'S BEEN A WHILE!!! Secondly, OMG!! Litter Box is 1 year 8 days old as of today! O_O!! Time sure flies past fa-- .... nah. LOL I don't say that phrase. Cos' I don't agree. LOL Thirdly, I can't believe my Sengoku Basara 2 original Japanese copy hasn't arrived. Yeah. How long ago did I order it? Oh yeah... 5 WEEKS AGO GODAMMIT!!! Fuck YesAsia. I'm officially PISSED.

But hey, guess what? I still have a copy anyway, a BURNT copy. The one month wait killed me, so I decided to ask a friend to help me out. He sent me the 4.5 GB ISO file through IRC and after some tedious roundabout work I finally got to burn it... and it WORKS!!! And it's godamn FREE!!! Makes me wonder why the HELL I ever had to BUY the original thing that isn't even here YET!!! Wasted $60. Not to mention another $20 just before that, since my MGS2 Substance Japanese version DOES NOT WORK!!!! Isn't it awesome to be buying original games that either don't work get lost in the mail? *Raises 3rd finger*

And so I FINALLY got to play the game. The game has quite a number of additions and stuff to do as compared to its prequel and man... it's impossible to finish it so fast. Too much to unlock as well and er... it gets too tedious after sometime. But OMG guess what? I'm actually.... NOT going to write a review this time!! MWAHAHAHAHA!!! What a SURPRISE, eh??? Too lazy, really. And it's not like anyone reads the crap I write. I'll just sum it up and say it's a heavily repetitive but fun hack hack hack and slash game. Period.

I was heated on Sengoku Basara 2 for a week or so and then Xenosaga III came. I was going to leave it for later after I'm done with Basara but.... I ended up playing it!! GAAAHH!!! So Basara is now on hold... and Xenosaga III it is. Got a feeling it's one of the only RPG left that I'll ever play. LOL. Don't worry, I won't write a review on this too. For now, that is. XD I just started afterall. Still got a ways before I'll finish it. That's what I've been doing the past 2 days... that's why I didn't have time to update anything... O_o''

Now the one thing I'm pretty annoyed about is that for some reason I keep losing my things recently. First of all it's my fucking digital camera the time I canoed with my friends. Then it was my keys on that very same day. Then it's my bike lock (how the hell???) a few days ago and my cellphone today!! WTFFF!?!?! I think I might have left my cellphone at work.. I'm not sure, but how the hell could I have lost it?! It's always either in my back or my computer desk!! DAMMIT!! And I can't call myself cos there's no other phone and my roommate isn't back yet. Shite. So I gotta wait till Monday and check my work place. GAAAHH!! This is annoying!!! If I really lose my phone I'm gonna have to spend money on buying a new phone and all that crap! Plus I have to waste time going over to the mall where the cellphone service booth or whatever-its-called is. *EXPLODES*