Mar 28
I stopped at Target on my way to Subway this afternoon to see if they had Metroid Hunters in stock. As I expected they did not, however they did have another game that I found oddly more appealing: Tetris DS. Tetris, you say? I’ve heard good things.
I picked up the game and thrusted it out into the air triforce style – You got the Tetris! – a silent celebration of instantly becoming just a little bit more cool.
Naturally, being in a store and already committed to spending some money I slipped into brainless consumer mode, on a search-and-destroy mission to spend more money. It is a serious condition, and so far as I know, one without effective treatment. I began in the DVD section. Nothing really caught my eye, and I was about to retire to the checkout counter when It appeared before me: The Ghostbusters I & II Double Feature Giftset. Both Ghostbusters movies and a collectible Ghostbusters art book, all for only ten dollars! There are times in life when I jokingly say, “I can’t afford not to buy it!”. This time I wasn’t joking.
Moving away from the DVD aisles I unexpectedly found myself in the book section. This is a far more dangerous environment for me than the DVDs, even moreso than the Video Games aisle. I was surprised at the extent of Target’s selection, finding several copies of Team of Rivals, a historical non-fiction book I have wanted since December. Nearby was 1776, equally dear to my heart. I opted for the later before seeking out one more title that I could guarantee would be on shelf: James Frey’s Million Little Pieces. I threw up in my mouth a little as I picked up the book, the giant Oprah’s Book Club sticker obscuring half the cover. Fortunately the sticker was removable, else I would have been forced to leave the book behind.
So my trip to the store began with the intention of spending $30 on Metroid and ended with the purchase of one non-Metroid video game, one DVD, two books, and a total charge of $80. That’s pretty typical of my shopping adventures.
I haven’t started either book yet or watched either dvd, but I have already logged some serious time on Tetris. The game offers wireless multiplayer support, both wi-fi and local, and only requires one cartridge. Bill and I just played 30 consecutive games against eachother. I came out to a 13-5 lead, but then lost 8 straight games to tie us at 13. Not to worry, Mr. Clutch arrived just in time to lock up my victory, winning 2 of the last 3 games.
I’m not sure there is a more enjoyable feeling in the world than building a perfect screen, and just before you drop the 4-piece bar into the gap you casually ask your opponent, “Oh wait, what’s the name of this game again?…”
… drop the piece…
“TETRIS, BITCH!!”
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