About time.

That's the reason I'm going to keep a hold of my DS.

So Smash Bros. Brawl arrived today. Instead of whittling away the day beating Pikachu senseless, as I predicted would happen, I had one of those moments where you realise you need to sort things out. Nothing dramatic, basically that I have way too much **** stored up that I don't need or use. Funny that I might think of that ten minutes into Brawl? I was playing with a GameCube controller, and the way my room is set out isn't very user-friendly, so it was awkward to play without getting straight in front of the screen. For a start there is only a single wall-plug in my room which limits where I can arrange my electronics. Secondly, the aforementioned pile of **** I've accumulated over the years takes up a lot of storage.

I'm sorting through stuff that I can get rid off, and it makes me think "what an idiot". Mainly the accumulation of boxes and stupid promotional documentation ranging from Xbox 360 battery charger manuals to Wii Remote instructions. Every now and then I just get a bit frustrated with my stuff and change everything round, but in the end, I always seem to retain a load of useless stuff. I'm hoping I'll be able to actually off-load the majority of the stuff I need to this time around. Man, I'm going to hate it when I move out. A couple of my friends here on GameSpot have moved recently, and I can imagine how crazy it must be to reorganise a house full of items. I guess it's never easy when you're moving, but I figure if I streamline now, it'll be easier for when I do.

So, final thoughts of the day.

Wimbledon. Gulbis - Nadal was a fantastic match, and I'm gutted Gulbis didn't win (although it was always going to be a big ask). I'd not heard of him until he played Murray at Queens (I believe it was Murray anyway), but he plays fantastically and with a smile on his face. Hope he does well in the future.

I suck at Smash Bros. I was always a pretty good Melee player, but two-three years away from it shows in my ten minutes with Brawl. Need to get my skills back as soon as possible.

Lippi goes back to Italy. Donadoni's been replaced with Lippi, who managed Italy before Euro 2008 and led them to the World Cup in '06. Top manager, but it seems to me like he's done all he could for the Italian team.

Where the hell's Heroes? Heroes Season 2 has been showing recently, and today is the penultimate epidsode. Due to the way they show them (showing the next episode later on BBC Three), the last epidose should be shown today. But alas, it's not on according to Virgin TV's channel browser! I hope that's a mistake, I can't wait another week.

Top Spin 3 hit the shops today, but thanks to the wonders of pre-ordering, I've had it since yesterday afternoon. In a nutshell: it's the best tennis game to date. 2K Sports built a new game engine from the ground up, and it's a sports simulation if ever you played one. Instead of pressing a button and holding it down to hit your strokes, you need to press before the ball reaches you, release just after the ball bounces to start your swing, and aim with the analog stick to direct your shot. It sounds complicated, and it really is. I've been an avid player of both the earlier Top Spin games, the entire console range of Virtua Tennis games, and various tennis spin-offs, but it really doesn't mean much when you start playing. It took me a good hour or so to begin grasping the basics (and that's not including the comprehensive tennis school tutorial), but it's oh-so-satisfying when you know how to play.

Surprisingly, the AI is fantastic. There's five difficulty settings which are well seperated in terms of challenge, but the most refreshing thing is how varied the play is. Serve-and-volley opponents will actually try and come to the net now, and baseliners (for the most part) won't disadvantage themselves by stepping into "no man's land" (space between the baseline and service line). Against AI or human opponents over Live, the common theme is that you really have to think about how you play. Constructing a point and finishing it is very satisfying, and like the real sport, once you're on the backfoot in a rally, you need to really work to restore your advantage.

It isn't user-friendly at all, but once you learn Top Spin 3's controls, it's one of the best sports games you'll play. In fact, I'd go as far as saying these are best sports game mechanics ever. FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer certainly don't feel like football as much as Top Spin 3 feels like tennis.

I hope other sports developers break the mould like 2K Sports has. God knows Pro Evolution Soccer is in major need of an overhaul, and although my sports game interest outside football and tennis is limited, I'm sure those sports games could do with a bit of a change too.

Although I loved Ninja Gaiden on the Xbox, it was way too challenging for me. For that reason, I'm glad Ninja Gaiden II is more bearable. Confrontations with enemies are still tough, no doubt about it, but the more frequent placement of save points and recovery of a limited amount of health after action sequences make it more accessible without folding and flat-out making it easier. Unfortunately, it has camera problems like so many other games in the genre, and this (along with a lack of polish and wow factor) are the main reasons I think it hasn't topped the original. Maybe Itagaki-san's recent departure had an effect on things? Regardless, Ninja Gaiden II is still a great game. The Tarantino-like blood and gore is hard not to enjoy, and the game mechanics are still excellent as they were in 2004.

There haven't been many blockbuster titles on the XBLA recently (I guess we're all waiting for Bionic Commando Rearmed), and Roogoo certainly isn't a block buster. I completely dismissed it when it went on Live, but being given the chance to review it (and hence get the game for free), I jumped at it. It's a really pleasant surprise. In an age where casual gaming is rife, there are so many mediocre puzzlers that try and sell you the same game you've played in a different package. Roogoo has a few problems, but I've not seen a puzzler like it before. If you're into the genre and happened to dismiss it like I did, definitely give the demo a try.

I've been waiting for this all summer, and it's finally kicked off. Anyone been watching? I saw the games where both hosts played (Austria and Switzerland); shame to see both of them lose their opening matches. Portugal are looking good after their victory over Turkey (I think it was Turkey at least), but the match today between Italy and Holland is the one I'm looking forward to. I'd like to see the Dutch go all the way this time; for such a talented footballing nation, they've not won enough. It's be nice if this is their year, providing they don't self-destruct (there have already been reports of a bust up between Sneijder and Van Persie).

To stay on the football theme: quick thoughts of Mark Hughes' move to manage Manchester City. I think it's a bad move. Sven, in my opinion, had a great season but inexplicably got sacked. That suggests to me the new owner is more than a little impatient. Hughes has come from Blackburn, where he's done a great job. I'd rather be at Blackburn than Man City, but regardless, all the best to him. All this talk of Man City being in for Ronaldinho sounds a bit deluded to me, really hope the City owner isn't too impatient.

In gaming news, I bought Ninja Gaiden 2 yesterday. Cool action, blood and gore... I've not played a game like this for ages, so it's nice to finally play a straight-up action game again. I also completed the Hall of Fame induction on the Rock Band world tour with my brother. As much as I'd love to take a shot at the endless setlist, I really can't be bothered right now.

Anyway... are you watching the Euros, and who are you supporting?