Considering the subject matter of most of the day, the title is perhaps a bit odd, but whatever. It's been a pretty good day.
For one, Regina was kind enough to hook me up with Pratchett/Gaiman's Good Omens, which I hear is a pretty awesome book, and we're all about awesome books in these here parts.
For another, today's mail included an envelope with a thin cardboard sleeve inside, and inside of that was the Discotheque single. And while there's a slightly remixed version of that song on there, we're more concerned with the b-side, Holy Joe. This song is cool. Cooler than, say, 90% of the latest album. It rocks a great deal. Pop kind of rules like that.
On a completely different note, I finally put a word to the feeling I get after seeing a particularly good movie or reading a particularly good book, and that word is catharsis. A cleansing of emotions brought about by intense feelings. Not sure why I've never made that particular connection before, but there it is. And for some reason I feel better about being able to describe that. In any case, it's fairly rare that a game causes said cathartic state. Off the top of my head, Serpent Isle and KOTOR are the only games to suck me in so completely as to do that. Maybe some others, but in any case it's fairly rare. The point is, really, that Pacific Assault managed to do it. Which isn't to say that I wasn't intensely frustrated with it at times - there are a couple of insane MG nests to clear, and the plane level flat out sucks, but otherwise I was completely taken in by the plot and the action. Pretty damn good game.
On a sort of related note, I read a book today, and it's called Brave Men, Gentle Heroes: American Fathers and Sons in World War II and Vietnam. And this is quite the good book. As an author making a point and drawing conclusions about the differences between the two wars or making any conclusions or points at all book, not so good, but contrary to what they train you to do in history classes, I think this is wise. It is not a subject that lends itself to such things, and it is better not to try. On the other hand, as a book with a bunch of guys telling stories about their experiences, it's fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.
And in the end, there was the Word, and the Word was "Gronk."
Posted by Dwip at December 19, 2004 3:32 AMI had fun with the plane level. It was rough, but it was fun. Sinking a carrier and destroyer by yourself is cool.
Now, if V:B wouldn't crash every time at this point, I would be a lot happier about having it.
Posted by: Whir at December 19, 2004 5:48 AM