Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blew up

Old – I don't remember if I saw it on sale or just standing on my shelves, but I picked up Valkyria Chronicles again. When I first purchased my PlayStation 3, it was really the only game I owned. The sad part is that I never completed the story. I put the disc back in and decided to try to defeat the end boss for the first time. After a few failed attempts, I was finally triumphant. I had forgotten how satisfying this game is to play. Valkyria Chronicles is graphically appealing, has great mechanics and possesses a charming story.

Besides drawing me into a second play-through, Valkyria Chronicles provided exactly what I needed after a full day at work followed by an evening of wedding planning. As it is a strategy game, it broke my gaming time into manageable chunks. A battle or skirmish limits the amount of time I'm actively engaged, followed by exposition I passively sat through to unwind. A battle a night, after my wife went to sleep left me feeling hopeful towards the next day.

New – A week before the wedding, a game I was excited about was finally released: Dance Central. After playing it at E3, I was convinced I needed an XBox 360 so that I could play this game. Right away, you can see the creative genius that is Harmonix, and it's all in the little touches. From a good song selection to the excellent feedback system, the game is very polished in design and presentation. The best part is that while the Kinect system is used, the actual, physical interfacing was kept to a manageable amount – not smashed into your face constantly like other titles have using the Wii interface.

Where Dance Central really shined was when members of the bridal party arrived a couple days early, it provided a night of distraction and fun in a party atmosphere. Even before that night, we had an outlet to release frustrations either through the activity or just from laughing at ourselves while watching the replay. I look forward to continuing on with this title now that I have returned.

Borrowed – When not at war on the PlayStation 3 or hitting the dance floor on the XBox 360, I was also picking up my Nintendo DS to play Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box. Though I didn't spend a lot of time on the title, I had borrowed the game from friend and enjoyed the brain teasers as I attempted to unravel the mystery. The superb game and puzzle design makes it feel challenging and rewarding for the player.

Blew Up – At first I was thinking the “blew up” would refer to my time with Valkyria Chronicles, but I remembered that right before Halloween, I played and quickly finished Costume Quest, from the fine ladies and gentlemen over at Double Fine Studios. Chock full of cuteness and pop culture references, Costume Quest demonstrates what a great downloadable title looks like on the consoles. Clever writing and intuitive game play make for an enjoyable, easily digestible experience. I had trouble stopping myself once I started playing and after completing the story. I wanted more. Though I wish it could be a little more difficult, I appreciated the game's ability to reach out and entertain many different demographics.

Parents, if you're looking to give your child some exposure to a role playing game, Costume Quest would be an excellent choice. It opens up and explains RPG and strategy elements without being confusing or overwhelming. While the design seems minimal and simplistic, it belies an undercurrent of solidly built strategy, progression and game play.

So that's this groom’s version of the "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue" superstition. I know it helped me cope with the stresses of wedding planning. Don't get me wrong – the wedding was a blast and I'm so grateful for my gamer wife – but I'm glad I had a distraction from the rigors of planning. Now if only I could find the right games to help me in married life. ;)

* - Although I use it as hyperbole, I know that this is actually expected from some women during the holidays. I find it deplorable.