I went ahead and bought Too Human over the weekend. Its a fun game and the loot collection aspect of it is downright addictive. The combat however can get repetitive after a while so I'm constantly swapping out weapons to keep things interesting. The game lets you play as several different character types (ie: melee specialists, weapons specialists, healing specialists, etc.) which adds some replay value and stategy to the proceedings. After mucking around a bit I decided to be a commando, who specializes in guns and rifles but can also wield a pretty mean sword. When in combat, you can also perform combos such as using your sword to throw an enemy into the air and then switching to your guns to "juggle" him to death while he's airborne. There's a great deal of customization possible in the game in terms of cybernetic implants and special abilities, allowing for even more replay and exploration.
You can never really die in the game. If you fall in battle, a little 30 second cutscene ensues (which you can never skip) and deposits you at the last checkpoint with some damage to your armor and weapon. However, any damage you already dealt out to enemies will be remembered by the game, so you just walk back to where you were and pick up where you left off. At first I thought this was something of a cop-out, but given how you are positively swarmed by enemies in some areas I'm happy to have it there as not.
Another interesting aspect of the game is that the enemies you face level up with you. As such, even if you go back and play a level you previously beat after having gained more experience and having leveled up, you'll find that the various monsters have also leveled up as well. That keeps the game challenging but can also make it tedious at times as you never really reach a point where you can overwhelm your enemies.
The game presents a pretty interesting story that mixes science fiction, cyberpunk, a futuristic setting and norse mythology (both your comrades and the enemies you fight have classic names like "Thor", "Loki" and "Grendel").
I've already gotten my Commando to Level 20; I've beaten the first two scenarios (I think there are four overall) and am having fun with the game. I'm sure MS will also be putting up some special weapons and armors on Xbox Live at some point.
Finished Spiderman: Friend or Foe last night; fun but repetitive; and probably one of the easiest games I've ever played thru.
I, too, finished this game over the weekend. I actually played through the game last weekend, but, for closure, decided to replay it until I had enough 'energy tokens' to fully upgrade all the players to full status (or 'Fury's Fourteen' as the it is called in the Xbox achievements). The game is incredibly short, consisting of only five levels, broken down in four mini-levels each. The gameplay was incredibly repetitive and I was dismayed at having to defeat variations of the same enemies and mini-bosses over and over and over.
I could not bring myself to go for the Fury's Fourteen achievement; once I'd played thru the game I really had no desire to revisit it again.
I beat Too Human the other day; it took me about 12 hours to make it to the end of the game, which concludes with a cliffhanger setting up the conflict for the next installment (if it ever gets made). A large part of the game involves leveling up your character and finding and equipping ever improving armor and weapons; it can get very addictive as you hunt around for that elusive piece of gear that will complete an armor set, or playing on and on so that you can reach a level sufficently high enough so that you can try out that plasma cannon you found earlier. Your character's experience carries over from one game to the next and I'm now 3/4 of the way thru my second playthru.
Less successful are the game's cinemas, which are very disjointed and don't do a good job of advancing the story. Also, the gameplay is somewhat unbalanced as you are sometimes swarmed by enemies that are immune to your preferred weapons, leading to a lot of deaths (you actually unlock one of the achievements when your character dies 100 times, a dubious accomplishment at best). Also, the game only has four areas and once you've seen them all your only reason to keep on playing is to uncover more and more advanced loot and try out the different character types, each of which requires a different approach to the game.
In the end, I liked the gameplay and its mix of sci-fi and Norse mythology. In fact, if you're familiar with the legends of the Norse gods, you can pretty much tell where the game is going to end up (in a word, Ragnarok). I'll be curious to see if Microsoft releases any additional levels or other content over Xbox Live.
Just as an FYI, the price drop is $50 across the board for all 360 models. So going forward the Arcade is $199, the Pro is $299 and the Elite is $399.
MS is definitely starting to position itself for the holidays. In addition to the price drop, they'll be completely revamping the 360's desktop to a more streamlined design, complete with virtual avatars (clearly a shot at the Wii's cutesy Mii gamer avatars). They also have some high profile exclusive games coming out in the fall including Fable 2 and the much anticipated Gears of War 2.
The holidays is when videogame companies traditionally make as much as 80% of their business and it looks like MS wants to get a head start.
IGN has a very positive preview on a game I've been following for a while: Dead Space. Set on a derelict spaceship, the game plays like a cross between Alien and Resident Evil as your character, an engineer called Issac Clarke (a play on Issac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke), makes his way thru the ship while trying to survive all manner of alien horrors. There are also some zero-gravity sections in the ship which add a new element to the gameplay. No multi-player here, just a long, involved single player quest. The game comes out in mid-October and is getting some very positive buzz.
I played the force unleashed at the weekend, you know the only thing that really bugs me is the fact that the lightsabre is almost totally useless! you can't even open doors with it, whats with that? The only thing I could cut were R2 units. Its been turned into a blunt instrument :v
I played the force unleashed at the weekend, you know the only thing that really bugs me is the fact that the lightsabre is almost totally useless! you can't even open doors with it, whats with that? The only thing I could cut were R2 units. Its been turned into a blunt instrument :v
I noticed the same thing when I tried the demo; the game's focus is definitely on the force powers although I've read that as your character gains experience, you can apply points to specific abilities including lightsaber prowess, so that your blows are at least more damaging.
IGN just put up a review of the game and gave it a score of 7.3, noting that the game was hurt by spotty force controls, uninspired levels and repetitive boss encounters.
Personally, I'm a little tired of all these games taking place during the "Vader era". It compromises the games in terms of story because they're always hamstrung by existing continuity. I'd much prefer games set in Star Wars' distant past (as was done with the Knights of the Old Reputblic RPG's) or post Episode VI (like some of the Jedi Knight games). I'll probably get Force Unleashed eventually, but I think I'll wait a while for a price drop.
I am totally bummed at the state of gaming right now. Since GTA4, every game has been a combo of either meh or bleh. Its terribly, where are the new original games which dont have A+ graphics, and instead focus on gameplay. Where are the ORIGINAL games, as opposed to the sequelitis. I am just very disappointed in the gaming industry right now. They havent thrown me a really top notch game since Call of Duty 4 last year (ok ok, GTA4, I dont own it). Right now I am going through Half-Life 2 and the following episodes, and though they are sequels, the run great, and are a total blast to play. Portal is the same way (though not a sequel). I am totally bugged that every time i pick up a game, it is either a buggy mess, unfinished, or overall unsatisfactory. Man, where are the new A+ titles. I really dont want to have to go back to World of Warcraft, but dang, gimme something good. Rawr.
Hey 0064, good to hear from you. Hope college is going well.
With regard to your rant, I assume you're talking about PC gaming. If that's the case, I don't think things will be improving for you all that much. Between the unpolished games, never-ending updates, ridiculous DRM policies and rampant pirating, PC gaming is in a pretty sorry state right now and lots of big developers and publishers are quickly washing their hands of it. Id software (makers of classics like Doom and Quake) has publicly stated that they're shifting their preferred development platform from PC's to consoles. Since taking over EA, Peter Moore has also publicly stated that PC games are no longer cost-effective and he is actively shifting the company's focus away from that. The few new PC IP's that have been released (like Spore) have been plagued by overly complicated DRM schemes that really tie the player's hands.
For better or worse, consoles are where the action's at when it comes to gaming and innovation. Too Human for the 360 is a great Diablo style action game that can be played solo or co-operatively and even Mercenaries 2 (which you were waiting years for) runs visibly better on consoles than on the PC. And of course, GTA4 on the 360 is loads of fun and there's even exclusive content coming soon.
You've already got yourself a PS3, check out some games for that. Uncharted is a great action game in the vein of Tomb Raider but with a really good story and some nice voice acting. Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction is a beautiful platform shooter with visuals that rival a PIXAR movie. If you want racing, there's GRID, DiRT, Gran Tourismo Prologue and Sega Rally, just to name a few. And Unreal Tournament III (which I own, BTW) is a great FPS online shooter. Resistance: Fall of Man, another solid PS3 FPS just dropped in price to $30 and Resistance 2 is around the corner.
Let go of your PC bias young padawan and come on over to the Console side, you'll have a far better time.
Hey 0064, good to hear from you. Hope college is going well.
With regard to your rant, I assume you're talking about PC gaming. If that's the case, I don't think things will be improving for you all that much. Between the unpolished games, never-ending updates, ridiculous DRM policies and rampant pirating, PC gaming is in a pretty sorry state right now and lots of big developers and publishers are quickly washing their hands of it. Id software (makers of classics like Doom and Quake) has publicly stated that they're shifting their preferred development platform from PC's to consoles. Since taking over EA, Peter Moore has also publicly stated that PC games are no longer cost-effective and he is actively shifting the company's focus away from that. The few new PC IP's that have been released (like Spore) have been plagued by overly complicated DRM schemes that really tie the player's hands.
For better or worse, consoles are where the action's at when it comes to gaming and innovation. Too Human for the 360 is a great Diablo style action game that can be played solo or co-operatively and even Mercenaries 2 (which you were waiting years for) runs visibly better on consoles than on the PC. And of course, GTA4 on the 360 is loads of fun and there's even exclusive content coming soon.
You've already got yourself a PS3, check out some games for that. Uncharted is a great action game in the vein of Tomb Raider but with a really good story and some nice voice acting. Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction is a beautiful platform shooter with visuals that rival a PIXAR movie. If you want racing, there's GRID, DiRT, Gran Tourismo Prologue and Sega Rally, just to name a few. And Unreal Tournament III (which I own, BTW) is a great FPS online shooter. Resistance: Fall of Man, another solid PS3 FPS just dropped in price to $30 and Resistance 2 is around the corner.
Let go of your PC bias young padawan and come on over to the Console side, you'll have a far better time.
Actually, no, I wasnt referring to PC though it has its problems. I have easy access to consoles now (roommate has one, friend has one, etc...), so I get to see all of the titles listed below, and I will pick them apart. First, I will start with Too Human, which was absolute trash. Really, fun was NOT the word that came to mind. Mindless dungeon crawler with terrible camera issues, and long range weapons that couldnt kill at kitten. Mercs 2, buggy, unfinished, and many key gameplay features cut. As for GTA, I admittedly like it, but I only play it for 30 min at a time, so rampaging around doesnt get tired. I would never touch the single player as it is far too in depth, so I wonder how long I could stay with it. As for R&C: ToD, I will admit I havent played it. I didnt much care for Uncharted, and its going to take a while for those game to overtake Tomb Raider: Legend which I still highly reguard. I own Unreal Tournament 3, and have for several months, good game, lost my interest. Played both GRiD and DiRT, and found GRid to be ultimately too unforgiving, but I liked Dirt alot. As for the first Resistance, I got hands on with my brothers PS3, and found it to be very disappointing, as the controls felt funky. Phew, quite a rant.
However, that being said, I have two more issues to address, PC gaming, and my original point. Ill address the latter first because I will get my whining out. I want something original. and while this may sound ironic, I think that Fallout 3 is shaping up nicely (albeit without multiplayer, dang you Bethesda). I like the attention to detail, and the over-the-top patriotism jokes and such. However, that is it. There seems to little drive to push the industry in any new meaningful direction, which is disappointing. It's not just on the PC, you would be straining to find an innovatice, well-executed game on any console. I missed one in retrospect...I REALLY WANT MIRRORS Edge. Looks bloody epic.
Now, as for PC gaming and my bias. I have recently changed some of my gaming habits and have become much more mobile. Thus, I enjoy playing on my laptop. Games on the source engine (Half-life 2, Counter Strike: Source, POrtal, etc.) run great on every system and are easily portable. Plus, I hate carrying around discs, so Steam, is absolutely great. With fast download speeds, I have definately jumped on Steam's bandwagon. This helps me stay mobile and when roaming around the dorms, if some guys are playing games, I can plunk down then and there and play as opposed to having to hook up a console to a TV (IF there is one), carry 9 million cables, etc. It's so much more social I find. However, my biggest issue with consoles is the fact that developers for consoles abuse their buyers by nickling and diming them to death. All of the new maps and suck for Gears, Rainbow Six, and CoD4 all came to the PC for free. Plus, I love the fact that we have quite a few small developers (Stardock, Relic, and Gas Powered Games come to mind) and that RTS' are playable on the PC. PLus, I cant stand those console controllers. So, for all of the above reasons and in spite of DRM (I dont care about pirates, I dont deal with them and they dont affect me, though they help me get around the DRM :v ) I remian a PC gamer. And FYI, I really like updates because though they are an excuse for bugs, they often help balance gameplay as well, which is great.
Also, Peter Moore is NOT the head of EA, John Ricitiello still is. Peter Moore is the head of EA sports.
With regard to Too Human, I don't think you really gave it a chance. I've only played solo so far and have gone thru the campaign twice and buffed my character upto level 43. If you're unable to kill enemies, then you're not using your character correctly. I play as a commando and my ranged weapons do massive damage on most enemies. Some do have attributes that force me to go melee but that's the exception not the norm.
Mercs 2 is a buggy mess and I haven't bought it; I only brought that one up because you couldn't stop raving about it a while back.
I actually bought and beat GTA and if it could hold my attention - and I'm typically terrible at these open world games - then I think just about anyone can finish the game.
The only problem I had with GRID was the drift races, which is a style of racing I've never cared for. Other than that, I've found that you can get to the higher levels of the game if you invest the time in it.
Resistance is a game that even I could only play in short spurts. Still, it does have an interesting storyline and some unique weapons and play mechanics, which goes to your complaint about a lack of originality.
Fallout 3 does look interesting, although I'm not wild about how all the graphics I've seen have a greenish cast to them. Unless Bethesda really drops the ball on that one, I'll be picking up the 360 version.
It almost sounds as though you're playing too many games at once; I like to focus on one game at a time, master that and then move on to something else.
As far as lack of originality on consoles goes, Mirror's Edge is console exclusive for now, I think. Little Big Planet for the PS3 also looks to be pretty innovative (though the subject matter doesn't interest me) and it's another console exclusive. Even existing IPs like Prince of Persia are completely revamping their gameplay. And then of course you have the Wii and even though 90% of its software is garbage, there are some really nice games where the gesture based control really adds to the experience. There is originality out there and not every game nickel and dimes you for content (all of the additional content for Burnout Paradise is free for example).
As for gaming on a laptop vs. a console, to each his own. I understand where you're coming from given that fact that you're in school. But for me, I enjoy playing a game from my couch on as big a screen as possible with the surround sound cranked up - it makes for a much more immersive experience and that really influences a game's fun factor for me. I can't imagine a game like the upcoming Dead Space having the same impact on a 17" laptop display as it would on a 52" hi-def rig with the lights turned off. I also like the plug 'n play simplicity of consoles and the simplified control schemes that a control pad brings, but again that's just a personal preference.
As for Peter Moore, my bad. But seeing as sports is EA's biggest section, I do think his opinion carries more than a little weight at EA.
By the way, I hope that this renewed focus on gaming isn't adversely impacting your grades.
Ha- Ha Tony, thankfully no. I actually did terrible in high school chemistry, and so far I have scored 100% on the first two tests, so maybe Spore is paying off?
On the HDTV thing, I am actually sitting in front of my 24" HDTV right now which is my desktops monitor. A 24" HDTV is absolutely huge at this range, so I get some of the effect when I play without lights and such...also helps with my surround sound. I did mention I bought and HDTV didnt I? But you are right, on my laptop, it is DEFINATELY NOT the same.
My gripes for GTA and GRiD still stand, and I really didnt much care for Too Human, I would take Oblivion over it any day. As for Resistance, I beat the game, and I liked the weapons, but I am not sure what the innovation was there...
Also, I am actually not really playing anything now, which is what prompted me to make my post in the first place. Ill sit down and play CoD4 for an hour with friends on the weekends, but thats about it...
LittleBigPLanet has the same problem with me...the subject matter lacks a bit. On the Prince of Persia thing, I will be curious to see how that goes, but it is also for PC, so im set it seems. And Mirrors Edge is on the PC as well...I am not suprised either because DICE did the Battlefield serires, which is mostly PC.
Also, admittedly, I went a little overboard with the downloadable content thingy.
ITs great to chat again guys, I am really enjoying this litle debate!!! {[]
Sweepy the CatHalifax, West Yorkshire, EnglaPosts: 986MI6 Agent
This morning I got up early and decided to watch a bit of OHMSS and guess what. When I turn my XBOX on I got RROD !
This morning I got up early and decided to watch a bit of OHMSS and guess what. When I turn my XBOX on I got RROD !
What should I do?
According to Microsoft's UK Xbox website, you can dial this number to open up a service call on your console: 0800 587 1102
Every Xbox 360 has a three year warranty against the RROD, so you should be fine. Once you give them your console's serial number they'll initiate a call ticket and arrange to have the box sent to them to be repaired or replace.
I recently picked up Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for the 360...and finished it four days later.
The story behind the game is actually pretty interesting. Taking place shortly before the events of Episode IV, you play Vader's secret apprentice, hunting down refugee Jedi and preparing to help Vader one day overthrow the Emperor...or so you think. Without giving too much away, the story ties directly into the birth of the rebellion and you end up playing a pretty important role in the whole saga.
Graphically, the game is a mixed bag; you get to explore some pretty interesting environments but there are a lot of glitches and some pretty nasty vertical tearing (where the image almost seems to rip apart as you move around quickly).
As far as gameplay goes, you get to engage in lots of lightsaber action and play with the usual array of force powers. There are also lots of God of War inspired button-pressing events peppered throughout the game. You're also given lots of discretion as to how to power up your various abilities as the game progresses. A couple of the boss encounters get pretty tedious (especially one involving a Star Destroyer) and in the final level you must battle both Darth Vader and the Emperor (though luckily not at the same time).
The game is very, very short and the entire campaign can be easily finished in 7-8 hours. There is some replay value to be had if you want to find all the secret items or power your character up completely. The ending is well done but also somewhat disappointing given what ultimately happens to your character.
Overall a good effort marred by some glitches and a story somewhat hamstrung by having to fit into established Star Wars continuity.
I've recently completed Tomb Raider: Legend and am tying up the loose ends to acheive the 100% completion (I'm currently at 98%). As a Tomb Raider entry, it certainly doesn't disappoint. The ability to swap out costumes on the re-play levels adds a bit of fun (it even changes the costumes on the cinematics with a few exceptions). The Legend engine has impressed me enough to pick up the Anniversary edition to see how the enhancements look on the original game.
November brings the release of Tomb Raider: Underworld in which the quest is centered around Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. The graphics look good, however I'm not entirely thrilled with the new Lara Croft model. The actual model they used for this game is very pretty, and a gymnast to boot, but her body type is just a tad too 'husky' for Lara Croft IMO.
The previews of the game, however, look stellar, and Lara Croft's body movements continue to grow more and more nimble.
I've had both Tomb Raider games for the 360; in my experience I found the graphics on Anniversary to be a little rougher around the edges than Legend, although Anniversary's levels and overall gameplay were superior. A few of the bosses and jumping puzzles in Anniversary were pretty stressful as well, especially an encounter with twin centaurs (you'll know it when you get to it) and a wall jumping section near the end that gave me fits.
Looking forward to Underworld as well; the graphics just keep getting better and better and Lara keeps getting more and more realistic.
NightshooterIn bed with SolitairePosts: 2,917MI6 Agent
Picked up Rock Band 2 today. Just have to get my drumming on!
anyone download the trailer for QOS yet? it looks pretty good and the multiplayer looks o.k. too
It looks good but I'm not wild about the fact that the game will be 100% first person action with some over the shoulder closeups when you're behind cover; I'm very disappointed that there will be no driving levels this time around. One of the strengths of the better Bond games was that they mixed up the gameplay from level to level and I hope that this doesn't get tedious after a while. Also still no word on what (if any) gadgets you'll end up using.
I know the films are going for a more realistic take, but this is a still a videogame and if they ditch the gadgets and focus strictly on real-world weapons it will make it harder for the game to stand out and it could end up looking like every other first person shooter out there. The FPS genre is a crowded one and the game needs some unique elements to stand out; just slapping the "Bond" moniker on it won't be enough.
I'm going to wait for a few reviews and maybe a demo before taking the plunge on this one.
true it did look a touch Rainbow six, which is no bad thing. But I've heard things like the foot chase from CR will need you to hit button combos to pull off moves as in god of war. Which I never realy liked as I feel it distracts. BTW I just finnished Rainbow six 2 whats with no end cinimatics? I hate it when you spend weeks playing a game like that and at the end you get a bit of a cut scene and then stright into the credits, I didn't even get extra experience points!
Went with my son yesterday to Game Stop to sell all the remaining PS-2 games that were laying around the house. We used the credit from the PS-2 games to pre-order Call of Duty 5 World at War. My son wanted the collectors edition that comes with a replica gun. We also discovered that by pre-ordering you get registered into some database and then can play the "beta" version on XBox live. He is supposed to receive an email today that explains how he can get into and play the beta version. My son also wanted to pre-order Gears of War, but that will have to wait.
true it did look a touch Rainbow six, which is no bad thing. But I've heard things like the foot chase from CR will need you to hit button combos to pull off moves as in god of war. Which I never realy liked as I feel it distracts. BTW I just finnished Rainbow six 2 whats with no end cinimatics? I hate it when you spend weeks playing a game like that and at the end you get a bit of a cut scene and then stright into the credits, I didn't even get extra experience points!
God of War style button combos have become all the rage; they were also featured in Star Wars: Force Unleashed. I don't mind them as long as they don't get too complicated, but that gimmick is starting to outwear its welcome.
I've had RS:V2 for months but have been unable to maintain any interest in the game. I'll play a level and then not touch it for months. For what its worth, the first game didn't have any cinematics either and they ending was positively non-existent, it basically just set up the next game. The Ghost Recon games do the same thing and it's disappointing to hear that Ubisoft pulled the same stunt again.
Went with my son yesterday to Game Stop to sell all the remaining PS-2 games that were laying around the house. We used the credit from the PS-2 games to pre-order Call of Duty 5 World at War. My son wanted the collectors edition that comes with a replica gun. We also discovered that by pre-ordering you get registered into some database and then can play the "beta" version on XBox live. He is supposed to receive an email today that explains how he can get into and play the beta version. My son also wanted to pre-order Gears of War, but that will have to wait.
Several folks I chat with on another board have already played the beta and say it's a lot of fun. Personally, I'm somewhat burned out on WWII shooters; I recently bought Call of Duty 3 and even though it was well made, I lost interest about halfway thru and sold the game. As such, I'll be passing on CoD5.
I picked up Dead Space today. The game is a sci-fi / horror / survival hybrid that comes across a lot like a cross between the movies Alien and John Carpenter's The Thing. You assume the role of Issac Clarke, an engineer aboard a ship en route to answer a distress signal received from the Ishimura, a large mining vessel that is capable of ripping apart whole planets and processing their ore. Once aboard the Ishimura your repair ship is quickly destroyed, your crew is attacked by strange mutated monsters and you must figure out a way to repair the ship and somehow escape. As the game progresses you discover video and audio logs which help you to piece together what caused the catastrophe that befell the ship.
The monsters you come across are very reminiscent of Rob Bottin's creations from The Thing, and adding a bit of strategy to the game, you must first blast their limbs and other appendages before aiming for the humanoid head to take them out. The pace of the game is very slow and deliberate as you methodically explore the ship, performing various tasks that your commander radios to you. In addition to an array of weapons you can also upgrade your suit and acquire abilities that let you slow down time and perform telekenesis to help you achieve your objectives and solve the game's puzzles.
The game has a very effective atmosphere with lots of creepy ambient sounds and expansive, dimly lit rooms and hallways. Grahpically, the game looks great (I thought the opening was a canned cinematic when in fact, it was being rendered in real time and I could even look around.). Not for the squeamish, there is blood and gore everywhere, and you're often assailed when you least expect it. There are also some zero gravity sections and areas where you must go into the vacuum of space to progress that are quite effective.
I picked up the PS3 version, mainly so I could play something on that console, although just about every review says that the PS3 and 360 versions are both prtty much identical.
Definitely worth a look if you're into the horror / survival genre.
Definitely worth a look if you're into the horror / survival genre.
Glances in RogueAgent's direction.
I already PM'd him my endorsement. )
I'm on Level 6 and have been enjoying the game quite a bit. It plays somewhat like Doom 3 (very slow and deliberate) while the design of the game is very reminiscent of Alien and Aliens (right down to the leaky rooms, large machinery and flashing yellow warning lights in certain areas). The zero-gravity sections are also very well done and really make you feel like your character is in a weightless environment. The levels that take place outside the ship or in areas where you're exposed to vacuum are also very intense as you have limited ogygen and there is complete silence except for your ogygen supply, as it would really be in outer space; even your weapons can hardly be heard.
The only place where it tripped up so far was a section where you had to man a mass driver cannon and blast away asteroids while one of your fellow crewmembers made repairs; the asteroids seemed to spawn randomly and that made for a somewhat frustrating and unnecessarily difficult section that took a few tries to get thru as the control pad just wasn't fast or accurate enough to quickly target all the asteroids (mouse support would have really come in handy given how the section was laid out). Still, in spite of that, it's a very effective, atmospheric game that's also been quite fun so far.
Finished Dead Space earlier today and thoroughly enjoyed it. The story, while not particularly original, was very effectively laid out and the the voice acting was quite solid. That last boss encounter was also suitably epic. For my money this game easily eclipses other survival horror franchises like Resident Evil.
About the only negative for me (other than a very frustrating section where you have to blast away asteroids from a cannon turret) was the last thing you see after beating the game, right before the credits roll. After everything that the character you played as was subjected to, I could have really done without that one last bit (kind of reminded me of the very end of the first Condemned game in that regard). Maybe it'll end up being a nightmare in the inevitable sequel.
BTW, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga has been marked down to $19.99 on all platforms; lots of stuff to do in this one as it spans all six Star Wars movies.
Over the past few weeks I completed Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer which I had picked up secondhand and deeply discounted. The game has been fairly panned by critics and gamers alike but it had some fun moments. The levels are pretty long and repetitous, and the storyline is incredibly weak. By the end of the game, your not even exactly certain what the story was (it follows the movie slightly but with its own variations). A pleasant surprise was the addition of the Skrull and Red Ghost which made this more of a comic book game than movie adaptation. The voice acting was pretty well done, too.
The most frustrating part was locating all of the Doom spybots and Fantastic Four coins. There is no indication as to how many of which items are on each level, so if you missed one, you have no choice but to scour ALL the levels until you found it.
Once the characters are all leveled up, the gameplay can be entertaining because you can actually enjoy the full extent of your character's abilities. Without your maximized superpowers, as it is in the beginning of the game, it makes it hard to really get into the game. In order to enjoy FF:ROSS, you have to dedicate yourself to it, which I suspect many people didn't have the patience for.
Next up: I just purchased Tomb Raider: Anniversary and Thrillville: Off the Rails this weekend...:)
Comments
You can never really die in the game. If you fall in battle, a little 30 second cutscene ensues (which you can never skip) and deposits you at the last checkpoint with some damage to your armor and weapon. However, any damage you already dealt out to enemies will be remembered by the game, so you just walk back to where you were and pick up where you left off. At first I thought this was something of a cop-out, but given how you are positively swarmed by enemies in some areas I'm happy to have it there as not.
Another interesting aspect of the game is that the enemies you face level up with you. As such, even if you go back and play a level you previously beat after having gained more experience and having leveled up, you'll find that the various monsters have also leveled up as well. That keeps the game challenging but can also make it tedious at times as you never really reach a point where you can overwhelm your enemies.
The game presents a pretty interesting story that mixes science fiction, cyberpunk, a futuristic setting and norse mythology (both your comrades and the enemies you fight have classic names like "Thor", "Loki" and "Grendel").
I've already gotten my Commando to Level 20; I've beaten the first two scenarios (I think there are four overall) and am having fun with the game. I'm sure MS will also be putting up some special weapons and armors on Xbox Live at some point.
I, too, finished this game over the weekend. I actually played through the game last weekend, but, for closure, decided to replay it until I had enough 'energy tokens' to fully upgrade all the players to full status (or 'Fury's Fourteen' as the it is called in the Xbox achievements). The game is incredibly short, consisting of only five levels, broken down in four mini-levels each. The gameplay was incredibly repetitive and I was dismayed at having to defeat variations of the same enemies and mini-bosses over and over and over.
I beat Too Human the other day; it took me about 12 hours to make it to the end of the game, which concludes with a cliffhanger setting up the conflict for the next installment (if it ever gets made). A large part of the game involves leveling up your character and finding and equipping ever improving armor and weapons; it can get very addictive as you hunt around for that elusive piece of gear that will complete an armor set, or playing on and on so that you can reach a level sufficently high enough so that you can try out that plasma cannon you found earlier. Your character's experience carries over from one game to the next and I'm now 3/4 of the way thru my second playthru.
Less successful are the game's cinemas, which are very disjointed and don't do a good job of advancing the story. Also, the gameplay is somewhat unbalanced as you are sometimes swarmed by enemies that are immune to your preferred weapons, leading to a lot of deaths (you actually unlock one of the achievements when your character dies 100 times, a dubious accomplishment at best). Also, the game only has four areas and once you've seen them all your only reason to keep on playing is to uncover more and more advanced loot and try out the different character types, each of which requires a different approach to the game.
In the end, I liked the gameplay and its mix of sci-fi and Norse mythology. In fact, if you're familiar with the legends of the Norse gods, you can pretty much tell where the game is going to end up (in a word, Ragnarok). I'll be curious to see if Microsoft releases any additional levels or other content over Xbox Live.
http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/topstocks/archive/2008/09/04/microsoft-cuts-xbox-price-goes-after-nintendo.aspx
MS is definitely starting to position itself for the holidays. In addition to the price drop, they'll be completely revamping the 360's desktop to a more streamlined design, complete with virtual avatars (clearly a shot at the Wii's cutesy Mii gamer avatars). They also have some high profile exclusive games coming out in the fall including Fable 2 and the much anticipated Gears of War 2.
The holidays is when videogame companies traditionally make as much as 80% of their business and it looks like MS wants to get a head start.
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/908/908662p1.html
www.scottacademymartialarts.co.uk
I noticed the same thing when I tried the demo; the game's focus is definitely on the force powers although I've read that as your character gains experience, you can apply points to specific abilities including lightsaber prowess, so that your blows are at least more damaging.
IGN just put up a review of the game and gave it a score of 7.3, noting that the game was hurt by spotty force controls, uninspired levels and repetitive boss encounters.
Personally, I'm a little tired of all these games taking place during the "Vader era". It compromises the games in terms of story because they're always hamstrung by existing continuity. I'd much prefer games set in Star Wars' distant past (as was done with the Knights of the Old Reputblic RPG's) or post Episode VI (like some of the Jedi Knight games). I'll probably get Force Unleashed eventually, but I think I'll wait a while for a price drop.
/end rant
How is everybody?
With regard to your rant, I assume you're talking about PC gaming. If that's the case, I don't think things will be improving for you all that much. Between the unpolished games, never-ending updates, ridiculous DRM policies and rampant pirating, PC gaming is in a pretty sorry state right now and lots of big developers and publishers are quickly washing their hands of it. Id software (makers of classics like Doom and Quake) has publicly stated that they're shifting their preferred development platform from PC's to consoles. Since taking over EA, Peter Moore has also publicly stated that PC games are no longer cost-effective and he is actively shifting the company's focus away from that. The few new PC IP's that have been released (like Spore) have been plagued by overly complicated DRM schemes that really tie the player's hands.
For better or worse, consoles are where the action's at when it comes to gaming and innovation. Too Human for the 360 is a great Diablo style action game that can be played solo or co-operatively and even Mercenaries 2 (which you were waiting years for) runs visibly better on consoles than on the PC. And of course, GTA4 on the 360 is loads of fun and there's even exclusive content coming soon.
You've already got yourself a PS3, check out some games for that. Uncharted is a great action game in the vein of Tomb Raider but with a really good story and some nice voice acting. Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction is a beautiful platform shooter with visuals that rival a PIXAR movie. If you want racing, there's GRID, DiRT, Gran Tourismo Prologue and Sega Rally, just to name a few. And Unreal Tournament III (which I own, BTW) is a great FPS online shooter. Resistance: Fall of Man, another solid PS3 FPS just dropped in price to $30 and Resistance 2 is around the corner.
Let go of your PC bias young padawan and come on over to the Console side, you'll have a far better time.
Actually, no, I wasnt referring to PC though it has its problems. I have easy access to consoles now (roommate has one, friend has one, etc...), so I get to see all of the titles listed below, and I will pick them apart. First, I will start with Too Human, which was absolute trash. Really, fun was NOT the word that came to mind. Mindless dungeon crawler with terrible camera issues, and long range weapons that couldnt kill at kitten. Mercs 2, buggy, unfinished, and many key gameplay features cut. As for GTA, I admittedly like it, but I only play it for 30 min at a time, so rampaging around doesnt get tired. I would never touch the single player as it is far too in depth, so I wonder how long I could stay with it. As for R&C: ToD, I will admit I havent played it. I didnt much care for Uncharted, and its going to take a while for those game to overtake Tomb Raider: Legend which I still highly reguard. I own Unreal Tournament 3, and have for several months, good game, lost my interest. Played both GRiD and DiRT, and found GRid to be ultimately too unforgiving, but I liked Dirt alot. As for the first Resistance, I got hands on with my brothers PS3, and found it to be very disappointing, as the controls felt funky. Phew, quite a rant.
However, that being said, I have two more issues to address, PC gaming, and my original point. Ill address the latter first because I will get my whining out. I want something original. and while this may sound ironic, I think that Fallout 3 is shaping up nicely (albeit without multiplayer, dang you Bethesda). I like the attention to detail, and the over-the-top patriotism jokes and such. However, that is it. There seems to little drive to push the industry in any new meaningful direction, which is disappointing. It's not just on the PC, you would be straining to find an innovatice, well-executed game on any console. I missed one in retrospect...I REALLY WANT MIRRORS Edge. Looks bloody epic.
Now, as for PC gaming and my bias. I have recently changed some of my gaming habits and have become much more mobile. Thus, I enjoy playing on my laptop. Games on the source engine (Half-life 2, Counter Strike: Source, POrtal, etc.) run great on every system and are easily portable. Plus, I hate carrying around discs, so Steam, is absolutely great. With fast download speeds, I have definately jumped on Steam's bandwagon. This helps me stay mobile and when roaming around the dorms, if some guys are playing games, I can plunk down then and there and play as opposed to having to hook up a console to a TV (IF there is one), carry 9 million cables, etc. It's so much more social I find. However, my biggest issue with consoles is the fact that developers for consoles abuse their buyers by nickling and diming them to death. All of the new maps and suck for Gears, Rainbow Six, and CoD4 all came to the PC for free. Plus, I love the fact that we have quite a few small developers (Stardock, Relic, and Gas Powered Games come to mind) and that RTS' are playable on the PC. PLus, I cant stand those console controllers. So, for all of the above reasons and in spite of DRM (I dont care about pirates, I dont deal with them and they dont affect me, though they help me get around the DRM :v ) I remian a PC gamer. And FYI, I really like updates because though they are an excuse for bugs, they often help balance gameplay as well, which is great.
Also, Peter Moore is NOT the head of EA, John Ricitiello still is. Peter Moore is the head of EA sports.
With regard to Too Human, I don't think you really gave it a chance. I've only played solo so far and have gone thru the campaign twice and buffed my character upto level 43. If you're unable to kill enemies, then you're not using your character correctly. I play as a commando and my ranged weapons do massive damage on most enemies. Some do have attributes that force me to go melee but that's the exception not the norm.
Mercs 2 is a buggy mess and I haven't bought it; I only brought that one up because you couldn't stop raving about it a while back.
I actually bought and beat GTA and if it could hold my attention - and I'm typically terrible at these open world games - then I think just about anyone can finish the game.
The only problem I had with GRID was the drift races, which is a style of racing I've never cared for. Other than that, I've found that you can get to the higher levels of the game if you invest the time in it.
Resistance is a game that even I could only play in short spurts. Still, it does have an interesting storyline and some unique weapons and play mechanics, which goes to your complaint about a lack of originality.
Fallout 3 does look interesting, although I'm not wild about how all the graphics I've seen have a greenish cast to them. Unless Bethesda really drops the ball on that one, I'll be picking up the 360 version.
It almost sounds as though you're playing too many games at once; I like to focus on one game at a time, master that and then move on to something else.
As far as lack of originality on consoles goes, Mirror's Edge is console exclusive for now, I think. Little Big Planet for the PS3 also looks to be pretty innovative (though the subject matter doesn't interest me) and it's another console exclusive. Even existing IPs like Prince of Persia are completely revamping their gameplay. And then of course you have the Wii and even though 90% of its software is garbage, there are some really nice games where the gesture based control really adds to the experience. There is originality out there and not every game nickel and dimes you for content (all of the additional content for Burnout Paradise is free for example).
As for gaming on a laptop vs. a console, to each his own. I understand where you're coming from given that fact that you're in school. But for me, I enjoy playing a game from my couch on as big a screen as possible with the surround sound cranked up - it makes for a much more immersive experience and that really influences a game's fun factor for me. I can't imagine a game like the upcoming Dead Space having the same impact on a 17" laptop display as it would on a 52" hi-def rig with the lights turned off. I also like the plug 'n play simplicity of consoles and the simplified control schemes that a control pad brings, but again that's just a personal preference.
As for Peter Moore, my bad. But seeing as sports is EA's biggest section, I do think his opinion carries more than a little weight at EA.
By the way, I hope that this renewed focus on gaming isn't adversely impacting your grades.
On the HDTV thing, I am actually sitting in front of my 24" HDTV right now which is my desktops monitor. A 24" HDTV is absolutely huge at this range, so I get some of the effect when I play without lights and such...also helps with my surround sound. I did mention I bought and HDTV didnt I?
My gripes for GTA and GRiD still stand, and I really didnt much care for Too Human, I would take Oblivion over it any day. As for Resistance, I beat the game, and I liked the weapons, but I am not sure what the innovation was there...
Also, I am actually not really playing anything now, which is what prompted me to make my post in the first place. Ill sit down and play CoD4 for an hour with friends on the weekends, but thats about it...
LittleBigPLanet has the same problem with me...the subject matter lacks a bit. On the Prince of Persia thing, I will be curious to see how that goes, but it is also for PC, so im set it seems. And Mirrors Edge is on the PC as well...I am not suprised either because DICE did the Battlefield serires, which is mostly PC.
Also, admittedly, I went a little overboard with the downloadable content thingy.
ITs great to chat again guys, I am really enjoying this litle debate!!! {[]
What should I do?
According to Microsoft's UK Xbox website, you can dial this number to open up a service call on your console: 0800 587 1102
Every Xbox 360 has a three year warranty against the RROD, so you should be fine. Once you give them your console's serial number they'll initiate a call ticket and arrange to have the box sent to them to be repaired or replace.
The story behind the game is actually pretty interesting. Taking place shortly before the events of Episode IV, you play Vader's secret apprentice, hunting down refugee Jedi and preparing to help Vader one day overthrow the Emperor...or so you think. Without giving too much away, the story ties directly into the birth of the rebellion and you end up playing a pretty important role in the whole saga.
Graphically, the game is a mixed bag; you get to explore some pretty interesting environments but there are a lot of glitches and some pretty nasty vertical tearing (where the image almost seems to rip apart as you move around quickly).
As far as gameplay goes, you get to engage in lots of lightsaber action and play with the usual array of force powers. There are also lots of God of War inspired button-pressing events peppered throughout the game. You're also given lots of discretion as to how to power up your various abilities as the game progresses. A couple of the boss encounters get pretty tedious (especially one involving a Star Destroyer) and in the final level you must battle both Darth Vader and the Emperor (though luckily not at the same time).
The game is very, very short and the entire campaign can be easily finished in 7-8 hours. There is some replay value to be had if you want to find all the secret items or power your character up completely. The ending is well done but also somewhat disappointing given what ultimately happens to your character.
Overall a good effort marred by some glitches and a story somewhat hamstrung by having to fit into established Star Wars continuity.
November brings the release of Tomb Raider: Underworld in which the quest is centered around Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. The graphics look good, however I'm not entirely thrilled with the new Lara Croft model. The actual model they used for this game is very pretty, and a gymnast to boot, but her body type is just a tad too 'husky' for Lara Croft IMO.
The previews of the game, however, look stellar, and Lara Croft's body movements continue to grow more and more nimble.
Looking forward to Underworld as well; the graphics just keep getting better and better and Lara keeps getting more and more realistic.
http://tech.msn.com/products/articlecnet.aspx?cp-documentid=11072318>1=40000
www.scottacademymartialarts.co.uk
It looks good but I'm not wild about the fact that the game will be 100% first person action with some over the shoulder closeups when you're behind cover; I'm very disappointed that there will be no driving levels this time around. One of the strengths of the better Bond games was that they mixed up the gameplay from level to level and I hope that this doesn't get tedious after a while. Also still no word on what (if any) gadgets you'll end up using.
I know the films are going for a more realistic take, but this is a still a videogame and if they ditch the gadgets and focus strictly on real-world weapons it will make it harder for the game to stand out and it could end up looking like every other first person shooter out there. The FPS genre is a crowded one and the game needs some unique elements to stand out; just slapping the "Bond" moniker on it won't be enough.
I'm going to wait for a few reviews and maybe a demo before taking the plunge on this one.
www.scottacademymartialarts.co.uk
God of War style button combos have become all the rage; they were also featured in Star Wars: Force Unleashed. I don't mind them as long as they don't get too complicated, but that gimmick is starting to outwear its welcome.
I've had RS:V2 for months but have been unable to maintain any interest in the game. I'll play a level and then not touch it for months. For what its worth, the first game didn't have any cinematics either and they ending was positively non-existent, it basically just set up the next game. The Ghost Recon games do the same thing and it's disappointing to hear that Ubisoft pulled the same stunt again.
Several folks I chat with on another board have already played the beta and say it's a lot of fun. Personally, I'm somewhat burned out on WWII shooters; I recently bought Call of Duty 3 and even though it was well made, I lost interest about halfway thru and sold the game. As such, I'll be passing on CoD5.
The monsters you come across are very reminiscent of Rob Bottin's creations from The Thing, and adding a bit of strategy to the game, you must first blast their limbs and other appendages before aiming for the humanoid head to take them out. The pace of the game is very slow and deliberate as you methodically explore the ship, performing various tasks that your commander radios to you. In addition to an array of weapons you can also upgrade your suit and acquire abilities that let you slow down time and perform telekenesis to help you achieve your objectives and solve the game's puzzles.
The game has a very effective atmosphere with lots of creepy ambient sounds and expansive, dimly lit rooms and hallways. Grahpically, the game looks great (I thought the opening was a canned cinematic when in fact, it was being rendered in real time and I could even look around.). Not for the squeamish, there is blood and gore everywhere, and you're often assailed when you least expect it. There are also some zero gravity sections and areas where you must go into the vacuum of space to progress that are quite effective.
I picked up the PS3 version, mainly so I could play something on that console, although just about every review says that the PS3 and 360 versions are both prtty much identical.
Definitely worth a look if you're into the horror / survival genre.
Glances in RogueAgent's direction.
I already PM'd him my endorsement.
I'm on Level 6 and have been enjoying the game quite a bit. It plays somewhat like Doom 3 (very slow and deliberate) while the design of the game is very reminiscent of Alien and Aliens (right down to the leaky rooms, large machinery and flashing yellow warning lights in certain areas). The zero-gravity sections are also very well done and really make you feel like your character is in a weightless environment. The levels that take place outside the ship or in areas where you're exposed to vacuum are also very intense as you have limited ogygen and there is complete silence except for your ogygen supply, as it would really be in outer space; even your weapons can hardly be heard.
The only place where it tripped up so far was a section where you had to man a mass driver cannon and blast away asteroids while one of your fellow crewmembers made repairs; the asteroids seemed to spawn randomly and that made for a somewhat frustrating and unnecessarily difficult section that took a few tries to get thru as the control pad just wasn't fast or accurate enough to quickly target all the asteroids (mouse support would have really come in handy given how the section was laid out). Still, in spite of that, it's a very effective, atmospheric game that's also been quite fun so far.
About the only negative for me (other than a very frustrating section where you have to blast away asteroids from a cannon turret) was the last thing you see after beating the game, right before the credits roll. After everything that the character you played as was subjected to, I could have really done without that one last bit (kind of reminded me of the very end of the first Condemned game in that regard). Maybe it'll end up being a nightmare in the inevitable sequel.
BTW, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga has been marked down to $19.99 on all platforms; lots of stuff to do in this one as it spans all six Star Wars movies.
The most frustrating part was locating all of the Doom spybots and Fantastic Four coins. There is no indication as to how many of which items are on each level, so if you missed one, you have no choice but to scour ALL the levels until you found it.
Once the characters are all leveled up, the gameplay can be entertaining because you can actually enjoy the full extent of your character's abilities. Without your maximized superpowers, as it is in the beginning of the game, it makes it hard to really get into the game. In order to enjoy FF:ROSS, you have to dedicate yourself to it, which I suspect many people didn't have the patience for.
Next up: I just purchased Tomb Raider: Anniversary and Thrillville: Off the Rails this weekend...:)