The journey to 20,000- part 4

November 17, 7:41 AMTampa Video Game ExaminerTom Hall

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That's right, folks, it is over!  Finally after all of the toil, struggle, and just plain trickery, my quest to 20,000 is over.  Its times like these that you think back on all of the sacrifices your parents made, driving you to video game practice at 6am for 14 years.  You think of your coaches and trainers and you think of all of the times you just wanted to quit, but you stuck it out so your dad would finally hug you and say he loved you!.................... I mean, so you could make your family proud.  Hmmmmm, awkward.  Well, let's get into how I finished this.

I last left you with 287 points remaining for my goal.  I was 177 points away when I realized that NCAA Football 07 was not going to get me there.  After realizing the same about Splinter Cell and Puzzle Quest, I had to make a tough choice.  Now, as George Carlin once explained, sometimes in desperate situations, you are forced to team with people you don't like, respect, or would even have in your own home.  He was referring to the US Government, I am referring to Call of Duty 3.  I played CoD 3 until I was just 77 points away and then, like a guardian angel, Gears of War 2 arrived.

First of all, and I will be writing about this later but, Gears 2 is one of the best games I have ever played.  As good as it is, though, most of the achievements are only worth 10 points each which is fine, but time consuming.  Time wore on and I whittled away at 20,000. 72 (5 pointer snuck in there), 62, 52, 42, all the way until I was sitting at 19,998.  And then the time arrived.  Smells Like Victory  was the most appropriate achievement title I could have imagined for this occasion.  It is awarded for barbecueing 30 enemies with the flamethrower, which FYI is probably the coolest thing ever .  With that, it was won.  20,008 was my new gamerscore and the celebration began.  Big band, catering, champaigne, for some reason clowns juggling flaming bowling pins, confetti, and a giant banner were all part of the celebration as fireworks filled the night sky and I said farewell to a worthy adversary in 20,000.

Thanks so much for sticking with me through this little journey.  Thanks even more if you were actually pulling for me.  Now, I can go back to concentrating on you guys which I plan to do with my own holiday guide of games you shouldn't be without this season.  Now, pardon me, but 30,000 awaits.