Diddy Kong Racing

Recently I found a a analogue USB controller on the roadside (no, really I did!). It works perfectly with Sixtyforce 0.8.0, a Nintendo 64 emulator for the Mac, providing sensitive analogue control and mapping of all the buttons.

I loaded up a ROM copy of Diddy Kong Racing and gradually realised how much I missed gaming. DKR was colourful, fun, rewarding and technically accomplished.

I haven't bought EDGE (a video game magazine) for about 2 years and the last console game I played and enjoyed was Project Gotham Racing in the XBOX some 12 months ago. Is it just me or do they really 'not not make 'em like they used to?'

Gaming as a hobby very much defines a certain generation of people, it would seem that everyone over the age of 35 with a few exceptions, just doesn't seem to understand it. A good game is a complete reality shift, a good game will place you in another space and time. Ocarina of Time, Super Mario Sunshine, Shenmue, Goldeneye, Banjo Kazooie, Diddy Kong Racing and Metroid Prime all have that ability.

I really would like to get back into gaming, it's just that I don't were to start, the PS2 seems a safe bet as it's quite cheap and there are many many good games, I've had an XBOX and to be honest there were only about 3 or 4 games worth having. The XBOX 360 is just too much money for too few good games and the Nintendo DS is cheap but very basic. That leaves the PSP and retro gaming via emulation . . . hmm, looks like I'll be revisiting old classics for a few months! ;)