Video Games...Discuss Them

[Dukefrukem]

Thought you guys might like this video I took of Fallout New Vegas.

gNO9XTX-Sf0

[Thirdmango]

Duke I don't know if you knew this because I didn't for a long while but you can change your menu screen in new vegas to the green hue of fallout 3 instead of the orange of new vegas. It's much easier on my eyes and I just love that green hue.

[Dukefrukem]

I didn't know that and I will change it. Thank you!

[Morris Schæffer]

How do the Uncharted games rate?

For me, very high. They're cinematic so there's little going off the beaten path and you will have to endure cut scenes. Fortunately, for a game, they're exceptionally well directed and scripted. Very witty also. Some of the most likeable characters around. The set pieces are frequently awe-inspiring with parts 2 and 3 upping the ante considerably although Uncharted 3 did provoke a bit of a deja vu sensation in me, leaving the second game as the true masterpiece.

[Dukefrukem]

How do the Uncharted games rate?

Only the best action/adventure games you can buy.

Uncharted 1: 89
Uncharted 2: 99
Uncharted 3: 95

[Milky Joe]

I was going to say, Sven, you should have gone with Demon's Souls. It's a lot more enjoyable than Dark (that is, less insanely difficult), in my opinion. It's also a lot cheaper.

[Scar]

I think I'm the only one on the planet who doesn't like the Uncharted games.

[Milky Joe]

Nah, you're definitely not. Those 'games' are pretty much terrible in every aspect except for production values and voice acting.

[Acapelli]

the hand to hand combat system and cover shooting bits are great, and the platforming is excellent

[D_Davis]

I think I'm the only one on the planet who doesn't like the Uncharted games.

I don't like them at all.

[Lucky]

What's the early word on this Sleeping Dogs game? Saw the commercial during Breaking Bad, piqued my interest.

[EyesWideOpen]

I think I'm the only one on the planet who doesn't like the Uncharted games.

I finished the first one and thought it was an average action game nothing more.

[Sven]

A fine summation of Uncharted offered by the sum of all these descriptions. It is equal parts fun and boring and well-produced and bland. Fighting the bad guys is getting to be a drag, more annoying than challenging. But exploring and cliffhanging is fun, and the cinematic integration is well-handled. Still, too many cut scenes and it needs a little more incentive. A reason to rotate weapons, or varying baddies, or more complicated puzzles, or something

I'm on the fence. "Terrible" is harsh, but "great" is laying it on a little thick.

[Watashi]

Are you playing the first Uncharted game? Because the first one is mediocre. The second one is a masterpiece. The quality is night and day from the first game.

[Sven]

Are you playing the first Uncharted game? Because the first one is mediocre. The second one is a masterpiece. The quality is night and day from the first game.

Yeah, the first. What's better about the second?

[Winston*]

Yeah, the first. What's better about the second?

The scale.

[Morris Schæffer]

The scale.

Bout sums it up. Perhaps the variety in locales also. Part one was all jungle wasn't it?

[Watashi]

The scale.
That and the combat system is much better. I remember the AI being much more logical and harder in 2.

Plus the story and villain is better.

[Morris Schæffer]

What's the early word on this Sleeping Dogs game? Saw the commercial during Breaking Bad, piqued my interest.

Early word is it lacks a bit of polish, but it's a sweet open world game, less restricted and concerned with realism than GTA IV and more about crazy action and set pieces. From the videos, the fighting system appears incredibly satisfying and brutal. I was reminded of the batman games.

[Winston*]

I didn't really enjoy Uncharted 3, because experiencing Uncharted 2's tricks again kind of made me see through them. The central boat sequence, for example, was boring to me.

Also the story and its integration with the set pieces was much worse than in the previous two.

[Dukefrukem]

Nah, you're definitely not. Those 'games' are pretty much terrible in every aspect except for production values and voice acting.

:lol:



I don't like them at all.

But it makes sense that you don't like them based on your interest in vgs. So that I don't have a problem with. I have a problem was Milky's baseless statement.

[Dukefrukem]

Are you playing the first Uncharted game? Because the first one is mediocre. The second one is a masterpiece. The quality is night and day from the first game.

I agree here. The third is a bit of a retread of the 2nd, so I can understand why the 2nd game gets so much praise over the 3rd, but I just love the characters so damn much. Never before have I been sucked into a video game as easily and as willingly as I have with the Uncharted series. I score the first game high because if you're playing all three back to back, the first game makes as an excellent beginning to a trilogy. I just love them all so damn much. The music/score is among the best I've ever heard in a vg. Plus Nathan Drake/North reminds me of Nathan Fillion, whom I love.

[Dukefrukem]

I didn't really enjoy Uncharted 3, because experiencing Uncharted 2's tricks again kind of made me see through them. The central boat sequence, for example, was boring to me.

Also the story and its integration with the set pieces was much worse than in the previous two.

The boat sequence and chateau sequence are two of the best action set-pieces I've ever played in a video game.

In the second game, everything involving the train was mind-fucking-blowing.

However, the biggest criticism (which I can obviously ignore) is the double twist that appears in the third act of the first two games. The third game pokes fun at this quite a bit, which I admire.

[number8]

So Best Buy has Rayman Origins and Dead Rising 2 for $9.99 and Bulletstorm for $4.99.

Worth it?

[D_Davis]

So Best Buy has Rayman Origins... for $9.99

It's worth it at $60.

[Dukefrukem]

Now Bulletstorm is terrible.

[Spun Lepton]

So Best Buy has Rayman Origins and Dead Rising 2 for $9.99 and Bulletstorm for $4.99.

Worth it?

I hated Dead Rising 2. Repetitive and filled with escort quests.

[Dukefrukem]

I hated Dead Rising 2. Repetitive and filled with timed escort quests.

Fixed and Yup. But may be worth $9.99.

[Sycophant]

Milky Joe's statement wasn't baseless and he's got plenty of interest in video games. WTH.

[Dukefrukem]

Ok baseless is the wrong choice of words. Replace it with misguided.

"Those 'games' are pretty much terrible in every aspect except for production values and voice acting."

Pretty much terrible in every aspect? WTH indeed.

[number8]

I have never played any of the Uncharted games.

I think played the demo for the second one a long time ago. Seems just ok.

[number8]

OK, so if I'm not getting Bulletstorm or Dead Rising 2, Rage and Dead Space 2 are also $9.99. Worth it?

[Dukefrukem]

I'm not a fan of Rage. I think it's everything Id told us it wouldn't be; a monotonous open world go to A and do B RPGish-game. It's not action FPS like they said it would be. But if you want to appreciate a stellar graphics engine, then it may be worth $10.

Dead Space 2 I also hated- It plays nothing like it's predecessor except that you shoot mutating aliens up until the last 60-120 minutes of gameplay where they really were inspired by some last minute creativity. It also has one of the best ending boss battles I've ever played. But the 10 hours preceding it was disappointing for me (except for one set piece that I won't detail you with). Also worth $10, esp if you plan on continuing the story.

[Dukefrukem]

Basically I think all of those games are worth playing for $9.99 with the exception of Bulletstorm.

[Spun Lepton]

OK, so if I'm not getting Bulletstorm or Dead Rising 2, Rage and Dead Space 2 are also $9.99. Worth it?

I picked up Rage for $20, but only played it for an hour or two. Not because it's bad, just because between Sniper Elite V2, Sims 3, and Mortal Kombat, my interests are pretty much booked. I could see it being worth $9.99.

[number8]

Nevermind, Best Buy is being a cunt. Thanks for the help anyway.

[EyesWideOpen]

Dead Space 2 and Rayman Origins are two of the best games this gen and Bulletstorm and Rage are awesome also. I had more fun with Bulletstorm then any Gears, Halo or COD game I've ever played.

[D_Davis]

I had more fun with Bulletstorm then any Gears, Halo or COD game I've ever played.

I hear this a lot. I still need to try it.

[EyesWideOpen]

I hear this a lot. I still need to try it.

I could see being a little put off on it if you paid $60 because it's pretty short but as a rental (which is how I played it) or getting for under $20 (not to mention the crazy $5 best buy is selling it right now) it's a fun time.

[D_Davis]

I could see being a little put off on it if you paid $60 because it's pretty short but as a rental (which is how I played it) or getting for under $20 (not to mention the crazy $5 best buy is selling it right now) it's a fun time.

I love short games, and I like arcadey games, so I have a feeling I'll like BS. I was initially turned off by all the "dick-tits" stuff, but I hear they actually justify it, and that the characters end up being rather interesting.

[Acapelli]

well i recall reading it was written by rick remender, who's one of the best comic book writers in the business currently

[Ivan Drago]

Whaaaa? I don't get madden these days, but that's a huge mishap. Why?

I have no idea. I'm looking up info now and most forums think they're just retooling the feature.

One of my favorite memories of this feature: In NCAA 07's Dynasty mode, I put my college's team (SIU Salukis) into Division I-A, and had recruited the top DE in the nation during my third year. In his three years at SIUC, the DE obliterated the single game, single season, and all time NCAA sack records, recording 25 sacks per season, won the Heisman trophy his junior year, and helped transform a I-AA school into a Big Ten powerhouse. He ended up leaving after his third year to go pro, after which I imported his class into Madden 07 and sure enough, he was drafted within the top 5 picks of the NFL Draft. Now the feelings that came with all that will never be experienced again.

[/nerdgasm]

[Morris Schæffer]

I had more fun with Bulletstorm then any Gears, Halo or COD game I've ever played.

It's also the Bulletstorm guys that are making Gears of war: Judgment so that will be right up your alley. Maybe. ;)

[EyesWideOpen]

It's also the Bulletstorm guys that are making Gears of war: Judgment so that will be right up your alley. Maybe. ;)

The reason Bulletstorm worked is because they were allowed to go crazy. I've read enough about the new Gears game to know that they were hired in specifically just to crank out a new Gears game in a year before the new consoles dropped. It's a work for hire thing so there will be very little of the uniqueness which made Bullestorm so interesting.

[Dukefrukem]

7nDWUL1z-bk

[Morris Schæffer]

The reason Bulletstorm worked is because they were allowed to go crazy. I've read enough about the new Gears game to know that they were hired in specifically just to crank out a new Gears game in a year before the new consoles dropped. It's a work for hire thing so there will be very little of the uniqueness which made Bullestorm so interesting.

Hence, the "maybe." :)

#Duke: Looks amazing. I wanna play that. Rage continues to be great fun. Got my buggy hooked up with some weaponry, done a few races.

[Dukefrukem]

Those races are so fucking lame.

[Dukefrukem]

Wow. EA really is a money grubbing whore. Battlefield 3 Premium Edition coming September for $70.

[Ezee E]

Yeah. Loved that too, except I eventually just got bored with Madden's gameplay and stopped.

[number8]

WHAAAAT this came out of nowhere. Guys, check your PS3s. Native YouTube app just got released.

[Dukefrukem]

Fuckin' finally!

[number8]

Holy shit, you can pair a smartphone as a remote. Use your phone to search videos, click play and it plays on your PS3, then control the playback with your phone.

[Dukefrukem]

Holy shit, you can pair a smartphone as a remote. Use your phone to search videos, click play and it plays on your PS3, then control the playback with your phone.

There's absolutely no news in my RSS feed about this. WTH.

[number8]

Both the Google and PS3 official blogs just announced it. I think gaming sites are still catching up since this came out of left field.

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2012/08/14/youtube-app-for-ps3-lands-today/

http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2012/08/game-on-get-new-youtube-app-for.html

[number8]

Now there's just HBO Go left. *rubs hands*

[Dukefrukem]

Now there's just HBO Go left. *rubs hands*

They'll hold out the longest. Their app just made it to ICS a few weeks ago.

[Dukefrukem]

Hey, it was just announced that PS+ members will be a boost in cloud storage increasing from 150MB to 1GB in Sept. My saved games were getting cramped. Good to see they are increasing the space.

[Lasse]

Holy shit, you can pair a smartphone as a remote. Use your phone to search videos, click play and it plays on your PS3, then control the playback with your phone.

So the PS3 remote that I just bought today is a waste of money? Good thing that I haven't opened the box.

[number8]

So the PS3 remote that I just bought today is a waste of money? Good thing that I haven't opened the box.

Well, no, since this is just for the Youtube app.

[Lasse]

Well, no, since this is just for the Youtube app.

Oh, didn't catch that. Thanks.

[EyesWideOpen]

I've bought more games this month then I have probably all year so far. Besides Journey and Tales of Graces F I recently bought Sound Shapes and Papo & Yo for the Playstation Network. I got Darksiders II for 360 and I've already preordered the Ratchet and Clank Collection and the new God of War 5 game Collection which come out later this month.

[D_Davis]

Darksiders II is out?

Dammit. I just bought another synth, too. Oh well, I'll have to wait.

[Dukefrukem]

Yeh I'm waiting on Darksiders 2 as well.

[Skitch]

Traded in some dvds and games (including Arkham Asylum 360) and got Arkham Asylum GOTY and Killzone 3. Took all of a week for me to conquer AA again. Now to replay it...again...on hard...again. :)

[Dukefrukem]

Traded in some dvds and games (including Arkham Asylum 360) and got Arkham Asylum GOTY and Killzone 3. Took all of a week for me to conquer AA again. Now to replay it...again...on hard...again. :)

The SP campaign of Killzone 3 is awful. BUt the MP is a friggin blast. I bought one of these (http://www.penguinunitedstore.com/products/Eagle-Eye-Converter-for-Playstation-3.html) for my PS3, and I dominate every round.

[Dukefrukem]

Routine is a first person horror exploration game set on an abandoned Moon base

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[Dukefrukem]

beautiful!

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[number8]

That's a pretty clever reversal of the "hide in shadows" gameplay.

[number8]

So this app turned out to be pretty shitty. Crashes after every video. Also it maxes out at 480p.

[Ezee E]

Rain and Routine both look great. I must get a PS3.

[Irish]

Wow, didn't keep up on it, but EA Bioware has fired a bunch of people and now SWTOR is going free-to-play.

What a clusterfuck.

[Dukefrukem]

I started playing through Borderlands again last night. Made it to LVL 13. I hate killing dogs so much.

[Dukefrukem]

Wow, didn't keep up on it, but EA Bioware has fired a bunch of people and now SWTOR is going free-to-play.

What a clusterfuck.

Yup. They spent a lot of money on that MMO too. EA ruined Bioware like they ruin every other small developer they swallow.

[D_Davis]

Wow, didn't keep up on it, but EA Bioware has fired a bunch of people and now SWTOR is going free-to-play.

What a clusterfuck.

Yep. I predicted that SWTOR would be the downfall of Bioware - just a stupid, stupid thing to spend that much money and time on. That business model was outdated years ago.

And, I'll be honest, I love seeing Star Wars things fail. I am so beyond sick and tired of that franchise/universe. It's one of the few things I will actively hate on.

Is that stupid and childish? Yeah, probably. Oh well. :) I just really want it to go away.

[Irish]

True and true.

I've been reading some MMO design blogs and at this point I'm wondering if that entire genre is screwed beyond simple co-op PvP style play.

I'm still mildly surprised Bioware screwed up the license that badly (and they did; I played the game for 3 months before I quite out of boredom).

I really thought MMO + lightsabers was going to be pure gold for both the playerbase and EA.

[D_Davis]

Lightsabers don't work in video games. They're a terrible game mechanic. In the films and fiction, they're one hit kills, but in the video games they are nothing more than glowing swords. Why they keep trying to make them work is beyond stupid.

It's like Superman - playing superman in a video game is boring, unless every single enemy is made of krypton. The last Superman game had a great idea - give the city a health bar. That was actually a stroke of genius. Too bad the game sucked.

[Irish]

Yeah, that's true. I was playing WoW regularly back when SWTOR was still being developed, and my guild mates all had reservations. My retort was, "Dude, doesn't matter. Lightsabers!"

I rarely admitted that there was no way to balance a Jedi class against anything else, or that there would ever be a compelling reason to play anything other than a Jedi.

Which, unfortunately as far as SWTOR was concerned, turned out to be true.

The F2P thing still shocks me. That's an open admission that they fucked up beyond belief. The game isn't even a year old.

[D_Davis]

I think somewhere in this thread I predicted 6 months until FTP.

At least I hope I did, because I was thinking it. :)

[Dukefrukem]

At PAXEast 2011, the line to play SWTOR was over 2 hours for entire three day weekend.

[Dukefrukem]

I think I may write up a mini-review for Counterstrike: Global Offensive

[Morris Schæffer]

I think I may write up a mini-review for Counterstrike: Global Offensive

The first time I got into multiplayer on PC. Lots of fun. Back in 2001. I'll never forget how the usual smacktalk suddenly went away, replaced by words such as "WTC" and "airplanes." It ceased being fun at that moment.

Rage is quite spectacular. Some of the missions are incredibly exciting, especially on Nightmare level. Saving everywhere helps though. Some really icky corridors like only ID can craft them.

[Dukefrukem]

The first time I got into multiplayer on PC. Lots of fun. Back in 2001. I'll never forget how the usual smacktalk suddenly went away, replaced by words such as "WTC" and "airplanes." It ceased being fun at that moment.

Rage is quite spectacular. Some of the missions are incredibly exciting, especially on Nightmare level. Saving everywhere helps though. Some really icky corridors like only ID can craft them.

Global Offensive is the new Counterstrike. Have you played?

And aside from the giant set piece that is Rage, you're truely impressed by the missions? By the combat?

[bac0n]

The Good News: Uncharted Dual Pack is in my hands! :pritch:

The Bad News: It's going to be at least a month before I can play it! :sad:

(the TV is downstairs, unhooked up, and the basement is a terrible mess)

[Morris Schæffer]

Global Offensive is the new Counterstrike. Have you played?

And aside from the giant set piece that is Rage, you're truely impressed by the missions? By the combat?

Well, I hardly ever have the time to play multiplayer games. When I do, it seems like a smarter bet to play a thing like Battlefield 3 which takes something like the original CS to its logical extreme with vehicles, bigger levels, better graphics etc... Although I haven't exactly bothered to look up any info on CS: GO.

I think what Rage does really exceptionally well is convey a sense of place with its outdoor locations, but also with its indoor locales. So when I descend into the sewers or make my way into an abandoned hospital, the illusion is complete, absolute. The enemies are a vicious bunch, never quite standing in one spot, but often charging straight at me. It keeps me on my toes. Weaponry feels meaty, not too original so far, but I like the way they feel, the way they fire. As for the missions, I suppose they're pretty much fetch quests, and thus nothing to write home about. And yet, as I inch my forward, there's never any doubt I'm completely enveloped in the world. Cool side stuff too such as the races and mutant bash Tv.

[Skitch]

Lightsabers work pretty damn good in Lego form. :)

[number8]

Lightsabers work pretty damn good in Lego form. :)

Yep. One hit dismantles the lego-droids.

Lego Star Wars is the best Star Wars game of all time.

[D_Davis]

Lightsabers work pretty damn good in Lego form. :)

Ah, yes! This is right. Those games are great.

[Scar]

Yep. One hit dismantles the lego-droids.

Lego Star Wars is the best Star Wars game of all time.

http://www.toy-tma.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/TIE-Fighter2.jpg

[Sven]

I love Rebel Assault, personally.

It's sad that the I-III Lego trilogy is a better game than IV-VI.

By the by, is anyone gonna get Darksiders II?

[Watashi]

Best Star Wars game:

http://www.arcade-museum.com/images/118/1181242172216.jpg

[Spun Lepton]

Where's my zombie world MMO?
Where's my Tron MMO?

[Morris Schæffer]

My best star wars game:

http://www.vooks.net/images/uploads/20090818_superstarwars.jpg

[Ezee E]

Not really sure how you can justify that one Morris.

[EyesWideOpen]

By the by, is anyone gonna get Darksiders II?

I got it. I've only played an hour so far though. I've been busy playing Sound Shapes.

[Milky Joe]

Jedi Outcast handled lightsabers pretty well, especially once you turned on the "dismemberment" cheat.

[Morris Schæffer]

Not really sure how you can justify that one Morris.

To be honest, I never got into the Kotor games, nor did I play any Star Wars games on the PC either although I sampled the likes of Rebel Assault and Dark Forces over at friends. The arcade cabinet Watashi posted I always thought looked awesome, but arcades in Belgium are like Imax screens. Ain't gonna find one. Episode 1: Pod Racer On the N64 was decent, especially with two joypads to simulate Anakin's control cheme in the movie.

That being said, SSW got nothing but great reviews back in the early 90's. It may be odd, to repurpose this franchise as a Platform shooter, but in every way it felt like the same universe. The brief voice samples were great, the music also, the swoosh swoosh of the saber was all kinds of awesome to my ears while the Super Nes's patented Mode 7 effects, used for the landspeeder and trench scenes, a sight to behold.

Edit: Ok, I gotta ask, have you actually played it? :)

[number8]

What, no one's gonna defend Teras Kasi?

[Dukefrukem]

Best Star Wars game, it had live action cut scenes and yes, your light sabers could cut stormtroopers limbs off.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2f/JediKnight-cover.jpg/252px-JediKnight-cover.jpg

[Dukefrukem]

Jedi Outcast handled lightsabers pretty well, especially once you turned on the "dismemberment" cheat.

Yup. That was the sequel to Jedi Knight. It's full title was. Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast. It handled lightsabers the same as Jedi Knight, but the story was a weak excuse to build Kyle's powers again, and no live action cut scenes.

[Dukefrukem]

This is how the game freakin opened. Awesome. The first one is the intro and at 4:00 you start playing. The dialog is especially impressive you and you won't find anything like this in any other Star Wars game. This game was way before it's time.

If you wanna see a cool Match Cut, go to 3:38 in the 2nd video in the spoiler text.

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[Watashi]

I love video game music (especially 8-16 bit), so I was browsing around Youtube and stumbled upon this track from the SNES version of The Flintstones: The Movie.

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Who knew such a shitty game would have amazing music?

[Ivan Drago]

What, no one's gonna defend Teras Kasi?

I wish I played it so I could. I heard it's one of the greatest fighting games ever.

But my favorite Star Wars game might be the first Battlefront.

[Ezee E]

It is a great fighting game, I think there were some combos with Skywalker that would completely kill the opponent.

[Dukefrukem]

This takes you out of the weekend. Happy Sunday everyone.


http://2.media.dorkly.cvcdn.com/78/62/026595f66ed64a957898c4290e88b4 83-videogame-companies-are-your-friends.jpg
http://1.media.dorkly.cvcdn.com/87/14/f5fb7b63f47e99aa1fc19d4b9de2f7 11-videogame-companies-are-your-friends.jpg
http://2.media.dorkly.cvcdn.com/65/57/14ecc77fbb1bcd49da3e6d1c702141 05-videogame-companies-are-your-friends.jpg
http://0.media.dorkly.cvcdn.com/49/82/c45069272a7962313b85599c7a166b ca-videogame-companies-are-your-friends.jpg
http://0.media.dorkly.cvcdn.com/70/63/572f8a9203af67ddb38f6813a75a4e bb-videogame-companies-are-your-friends.jpg
http://1.media.dorkly.cvcdn.com/48/45/c8e874131acc6cd6644adabf9b7d98 b2-videogame-companies-are-your-friends.jpg
http://2.media.dorkly.cvcdn.com/31/64/e76723fdcb67c49bb5ccf8d970afb0 d7-videogame-companies-are-your-friends.jpg
http://0.media.dorkly.cvcdn.com/91/29/184c3ac681cf54c3be5f187649541b 2a-videogame-companies-are-your-friends.jpg
http://2.media.dorkly.cvcdn.com/57/72/f45bb9f73d01eba1fd553d3397c671 81-videogame-companies-are-your-friends.jpg
http://0.media.dorkly.cvcdn.com/66/38/b14aeb4d56148f0d61c2283112ccae b3-videogame-companies-are-your-friends.jpg

[Morris Schæffer]

This supposedly great Zelda book, previously only available in Japan, is coming to the US and Europe early next year:

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/16/the-legend-of-zelda-hyrule-historia-headed-west

[Morris Schæffer]

I love video game music (especially 8-16 bit), so I was browsing around Youtube and stumbled upon this track from the SNES version of The Flintstones: The Movie.

Who knew such a shitty game would have amazing music?

That sounds great. This calls for a selection of great SNES scores:

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D6qJno5R0tI

Plo3YL1CATM

hiYFeVhcIlc

[D_Davis]

My favorite game soundtrack:

P-Ebsa_Pc9U

[Sven]

It's all about this one, dudes:

BUCvzfmJNzs

[Dukefrukem]

My favorite game soundtrack;

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[Watashi]

This is also one of my favorites:

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Of course nothing beats David Wise:

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[Morris Schæffer]

Goddamn. i just checked metacritic reviews for Super Mario Galaxy 2 and it literally reads like the best reviewed game ever. I played the original when I still had a Wii, but I'm probably going to buy the sequel by the time I have a WiiU.

I guess this begs the question. Who's excited and getting the WiiU?

To be honest, I'm not even close to being excited, but some gems are bound to appear right?

A new 3D Mario might appear in 2013 as reported by The Paul Gale Network.

http://paulgalenetwork.com/home/2012/08/17/paul-gale-network-learns-that-nintendo-is-currently-in-development-of-a-3d-mario-game-for-wii-u-in-addition-to-new-super-mario-bros-u/

Edit: and Skyward Sword. :)

[Dukefrukem]

I will probably never be buying another Nintendo product, unless my kids want one.

[Kiusagi]

I'm considering getting a Wii U, but I don't think I like the touch screen controller. I won't judge until I actually try it, but I'm kind of over "innovations" like motion controls. At the very least, the Wii U will surely deliver on its Mario, Zelda, Metroid, etc games.

[Lasse]

What irritates me about new consoles is that we are bound to endure the roll-out of the usual character games and re-releases. In Nintendo's case, the Mario and Zelda games. They might be fantastic games, but it just seems so uninspired.

[EyesWideOpen]

I had a Wii when it came out, kept it for almost a year and sold it. I got annoyed with the controller. Up until the Wii I was a huge Nintendo fan. So now that I skipped a generation of games I'm pretty excited to get a WiiU if just to play through the games I missed. If I was only getting one system then the WiiU would not be the way to go but I have a 360 and a PS3 and I'll definitely get whatever the new Xbox is and probably the PS4 so I'll be covered on the big releases.

[Dukefrukem]

The Wii was a terrible console. I have three or four friends that bought it, played it for a week and it sits behind their TV now. Of course, they were never gamers to begin with. They just saw the $249 price tag and figured, "hey if we don't play it, it's only ~200 bucks".

[D_Davis]

I still need to get a Wii.

I've got a sealed copy of Sin and Punishment 2 waiting to be played.

[EyesWideOpen]

The Wii was a terrible console. I have three or four friends that bought it, played it for a week and it sits behind their TV now. Of course, they were never gamers to begin with. They just saw the $249 price tag and figured, "hey if we don't play it, it's only ~200 bucks".

I disagree with the fact that it was a terrible console. The motion controls were not how I wanted to play games but I could list 50 games I would want to play that are Wii exclusive easily.

[Morris Schæffer]

I got to play Metroid Prime: Corruption. It's just one game, but my god it seems like that alone justified owning the Wii console. I also never did sample 1:1 motion controls so I'm looking forward to eventually trying that with Skyward Sword or a new game on the WiiU.

[Morris Schæffer]

Another amazing mission in Rage. it's not original or multi-tiered. Basically, go in, get the item or extract the dude and get out. But nobody makes firing videogame guns feel as badass and thrilling as ID software. I'm now infiltrating a prison to save a rebellion leader. Getting some Half-Life 2 vibes, the adversaries talk just like the combine and don't look dissimilar. Graphics still amazingly detailed, sound design fabulous. Now pardon me while I soldier on.

[Dukefrukem]

How dare you compared Rage to Half-Life 2.

[Morris Schæffer]

GTA V screens

http://images.gamersyde.com/image_grand_theft_auto_v-20121-2397_0003.jpg

http://images.gamersyde.com/image_grand_theft_auto_v-20121-2397_0002.jpg

http://images.gamersyde.com/image_grand_theft_auto_v-20121-2397_0001.jpg

[Ivan Drago]

:eek:

If the protagonist is who it's rumored to be (an older Claude from GTA 3), my excitement will reach unprecedented levels.

[Morris Schæffer]

http://www.bgr.com/2012/08/22/playstation-4-4k-resolution/

Playstation 4 to support 4K resolution? Would be awesome, provided that:

- 4K displays become affordable
- all ps4 games support it as standard

That being said, with 4K becoming only interesting with larger screen sizes (>50 inches), it remains to be seen how much value it'll add for consumers. Although I assume that with such resolution, aliasing will become nearly extinct.

[Morris Schæffer]

Definitely looks too smooth for both xbox and ps3, although a graphical upgrade is to be expected all the same.

http://images.gamersyde.com/image_grand_theft_auto_v-20158-2397_0002.jpg

http://images.gamersyde.com/image_grand_theft_auto_v-20158-2397_0003.jpg

http://images.gamersyde.com/image_grand_theft_auto_v-20158-2397_0004.jpg

http://images.gamersyde.com/image_grand_theft_auto_v-20158-2397_0001.jpg

[KK2.0]

The Walking Dead game from Telltale was very surprising, i couldn't put down chapter 1 until i've finished it, good start.

[Ezee E]

The Walking Dead game from Telltale was very surprising, i couldn't put down chapter 1 until i've finished it, good start.
Chapter 2 is even better. Couldn't imagine a more thrilling game released this year.

[EyesWideOpen]

Walking Dead Episode 3 comes out tomorrow!

[Dukefrukem]

Another amazing mission in Rage. it's not original or multi-tiered. Basically, go in, get the item or extract the dude and get out. But nobody makes firing videogame guns feel as badass and thrilling as ID software. I'm now infiltrating a prison to save a rebellion leader. Getting some Half-Life 2 vibes, the adversaries talk just like the combine and don't look dissimilar. Graphics still amazingly detailed, sound design fabulous. Now pardon me while I soldier on.

Whoa. I just got to a new area in Rage, and the scenery was jaw dropping.

[number8]

Max Payne and GTA4 PC bundle fot just $25. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&docId=1000827071&linkCode=ur2&tag=just03b-20)

Sweet deal if only I play PC.

[shaun]

Madden 13 release day. :)

[Dukefrukem]

Madden 13 release day. :)

Don't draft Calvin Johnson this year.

[Morris Schæffer]

Whoa. I just got to a new area in Rage, and the scenery was jaw dropping.

I've had a few amazing ones too the last couple of days. Do you know the area or mission you're doing there? Yesterday I was in the jackal canyon which is vaguely reminiscent of the ewok village in Return of the Jedi except more Mad Max-y and after a while, there was this huge cargo ship perched atop a mountain with the anchor just rockin' gently back and forth.

Combat remains the game's high point. Weapons feel so fucking punchy and powerful. Sound FX are just terrific too in surround.

[bac0n]

New DLC announced for Skyrim: Hearthfire. It allows you to buy a plot of land, and then design and build a house which you can then fill with all of your stuff, trophies, and defend against the occasional wayward Giant. You can even adopt a kid and hire a bard and steward for the place. Kinda cool, actually.

Due out next week for XBox. At least a month later for PC. Who-knows-when (if at all) for PS3 (we still have no word on whether we're getting the 1st DLC, DawnGuard, two months after it was released for the XBox). :crazy:

[Dukefrukem]

Microsoft must have paid a boat load of money to keep that DLC timed exclusive.

[Dukefrukem]

I've had a few amazing ones too the last couple of days. Do you know the area or mission you're doing there? Yesterday I was in the jackal canyon which is vaguely reminiscent of the ewok village in Return of the Jedi except more Mad Max-y and after a while, there was this huge cargo ship perched atop a mountain with the anchor just rockin' gently back and forth.

Combat remains the game's high point. Weapons feel so fucking punchy and powerful. Sound FX are just terrific too in surround.

One of the early ones. I'm still not fully committed to the game since I am bouncing between that and New Vegas. I'd like to finish New Vegas first before I dedicate all of my time to Rage.

[bac0n]

Microsoft must have paid a boat load of money to keep that DLC timed exclusive.

I bet Bethesda got a lot of money - either that or MS strong-armed them into the deal. Either way, the source of the delays of getting the updates to the PS3 have more to do with bugs than anything else. We've just now got a patch which the XBox and PC platforms got back in June. Methinks the PS3 dev team over there is dreadfully understaffed.

[megladon8]

I was playing "Assassin's Creed 2" for quite a while. Took me a couple of hours to really get into it, but then it had me hooked for a good 25 hours. I still had great issues with it, though, particularly in its controls. I felt like I was constantly fighting the controller, trying to get it to do what I wanted. Constantly missing ledges and jumps, camera problems causing my pressing forward on the stick to equal backwards movement because the camera randomly does a 180, and fairly clunky, unresponsive combat controls.

The world is quite an amazing feat and feels much more populated than many other large open-world games I've played. Also the mouth animations during dialogue are pretty stellar.


I ended up dropping it for a bit, though, when I started playing "Crysis 2". For all this game does wrong (mostly in how it's very, very dumb), it is masterfully paced. It reminds me a lot of "Half Life 2" (and watching the Zero Punctation review of it showed that I'm not the only one to make that comparison).

When a building collapses about 2/3 through, it has an incredible effect, mostly because we haven't been seeing stuff like this happen every 5 seconds from the first minutes of the game - it builds up to events like this, and the payoff is all the better for it.

They managed to pack an impressive amount of in-depth control and customization into the 360's control layout, so while I do hear a lot of PC gamers bemoaning this game's over-simplification when compared to the first, I think it retains a good amount of depth in its gameplay. The TAC visor is a really cool function.

[Dukefrukem]

I was playing "Assassin's Creed 2" for quite a while. Took me a couple of hours to really get into it, but then it had me hooked for a good 25 hours. I still had great issues with it, though, particularly in its controls. I felt like I was constantly fighting the controller, trying to get it to do what I wanted. Constantly missing ledges and jumps, camera problems causing my pressing forward on the stick to equal backwards movement because the camera randomly does a 180, and fairly clunky, unresponsive combat controls.

The world is quite an amazing feat and feels much more populated than many other large open-world games I've played. Also the mouth animations during dialogue are pretty stellar.


Having just played Assassins Creed 2 and platinumed it, I agree with everything you said here. Welcome back btw.

[megladon8]

Having just played Assassins Creed 2 and platinumed it, I agree with everything you said here. Welcome back btw.


It may sound like the fanboy in me talking, but I swear it's not - I really felt most everything that "AC2" did was done better in RockSteady's Batman games. The movement and environment traversal, combat (particularly their "free flow" method of tackling multiple enemies), the overall design of the world.

Instead of having an enormous world covering three or four cities (like in "AC2") where all the activities and shops are fairly cookie-cutter, RockSteady dialled the scope down a bit, giving us a world that's still large, but more importantly feels more packed with content.

[Dukefrukem]

It may sound like the fanboy in me talking, but I swear it's not - I really felt most everything that "AC2" did was done better in RockSteady's Batman games. The movement and environment traversal, combat (particularly their "free flow" method of tackling multiple enemies), the overall design of the world.

Instead of having an enormous world covering three or four cities (like in "AC2") where all the activities and shops are fairly cookie-cutter, RockSteady dialled the scope down a bit, giving us a world that's still large, but more importantly feels more packed with content.

No I agree with that. I think both games have different goals. Ubisoft wanted to show off the reconstruction of known famous Italian cities; Venice, Florance, Rome etc. Both games were much more linear structured than their predecessors. The polish of AC2 (even with the existing bugs and frustration) is what Ubisoft should have released as the first game in the Assassin Creed series. Each game gets more and more impressive in scope and finer in QA.

[Morris Schæffer]

Assassin's Creed 2: One of the great videogame playgrounds. What a world! I've still got brotherhood lying around. I'm sure it'll be amazing when I get around to it.

Hello Meg. ;)

[Ivan Drago]

Madden 13 release day. :)

And $60 are still in my wallet.

[Dukefrukem]

Assassin's Creed 2: One of the great videogame playgrounds. What a world!

Settle down. Unless you're a historian I can think of 10 other playgrounds that are more impressive than AC2.

[EyesWideOpen]

Walking Dead Episode 3 comes out tomorrow!

To clarify it came out today on PSN and then tomorrow on 360 and PC.

[Ezee E]

Gotta play before Telluride!

[Skitch]

Quite enjoyed Killzone 3. Wish it had been longer though. Oh well, that's what hard difficulty for. :)

[Thirdmango]

SSX was 40 dollars at best buy so I bought it yesterday. Played it most of the night. I have a really hard time with some of the trick levels.

[Morris Schæffer]

Settle down. Unless you're a historian I can think of 10 other playgrounds that are more impressive than AC2.

Of course you can. That's why we have opinions. :)

[Morris Schæffer]

Whoa. I just got to a new area in Rage, and the scenery was jaw dropping.

I heard the reports of a dissapointing ending, and they're relentlessly true. The final mission, which I merely suspected was the final one, seems to be headed towards something reasonably climactic, and then it's over. No bosses, no elaborate cut scene. One of the worst endings in a loooooooooong time.

edit: I can't even simply return to the game to complete all the races. and perhaps some errant missions I hadn't yet done. What a letdown.

[Morris Schæffer]

In the mood for a no-nonsense shooter. Gonna start playing Homefront.

edit: this thing is exactly like Red Dawn. Starts with footage showing Hilary Clinton, Kim-Jong Il and his successor son. Pulls no punches in its opening with crying children running to their executed fathers.

[Dukefrukem]

In the mood for a no-nonsense shooter. Gonna start playing Homefront.

edit: this thing is exactly like Red Dawn. Starts with footage showing Hilary Clinton, Kim-Jong Il and his successor son. Pulls no punches in its opening with crying children running to their executed fathers.

I bought this during the steam sale. It's installed and I was going to start it after I finish New Vegas and Rage. It currently feels like New Vegas content far exceeds the content of Fallout 3. I don't feel anywhere near complete.

[Dukefrukem]

Quite enjoyed Killzone 3. Wish it had been longer though. Oh well, that's what hard difficulty for. :)

Other than the out of place stealth mission, KZ3 was a mediocre shooter for a console (I felt KZ2 was better paced). The multiplayer however is where the game shines. So damn fun.

[Morris Schæffer]

I bought this during the steam sale. It's installed and I was going to start it after I finish New Vegas and Rage. It currently feels like New Vegas content far exceeds the content of Fallout 3. I don't feel anywhere near complete.

There's a big sign in the distance that says "go wolverines." This really is Red Dawn. Although I've now learned that John Millius wrote this game. :lol:

Anyhow, I'm having fun with it in a "get-off-my-fucking-lawn" kinda way. Going from Rage to this ain't easy in terms of visuals, while it seems a bit more realistic than Modern Warfare 2's invasion levels. The action's more measured, there are quiet moments before the storm. Sound FX are a bit puny, voices are muffled a bit compared to Rage's crystal clear samples and directionality.

edit: Aw, this game has some cool-ass bits man. The action's great, the Goliath tank thunderously powerful.

[Dukefrukem]

IN an interview (http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/8/28/3275083/black-mesa-project-preservers), apparently release is imminent.

g-wfdgpCRXc

[Morris Schæffer]

Let's hope Black Mesa is imminent. I guess PC only, but that's ok.

edit: I also bought The Walking Dead ep.1 for XBLA. Gonna see what the fuss is very soon.

[Morris Schæffer]

New Metal Gear game will be an open world adventure, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes.

http://www.vg247.com/2012/08/30/metal-gear-25th-anniversary-event-now-underway/

http://images.vg247.com/current//2012/08/rm7dp.jpg

http://images.vg247.com/current//2012/08/snake.png

The movie has now also been confirmed. It'll be at Columbia Pictures.


I spent years bringing comics to the big screen, making superheroes one of the most popular film genres today, and video games are the new comic books. He promised to take his time and get the film right, vowed to stay true to the themes of the games.

[Dukefrukem]

Do not want.

[Morris Schæffer]

Do not want.

Which part?

[Dukefrukem]

Which part?

Both

[Dukefrukem]

Also, this is the reason why PC gaming > Any other type of gaming

_m3-xw_BOwo

[megladon8]

Have begun playing "Spec Ops: The Line". While I agree with Jeff on GiantBomb that the gameplay is a little derivative and drab (functional and fun, just very "been there, done that"), it may be the first "realistic modern warfare" game I've played that has a genuine conscience.

It's not all "HOO-RAH! America, fuck yeah!", nor does it make soldiers out to be real-life action heroes. You feel bad for having to kill people, and from what I understand it just keeps getting heavier.

[amberlita]

Do not want.

Ditto. I thought they retired the franchise. Metal Gear Solid 4 is one of my absolute favorite games ever, but it was a great bookend to Snake's story. As much as I love it, I don't particularly want to see another installment or reboot. Just move on.

I'll still play the game though. Can't stay away from MGS.

p.s. good to see you, Meg.

[Dukefrukem]

LA Noire dev Team Bondi's next game - Whore of the Orient is the first game that I am aware of that is confirmed for nexgen consoles.

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2012/08/whoreoftheorient530pxheaderimg 12512.png

The game's set in Shanghai, China - "Whore of the Orient. Paris of the East," as the website calls it (http://www.teambondi.com/)- in 1936. A "group of Western cops hopelessly trying to keep the lid on and keep the peace"

[number8]

Metal Gear open world??! Goddamn, think of how many cardboard boxes that would have!

[Dukefrukem]

Metal Gear open world??! Goddamn, think of how many cardboard boxes that would have!

and dogtags.

[EyesWideOpen]

LA Noire dev Team Bondi's next game - Whore of the Orient is the first game that I am aware of that is confirmed for nexgen "

There were games at e3 that developers said were for next gen systems but because of no concrete release info on the new xbox or ps4 they weren't allowed to go into details. Not to mention WiiU stuff has been confirmed and that's a next gen system.

[Dukefrukem]

There were games at e3 that developers said were for next gen systems but because of no concrete release info on the new xbox or ps4 they weren't allowed to go into details.

I don't remember any... :confused:



Not to mention WiiU stuff has been confirmed and that's a next gen system

Don't get me started....

[Morris Schæffer]

I don't remember any... :confused:
...

Watch Dogs? Star Wars 1313?

[Morris Schæffer]

Also, this is the reason why PC gaming > Any other type of gaming

_m3-xw_BOwo

Don't forget!

FTSNbmJ2Rbo&

:)

[Dukefrukem]

Watch Dogs? Star Wars 1313?

Both of those will be released on current gen. At least, that's what was said. They didn't say anything about nexgen systems.

[Thirdmango]

I secretly want every game to be open world. Maybe it'll be my first metal gear solid game.

[Winston*]

There's really going to be a game called 'Whore of the Orient'?:|

[D_Davis]

Do You Know Gaming? (http://didyouknowgaming.com/)

This site is awesome.

Just all kinds of cool facts and trivia about video games.

[EyesWideOpen]

I secretly want every game to be open world. .

Fuck no.

[Lucky]

Do You Know Gaming? (http://didyouknowgaming.com/)

This site is awesome.

Just all kinds of cool facts and trivia about video games.

"Nintendo" means "leave luck to heaven."

Huh. Had no idea. I like that.

[Morris Schæffer]

Completed Homefront. I thought it was sufficiently thrilling with cool locations, especially the finale on a certain landmark. Graphics weren't too detailed, but got the job done. Perhaps it speaks volumes that I'm the kinda gamer who looks forward to each Call of Duty game with the same level of excitement as the last one. And considering I've got many more games waiting to be played, I'm not even pissed about the short length of the SP campaign. The game definitely abandoned the more powerful tone of the beginning bunch of hours for something more bombastic and generic, but again, great set pieces. Good stuff.

On to Alan Wake now.

[Dukefrukem]

Alan Wake is a great thriller.

[Morris Schæffer]

Alan Wake is a great thriller.

Took me long enough to start playing it. Look forward to it. Right now I still have:
Batman: Arkham City / Ace Combat: Assault Horizon / Darksiders / Infamous / Ico + Shadow of the Colossus HD / Castelvania: Lord of Shadow / Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood / Battlefield 3 / Resistance 3 / Prototype / Dead Rising 2 / Spiderman: Shattered Dimensions

And on XBLA:

Bastion / Fez / Beyond Good and Evil / The Walking Dead ep.1 / Sine Mora (played some of this though)

:)

[D_Davis]

"Nintendo" means "leave luck to heaven."

Huh. Had no idea. I like that.

I've spent hours on that website. So many neat little things to learn.

[Dukefrukem]

Took me long enough to start playing it. Look forward to it. Right now I still have:
Batman: Arkham City / Ace Combat: Assault Horizon / Darksiders / Infamous / Ico + Shadow of the Colossus HD / Castelvania: Lord of Shadow / Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood / Battlefield 3 / Resistance 3 / Prototype / Dead Rising 2 / Spiderman: Shattered Dimensions

And on XBLA:

Bastion / Fez / Beyond Good and Evil / The Walking Dead ep.1 / Sine Mora (played some of this though)

:)

I think you'd cry if you saw my backlog.

[Yxklyx]

I've been playing Crusader Kings 2. It's kind of like a cross between Civilization and The Sims. Very addicting.

New Borderlands 2 Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmGsTbBSyF0&feature=g-all-u

[EyesWideOpen]

I have a pretty small backlog. I'm currently alternating between Tales of Graces F and Ratchet and Clank 1 on my PS3 and Darksiders II on my 360. I have the rest of the Ratchet and Clank Collection to play along with the new God of War five game collection, Dust: An Elysian Tale, Rock Band Blitz, Deus Ex: HR, Walking Dead Ep. 3, and the Arkham City Harley Quinn DLC.

Hopefully I get a couple knocked out before Borderlands II because that is gonna eat up the majority of my time.

[EyesWideOpen]

Gamefly is having a sale right now all with free shipping. Two lines of the same title just means for both systems.

Rage $9.99
Rage $9.99
SSX $9.99
SSX $9.99
Madden 12 $9.99
Madden 12 $9.99
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception $ 12.99
SoulCalibur V $12.99
SoulCalibur V $12.99
Gears of War 3 $14.99
Mass Effect 3 $14.99
Mass Effect 3 $14.99
Battlefield 3 $14.99
Battlefield 3 $14.99
Assassin's Creed: Revelations $14.99
Assassin's Creed: Revelations $14.99
Ninja Gaiden 3 $17.99
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning $17.99
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning $17.99

[Spun Lepton]

Gah, OF COURSE, I just purchased Rage and SSX for full-price.

Kingdoms of Amalur is worth $18, definitely.

[D_Davis]

So I want to buy Guild Wars 2, but all the digital downloads are sold out. Uh...I don't think that company knows what a digital download is. This is seriously one of the most retarded things I've ever seen on the internet.

[D_Davis]

Found about 150 copies of Guild Wars 2 at the store...weird how the digital copies are sold out.

Fun game. Flawless install, runs great, a lot of fun, and no monthly fee!

Win.

[Morris Schæffer]

yhDZDgyrTLc

Goddamn! Love how it seamlessly switches to gameplay at the end.

[megladon8]

"Spec Ops: The Line" is pretty heavy stuff.

[Morris Schæffer]

IN an interview (http://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/8/28/3275083/black-mesa-project-preservers), apparently release is imminent.

g-wfdgpCRXc

Release sept. 14, but, all right, get a load of this. It's only complete until level 14, the lambda core, the rest will follow later. :|

[megladon8]

I'm thinking I might do a big write-up on "Spec Ops: The Line".

A game hasn't had this kind of effect on me in a long time.

[Scar]

I'm thinking I might do a big write-up on "Spec Ops: The Line".

A game hasn't had this kind of effect on me in a long time.

Avatar up.


Please.

[EyesWideOpen]

"Spec Ops: The Line" is pretty heavy stuff.

I've read up on it and I'm glad they went with the story the way they did. Too bad it's wrapped around from what all the reviews are saying is a mediocre "from a gameplay perspective" FPS.

[EyesWideOpen]

Finished episode 3 of The Walking Dead. God damn.

[megladon8]

I've read up on it and I'm glad they went with the story the way they did. Too bad it's wrapped around from what all the reviews are saying is a mediocre "from a gameplay perspective" FPS.


It's not an FPS it's third person cover based. Almost an exact clone of "Gears of War", gameplay-wise.

I found the gameplay quite entertaining, though. There were enough different missions styles (on-rails helicopter/vehicle sequences, turret sequences, etc.) to vary it up. And the gameplay that's there is functional and fun, just not anything new.

It worked, though. I was playing on a medium difficulty and I beat the campaign in 4 hours. So you really don't have time to get bored or feel like you're trudging through samey-gameplay. It's very well paced, and there are actual characters.

But yes, the reviews are right - what shines is the story. And it's quite something.

[Morris Schæffer]

I'm gonna buy Spec Ops: The Line too. Wanna know what the fuss is all about.

[Morris Schæffer]

yhDZDgyrTLc

Goddamn! Love how it seamlessly switches to gameplay at the end.

Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes is a current gen game, will appear on multiple platforms and is not MGS 5, but a precursor to the fifth installment. Demo above runs on high spec PC, but is indicative of how it'll look on PS3 and 360.

[EyesWideOpen]

It's not an FPS it's third person cover based. Almost an exact clone of "Gears of War", gameplay-wise.

I found the gameplay quite entertaining, though. There were enough different missions styles (on-rails helicopter/vehicle sequences, turret sequences, etc.) to vary it up. And the gameplay that's there is functional and fun, just not anything new.

It worked, though. I was playing on a medium difficulty and I beat the campaign in 4 hours. So you really don't have time to get bored or feel like you're trudging through samey-gameplay. It's very well paced, and there are actual characters.

But yes, the reviews are right - what shines is the story. And it's quite something.

My bad. I consider FPS and third person shooters especially of the war variety one and the same so I got that confused. I've got too many games to play right now but I'll give it a shot in a few months when my backlog has calmed down.

[megladon8]

While I've always thought of myself as someone who takes little interest in wars and war history, I find as I've grown up that the actual "history" part of that "war history" category is something I find very intriguing. I'm the last person you will ever find looking at a book about the guns and planes of World War II, but the struggle itself - the world's war against an unarguably evil force - is something I have come to appreciate as an incredible story and time.

What is perhaps the driving force behind my disinterest in the actual arms and battle itself is my unease with the subject. I've long been a fan of horror films, and as my wife often jokingly says of her ability to stomach even the most vile, disgusting gore in a horror film, "I could eat spaghetti while I watch a zombie eat someone's guts". But watching a war film shatters me; there are few things I've seen in a feature film that bothered me as much as the opening storm of Omaha Beach in Saving Private Ryan.

This disinterest carried into my gaming sensibilities. While I've been periodically addicted to "Call of Duty" or "Battlefield" (as have many [or most] other gamers), these games are no more "real" than the "Halo" or, hell, "Duke Nukem" games. Even the controversial airport massacre in "Modern Warfare 2" did little to phase me, as the whole experience of the game was so heightened and arcade-y from beginning to end that I had no trouble separating myself from the experience.

"Spec Ops: The Line" is the first modern war game I've played that genuinely affected me, and brought back that feeling of harrowing revulsion I felt when watching Steven Spielberg's legendary war film. Killing people matters in "Spec Ops: The Line", and as you progress through the story the characters grow and change, and by the end are unrecognizable as the fairly cookie-cutter, gung-ho American soldiers we saw at the beginning of the game.

Similar to another game I greatly enjoyed playing recently, "Crysis 2", "Spec Ops: The Line" understands how very important pacing is in both its narrative and its gameplay. The game opens with you in the midst of an aerial battle flying through the city of Dubai and demolishing more buildings and cranes than actual enemy helicopters. You seemingly crash when a sandstorm overtakes the cityscape, and are then prompted by a title card that simply says "Earlier...". From then you begin your trek as Captain Walker, one of three men sent into Dubai looking for survivors after the city has been demolished by monumental sandstorms. But (and at the risk of using a bad cliché) nothing is as it seems, and the city is not uninhabited as you were lead to believe.

The creators of "Spec Ops: The Line" drew great inspiration from the classic novel "Heart of Darkness", and while this is greatly evident through some of its plot lines and characters (and the most obvious "wink" of having the game's villain named Konrad), the game does its own thing with the overall concept, and creates a military horror story worthy of comparison to the legendary film adaptation of Conrad's book, Apocalypse Now.

Yes, you read that right. I directly compared the writing and story in a video game to one of the greatest films of all time. I literally sat wide-eyed and stunned at some of the events that take place in this game, the way they are written, the way the characters in your squad change (particularly after one incident which occurs mid-way through the game). Your team-based dialogue goes from friendly banter and ball-breaking to resentment and disgust. And it's believable. These soldiers start as any other video-game soldier and end up feeling like human beings whose individual personalities make them do some pretty drastic things throughout the course of the story.

The best way I can describe this video game is with a label I often saw attributed to "BioShock" when it first came out five years ago, and that is "interactive fiction". The gameplay in "Spec Ops: The Line" is standard third-person cover-based action, derivative of the "Gears of War" series. The visuals are nice enough (the lighting effects particularly effective), and everything is functional control-wise. It plays well, and it has enough different gameplay types thrown in the mix to keep it from being repetitive. But where it shines is in its storytelling - I wanted to know what has going to happen to Walker and his squadmates in Delta. I wanted Konrad to justify what had happened in Dubai. And I was genuinely horrified by the actions I took along the way.

Which is perhaps what makes this feel so effective to me. I am probably just blinded by the whole experience and its overall effect - there's no way that the writing in this game could be as good as the award-winning screenplay by John Milius, or the original novel by Joseph Conrad. But the fact that, in this game, you yourself actually commit these atrocities - you make these choices where no one can possibly win, no matter how noble you try to be - is what elevates the material to a new level.

In "Spec Ops: The Line", the greatest punishment is knowing that you tried to do the right thing.

That a video game had the guts to even attempt this kind of resonant experience is something very exciting.

[EyesWideOpen]

That sounds quite similar to The Walking Dead game. I can't remember if you said you played it or not.

[megladon8]

That sounds quite similar to The Walking Dead game. I can't remember if you said you played it or not.


Yes I've played Episode 1 and 2.

I wouldn't really say there's much similarity to those games (or that game...is it considered one game?). There are choices to be made, and the ending can be slightly altered, but it's more a case of the game telling you what to do, and then punishing you for it.

It's pretty much linear. You do what you think is right at the time, and then it bites you in the ass later.

[D_Davis]

The developers based the game on Conrad's Heart of Darkness, and I heard they did an OK job. I played the demo, and couldn't stand it, but I want to watch a let's play on youtube to see the story. Heard it's pretty cool.

[Dukefrukem]

Release sept. 14, but, all right, get a load of this. It's only complete until level 14, the lambda core, the rest will follow later. :|

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: :eek::eek:

[EyesWideOpen]

Yes I've played Episode 1 and 2.

I wouldn't really say there's much similarity to those games (or that game...is it considered one game?). There are choices to be made, and the ending can be slightly altered, but it's more a case of the game telling you what to do, and then punishing you for it.

It's pretty much linear. You do what you think is right at the time, and then it bites you in the ass later.

Making hard choices, committing atrocities, being uneasy with the decisions you have to make...sounds like Walking Dead to me.

[Morris Schæffer]

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: :eek::eek:

http://forums.blackmesasource.com/showthread.php?p=480683#post48 0683

So will this be via Steam? Do you know?

[Morris Schæffer]

Alan Wake is a great thriller.

Good start with the arrival on the ferry. It takes its time, you look around, see a water plane land, a freight train on the bridge. Already Bright Falls feels authentic, alive, but not entirely welcoming. Gettin' some Cabin the Woods vibes which is good. Graphics are still impressive even though the game's already two years old. From the tutorial I get the feeling ammo's gonna be a sparse commodity. We'll see where it goes.

EDIT: Finished episode 1. Man, the atmosphere is thick. I really love the graphics. The perpetual fog, the incredible lighting. It feels very organic, dripping with dread. Technically, aliasing seems to be kept to a minimum thanks to the somewhat hazy visuals. And then episode 1 ends with Roy Orbison's In Dreams. That was amazing, especially since I've been with that song in my head for the past week for some inexplicable reason, unaware it was in the game. What are the chances of that? Totally weird, totally cool. I'm itching to press forward, see what comes next.

[megladon8]

Making hard choices, committing atrocities, being uneasy with the decisions you have to make...sounds like Walking Dead to me.


Nah. I don't like how every game with choices now has to be cmpared to "Walking Dead".

Like I said, there are only a couple of choices to be made. 90% of it is you being told what to do. It's an entirely linear game.

[EyesWideOpen]

Nah. I don't like how every game with choices now has to be cmpared to "Walking Dead".

Like I said, there are only a couple of choices to be made. 90% of it is you being told what to do. It's an entirely linear game.

My bad. I misread your earlier comment. I thought you were talking about Walking Dead when you said "There are choices to be made, and the ending can be slightly altered, but it's more a case of the game telling you what to do, and then punishing you for it.

It's pretty much linear. You do what you think is right at the time, and then it bites you in the ass later."

And I was disagreeing with that.

[Spun Lepton]

Well, I'll eat my hat. Rage is quite a bit of fun. I remember railing on it, saying it looked bland, but no. I'm really enjoying it.

[EyesWideOpen]

And for the fellow few who loved Mass Effect 3 I finished the first real DLC Leviathan last night. The gameplay is just more ME but it adds a lot of cool story stuff at the end relating to the reapers and their origin. Recommended.

[Scar]

I started playing through ME2, then I'll get Leviathan for when I import this guy into ME3. I want to legitimately get both the Geth and the Quarians this time in ME3.

[Thirdmango]

I'm sure everyone's playing walking dead on pc but has anyone played it on xbox? I only have a mac and it's not very good for telltale games (I have Hector 3 and some stuff is missing) so if I want to play them I would have to go with 360 but I wonder about game play of those types of games on console.

[EyesWideOpen]

I'm sure everyone's playing walking dead on pc but has anyone played it on xbox? I only have a mac and it's not very good for telltale games (I have Hector 3 and some stuff is missing) so if I want to play them I would have to go with 360 but I wonder about game play of those types of games on console.

I'm playing it on 360 and it's one of the best gaming experiences I've ever played.

[Lucky]

I finally beat Xenoblade. I take back some of my initial praise as the game is overlong by about 10-20 hours. It is without exaggeration the longest RPG I've ever played. You will level your characters from 1-~75 through the main story alone. It took me over 60 hours to beat it and I didn't do much sidequesting unless it happened to be conveniently on my way. The battle system gets redundant after your characters learn all the moves that they're going to learn (about 3/4 of the way through the game), and some of its flaws become exponentially apparent as the game drags on and on. It's not as polished as a big-budget Final Fantasy type game. The menus, character differences, battle mechanics, etc. just aren't sharp enough. The game essentially forces you to have the healer in your party for every major boss battle and there's a large stretch of game where you have to have a certain character in your party to cast an enchantment every battle in order to damage certain enemies. With only 3 spots in your party, I hated feeling forced to use certain characters. The AI also renders one character essentially useless (who also happens to be the best character), so if you want to utilize her properly you have to assign her as the party leader and control her yourself. Having said that, it's an excellent move in the direction of the genre and more games like this should absolutely be made. Some truly great games could be built on this foundation in the future.

Guess I'll check out these Walking Dead games next...

[Dukefrukem]

Curious what other RPGs you have played... 60 hours does not seem that long to me (for RPGs). I logged over 100 hours in a single play-through of Final Fantasy VII once. Hell I'm currently playing New Vegas and just passed 70 hours....

[Lucky]

I guess I'm the type who doesn't like to do all the extra stuff on a first playthrough. I could spend over 60 hours on a game, but to just get through it I think that's excessive. FF7 probably took me around 40 hours like most of the PS1 RPGs usually took. I've played a lot of them...from the original Final Fantasy onwards. I haven't played nearly as much from this current generation, though.

EDIT: Final Fantasy Tactics might have been longer. Forgot about that one.

[EyesWideOpen]

I played through the Arkham City Harley Quinn dlc today. I hadn't played the game since november so I had forgotten pretty much everything about the controls. So after the 30 minutes or so of getting back used to the combat system and gadget controls I was ready to go. It was fun getting to play as Robin I just wish they would have gone with a villain for the DLC that already wasn't a main factor in both the previous games.

[Scar]

I'm always game for more Harley....

I haven't played the DLC, but I do loves me some Harley....

[Dukefrukem]

I played through the Arkham City Harley Quinn dlc today. I hadn't played the game since november so I had forgotten pretty much everything about the controls. So after the 30 minutes or so of getting back used to the combat system and gadget controls I was ready to go. It was fun getting to play as Robin I just wish they would have gone with a villain for the DLC that already wasn't a main factor in both the previous games.

Funny you mention Batman. I just re-bought Arkham Asylum to replace through it. I platinumed Arkham City and didn't get close to finishing Asylum at 100%. Getting the combo fight trophy was one of my biggest accomplishments in gaming achievements.

[Dukefrukem]

Final Fantasies I through XIII plus a two-disc soundtrack and commemorative DVD will go on sale for the PS3 for $450

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/09/final.jpg

[EyesWideOpen]

Final Fantasies I through XIII plus a two-disc soundtrack and commemorative DVD will go on sale for the PS3 for $450

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/09/final.jpg

Not for PS3. They are just packaging all the games together so the games on PS1 are PS1 discs, the one's for PS2 are on PS2 discs, PS3 etc. They even have a PSP game.

We have specifics on the Final Fantasy compilation set that Square Enix announced during today's Final Fantasy Gallery opening ceremony event.

A slide shown at the event revealed that the compilation will include thirteen games:
Final Fantasy (PS1, 1 disc)
Final Fantasy II (PS1, 1 disc)
Final Fantasy III (PSP, 1 disc)
Final Fantasy IV (PS1, 1 disc)
Final Fantasy V (PS1, 1 disc)
Final Fantasy VI (PS1, 1 disc)
Final Fantasy VII International (PS1, 4 discs)
Final Fantasy VIII (PS1, 4 discs)
Final Fantasy IX (PS1, 4 discs)
Final Fantasy X (PS2, 1 disc)
Final Fantasy XI Vana Del Collection 2 (PS2, 1 disc)
Final Fantasy XII (PS2, 1 disc)
Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, 1 disc)

Also this is Japan only.

[Milky Joe]

I'm not sure I'd want to meet the kind of person who would actually buy that. S-E are such whores.

[EyesWideOpen]

I'm not sure I'd want to meet the kind of person who would actually buy that. S-E are such whores.

If they actually put them all on ps3 and added trophies and stuff I would be interested. Not for that price though but like 200-250 dollars.

[Dukefrukem]

I played episode 1-3 of the Walking Dead last night. Fantastic. Brings my love back to point n click. Also, whomever plays them and loves them, cannot complain about quick time events ever again. I'd also argue there are some similarities to Heavy Rain.

[Morris Schæffer]

Yeah, I look forward to playing episode 1 of the walking dead somewhere down the line. And then probably the rest too! I definitely have some experience with the genre thanks to owning an Amiga 500 - god bless that thing - in the not so distant past. Here are a few (I like posting pictures):

http://pics.mobygames.com/images/covers/large/1040489674-00.jpg

http://www.exotica.org.uk/mediawiki/files/thumb/4/4c/OperationStealth.jpg/466px-OperationStealth.jpg

http://noob.hu/2010/08/19/Monkey.Island.2.LeChucks.ReveS KIDROW.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LEClIUGqyus/T9dZ_dz5DwI/AAAAAAAAACg/wrx4QrobyCw/s1600/pc-indiana-jones-fate-of-atlantis.jpg

[Dukefrukem]

What about?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b1/The_Dig_artwork.jpg

[megladon8]

What's the consensus on "Resident Evil 5"? Is it worth playing?

And please, no griping about it not being "true zombies". I just want to know if it's a good game to play.

[Scar]

Its.... Ok.

I did play through it several times, mostly just so I could unlock/pimp out guns.

If its cheap, its worth a shot. I seem to recall loving the zero punctuation review of it.

[megladon8]

Its.... Ok.

I did play through it several times, mostly just so I could unlock/pimp out guns.

If its cheap, its worth a shot. I seem to recall loving the zero punctuation review of it.


A lot of the reviews seem to say it's a great game if you ignore the fact that it's not a typical RE game.

From what I understand it almost completely abandons the scariness, right? It's pretty much just a 3rd person action game at this point?

[Dukefrukem]

It's an action game. It's not a horror game. If you have someone to play with (co-op) you'll enjoy it much more than if you play solo. The story is garbage as is the ending boss.

[Dukefrukem]

Why not wait? Resident Evil 6 will package RE5 in with it. Along with some other games.

[megladon8]

Why not wait? Resident Evil 6 will package RE5 in with it. Along with some other games.


Yeah that's what I was thinking. I was wondering whether I should get that "Archives" edition of RE6, or not bother.

[EyesWideOpen]

What's the consensus on "Resident Evil 5"? Is it worth playing?

And please, no griping about it not being "true zombies". I just want to know if it's a good game to play.

I like it better then 4.

[KK2.0]

I played episode 1-3 of the Walking Dead last night. Fantastic. Brings my love back to point n click. Also, whomever plays them and loves them, cannot complain about quick time events ever again. I'd also argue there are some similarities to Heavy Rain.

Yeah, it brought me back to the good old point-and-click days, althought light on puzzles and more focused on the narrative choices. I still need to play chapter 3 but i loved the first two.

Someone told me that this is Telltale's best effort so far, anyone here played their previous games (Back to The Future, Jurassic Park)? I've played a trial for their Sam & Max game but it felt a little janky.

[Morris Schæffer]

What about?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b1/The_Dig_artwork.jpg

I Read dean alan foster's novel actually. :)

I enjoyed RE5 a lot to be frank. I think the switch to a more action-oriented game started with part 4 already so I wasn't at all letdown by the fifth installment.

[Skitch]

I like it better then 4.

I liked 4 a lot better than 5, though 5 was okay.

[Dukefrukem]

Someone told me that this is Telltale's best effort so far, anyone here played their previous games (Back to The Future, Jurassic Park)? I've played a trial for their Sam & Max game but it felt a little janky.

I have them; and after I finish Walking Dead I'll be installing them.

[EyesWideOpen]

Rock Band Blitz is pretty damn fun. It took a few songs to get used to since the focus is on scores instead of trying to hit all the notes like other rock band games. You can use all your old rock band songs that you have in it to (except for the RB3 songs that were on disc). It comes with its own 30 songs that you can then transfer over to RB3 if you want.

[KK2.0]

15 minute gameplay clip from The Last of Us

GApCMW1F7a0

[KK2.0]

I've just played the demo for RE6 on PS3 and i think it looks promising, it reminded me a bit more of the 3DS version where you play with different characters and each one has a slightly different mood, Leon is less action-heavy and more atmospheric, trapped in a building like the original games (i actually finished his stage barely shooting anything, avoiding the zombies - yes, classic slow zombies), Chris' level on the other hand was more of a run and gun thing, enemies are similar to the ones in RE5, at last Jake's segment shows a mini-boss battle in classic bring-monster-to-red barrel-and-shoot-it chase sequence. I had a blast.

[Dukefrukem]

That's great to hear. RE6 will be the last day 1 purchase of the year for me.

I only had three this year (Mass Effect, Diablo and RE6) Borderlands 2 doesn't count because I didn't pay full price. Everything else has been Goozex or steam sales. I'm pretty proud of myself.

[Thirdmango]

My friends had a game night where they played the sam and max games and I played it with them some of the time, it was pretty fun. I want to get them and they are refunded on xbox right now.

[Ezee E]

Played Episode 3 of Walking Dead. So curious where this leads to, and I hope a few more companies try this approach. Love it.

[Morris Schæffer]

Alan Wake is astonishing. One of the most atmospheric games I've ever played. The daytime sequences are good enough, but when darkness takes over, the game instantly puts me on alert. I thought combat was going to be a bit boring, and true enough, it is rather repetitive, but I'm not in the least bit annoyed by it. Seeing and hearing the winds starting to howl through the landscape gives me chills each single time. And that's before ominous figures start to emerge from the woodwork. It really feels like a piece of American history at times with its abandonded coal mines, rusty locomotives, so believable are the game's environs that it becomes something more. A place that once was thriving and booming, albeit dangerous is now a breeding ground for sheer evil. The lighting is amazing, looking towards the horizon, seeing hundreds of trees, all moving. Small details abound. The falling of a tree is accompanied by what appears to be thousands of leafs scattering through the air well after said tree has fallen. Turning on a light has never felt as comforting as it does here.

I'm not done yet with this game, but already I know that Alan Wake: American Nightmare is going to be one of my next XBLA purchases.

[Dukefrukem]

My favorite part of AW is when you're running away on the side of the cliff.

[Rowland]

Can this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiFaGtzJ7Ds) be a movie please?

[Morris Schæffer]

My favorite part of AW is when you're running away on the side of the cliff.

Doesn't ring a bell although I've already done my share of running away. Is it when the cops chase you with choppers and on foot?

[Dukefrukem]

Doesn't ring a bell although I've already done my share of running away. Is it when the cops chase you with choppers and on foot?

Yes. At the very beginning. With the flashlights in the distance and the helicopter and the screaming. :)

[Dukefrukem]

This whole sequence is brilliant;

GnNj9CwtlSY
DTdg3Edb-_8

[Dukefrukem]

For those interested (Killzone 1 sucks ass)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8296/7941658968_9025a18c4f_z.jpg