Video Games...Discuss Them

[Lucky]

Finished the first Mass Effect today. Not really understanding the ultra-hype for this series so far. I'm assuming the second entry in this series is a hands-down improvement?

PROS
+ The story is involving right from the start. Like the interaction you have with it and how you can shape your character with the paragon/renegade system. This is quite possibly the most cinematic video game I've ever played (aside from Xenosaga), but for this game, it works. I think this is the only game I've ever played where I was actually curious enough to probe characters about backstory and learn a bit more about the world.

+Battle system is fun and unlike any other title in this genre. Adjustable difficultly is a welcome feature. I am not ashamed to admit I turned it down to easy a handful of times.

+Graphics and backdrops for the main mission worlds are impressive.

CONS
-The simplicity of the battle system really makes the different classes of characters blend together. Could have used a wider ability chart or better customization options. Dragon Age's system worked this out to much greater effect (no pun intended).

-Mako controls are pretty bad. I hated being stuck in that thing. I know I wasn't forced to use it, but walking those distances wouldn't have been much fun either.

-Exploring space is not nearly as fun as it should have been. Entire planets are reduced to one small map (with a possible mini-dungeon) and terrains start looking the same. My motivation to complete sidequests was very low. This "scale for the sake of scale" setting was reminiscent of traveling across Windwaker's sea.

-Length of elevator rides....is this really necessary?

So I guess my bottom line is that I enjoyed the main story and the bulk of what the game had to offer, but this wasn't really the kind of game that paid off to immerse yourself in. I'll more than likely be picking up the sequel in time for ME3's release unless all of you tell me it gets worse from here...

[EyesWideOpen]

The Mako is pretty much gone away with in 2 and the elevator rides were to cover up loading times. I loved Mass Effect 1 but I consider 2 to be a better game.

[Ezee E]

2 improves on all the cons you addressed. It's one of my favorite games.

[Winston*]

Mass Effect 2 is definitely the better game, though I hope the third one has a stronger sense of overall narrative.

[Lucky]

Glad to hear. That seems to be the common opinion.

One more CON:
-Where are the epic boss battles to match the cinematic scope of this game? The Thorian had me excited that they were finally throwing a giant alien monster at me, but I never got to fight it head-on. The largest creatures you ever encounter are the Thresher Maws (sp?) on sidequest planets. End boss was lame.

[Morris Schæffer]

Finally made some progress in zelda: ocarina of time. The game is actually fairly vague and challenging in terms of informing the player what to do next. There is a vague sense of direction provided but beyond that, it's all a matter of exploration. I was getting frustrated with my limited ability to dive (only 3 seconds) , but lo and behold, accepting a stupid diving challenge from one of the zohra's has yielded a special gill that extends it to 6 seconds. And of course, now I can't wait to return to all the diving spots!!

It's special to see all those locations I still sort of remember from 12, 13 years ago on the N64. Time fucking flies guys.

[EyesWideOpen]

Like I said before I usually don't play demos but I heard there was unlockable main game stuff in the Amalur demo (not to mention stuff for ME3) so I just played through it. I thought it was great. Fun combat, colorful environments and I made it through like 6-7 quests in the demo time.

[D_Davis]

[Scar]

I wonder if he's compensating for something....?

[D_Davis]

I wonder if he's compensating for something....?

She.

But I have bigger ones.

[KK2.0]

!!!!!!!!

I'm kinda split, I enjoyed the trailer a lot but wish for a more traditional Resident Evil game as well. The scenes with Leon at the start kinda brought memories of RE2, but then Chris shows up and everything goes boom.

[Morris Schæffer]

I'm kinda split, I enjoyed the trailer a lot but wish for a more traditional Resident Evil game as well. The scenes with Leon at the start kinda brought memories of RE2, but then Chris shows up and everything goes boom.

This seems to be the consensus at the moment, but I never really had this feeling while playing Resident evil 5. I thought it was a kickass sequel which merely continued onwards from the fourth iteration, itself a more action-packed offering than the first three and universally loved by everyone. Still, there's no reason Capcom couldn't attempt a best of both worlds thing here. I mean, they must have been aware of some of the vitriol hurled at part five.

[Scar]

This seems to be the consensus at the moment, but I never really had this feeling while playing Resident evil 5. I thought it was a kickass sequel which merely continued onwards from the fourth iteration, itself a more action-packed offering than the first three and universally loved by everyone. Still, there's no reason Capcom couldn't attempt a best of both worlds thing here. I mean, they must have been aware of some of the vitriol hurled at part five.

Just as long as you're saying that 4 was universally loved by everyone, not 5....

[EyesWideOpen]

Resident Evil is one of my favorite gaming series and 4 is by far my least favorite. I just replayed it when it was re-released on 360 recently to see if my opinion changed and it hadn't I liked it even less.

[D_Davis]

I like some of the RE games and 4 is my favorite; 5 is my least favorite. I haven't played some of them, like the light gun games.

[EyesWideOpen]

I like some of the RE games and 4 is my favorite; 5 is my least favorite. I haven't played some of them, like the light gun games.

I meant the main game series not the little side shoot stuff.

[Morris Schæffer]

Just as long as you're saying that 4 was universally loved by everyone, not 5....

That's what I was saying.

[Rowland]

My favorite Resident Evil is the RE1 remake for the GC, which fleshes out the original game in innumerably clever ways, and it's fucking gorgeous and scary to boot, followed probably by RE2, which I must have played through a dozen times through its various scenarios back in the day. RE4 was a pretty great game, but I've never been compelled to play it again after that single run-through, I haven't played RE5 but I watched my former roommates playing it co-op and it just looked like a generic action game, RE3 was okay but kinda uninspired in my estimation, ditto RE0.

[Rowland]

I just finished Super Mario Galaxy with 120 stars, and I'm very satisfied, as this was an obvious improvement over the sporadically brilliant but very flawed Super Mario Sunshine. There is still room for improvement though, particularly in its sometimes-uninspired methods of padding out the game to 120 stars, especially with some of the special comet zones appearing tossed-off and thus feeling merely tedious.

[Rowland]

Did anyone play the Dual Shock edition of the Resident Evil Director's Cut for the PS1? Everyone hated its updated soundtrack, but I actually really liked it.

[Morris Schæffer]

When I get the Wii U l'll probably buy super mario galaxy 2 and the Metroid Prime collection as I understood the Wii U to be backwards compatible.

[Dukefrukem]

Resident Evil franchise is my favorite franchise. I like how we are going back to some real zombies.

[Dukefrukem]

Couple of free games headin my way

[megladon8]

The bugs are starting to get a little more aggravating in "Dead Island". A lot of inventory bugs - unable to pick up another med kit because my inventory is full, even though I already have a medkit slot (where it should just add another one); quests disappearing off my quest list.

Also, the pacing is pretty bad. I've been directed to corridor-shooter sewer levels three times in the last two hours. Starting to remind me of "Half Life 2: Episode 1".


But, despite these problems, I still cannot agree with Yahtzee Croshaw and others that it's one of the worst games of last year. The zombie killing is incredibly satisfying particularly with the dismemberment system, and creating / modifying weapons is super cool.

My favorite weapon at the moment is a machete which I put the "shock mod" on, so if I get a critical hit the enemy flails around in a huge, smoking, electrocuted mess.

[megladon8]

Oh and the new X-Box next fall may be the first time I buy a system right at release.

I've usually waited for a system to be a couple of years old before I purchased it, but this one sounds pretty awesome right off the bat.

Can't wait to see what it's capable of.