[JUMBO]

I played a lotta La Mulana after hurricane Sandy hit, from when our power came back on (that took a week or so) til we got our internet back (that took a month -- I couldn't even use my cell phone to cheat, the reception was so bad post-Sandy). Maybe ideal circumstances under which to play it, since it kept me honest. I mean, it drove me kinda crazy, but it also made progress super satisfying.

But then I hit the Gate of Illusion. It broke me. I went almost a week without making any meaningful progress. Eventually I got so fed up I went to a library two towns over so's I could look at a FAQ. Then I saw the solution to the puzzle that had been driving me batty was the Mario pipe move. :(

Kinda stopped playing after that. I'd gotten so hooked on roughing it that turning to a FAQ felt like a massive failure. Which doesn't make any sense, since the solution was so fucking dumb, but still...the game had broken my trust, and whenever I found myself stuck I found myself wanting to peek at a FAQ, cuz I didn't wanna waste more time on puzzles that I'd never be able to solve on my own.

(I do think there's a tablet hinting at the Mario move, but it's still dumb as fuck.)

Still GOTY 2012 though.

(Am I the only one who says FACK rather than F.A.Q.? And by says I mean thinks, cuz I've said it out loud like...once.)