Specially Cork wrote:Hmmm. I don't think TR has been primarily about exploration and platforming since TR2. Plus it reclaims a lot of that later with the hidden tombs, relics etc.
No, you're right. I'm not sure what I was expecting with this game. I guess I just wanted something more adventurous and fun, and not...well, what it actually is. I don't know, I guess I knew I was going to be disappointed in the game and it lived up to my self-fulfilling expectations.
Specially Cork wrote:Anyway, Let me know your thoughts about AC3 as I'm interested to see what you think. I really dislike it and gave up half way through despite enjoying all the others.
Well it will be a while until I get to play it. I bought it on Steam over the winter and never actually downloaded it, so it's going to take a while. I'm playing my comfort game of Mirror's Edge in the interim. Goddamn, I love Mirror's Edge so fucking much.
So I started Assassin's Creed 3 two nights ago, and while I haven't really played enough to make a full review, I can at least make some quick statements on the first 3 hours.
-Haytham Kenway is a boring character. I thought I was playing as an Indian guy, not some overdressed European that looks completely out-of-place with the rest of the Boston environment. He looks completely ridiculous scaling buildings and running across rooftops in that outfit. His complete lack of back story doesn't help either. I want nothing more than to be past this pointless character.
-Boston is a boring city. Not that it's really anyone's fault here, as they can't really make colonial houses and buildings look any more interesting. But wooden buildings and log cabins just can't compete with the towering churches and stone structures of cities like Rome. I spent the first 15 hours of AC Revelations in Sequence 2 just because I was so enthralled with exploring Constantinople and collecting items. But in AC3, I have zero motivation to explore Boston. I'm hoping a switch of characters changes that, but I'm doubtful.
-The mechanics of free running have been even more simplified, and I feel they are way more accurate. I'm finding that the game can pretty much predict what I'm trying to accomplish now and take me there without any weird climbing or jumping issues.
-Guns suck, and that's both good and bad. It's good because I hate using guns in video games, so having the system completely discourage their use is great. But it's bad when they decide to throw in a section that requires you to use guns extensively, since your gun takes 5 seconds to load and the game won't auto-load the gun after you take the shot.
-Morris is crazy addictive. I'm a sucker for board games, and I think I've invested more time in this simple board game than in the actual game.
At any rate, I'm determined to finish this game even if I end up just rushing through it just because I have to know what happens with Desmond. Though I am certainly in the minority for saying this, I find the present story vastly more interesting than the stories that occur in the Animus. I'm thoroughly disappointed they will never make Desmond a main character, or even give him more than an hour's worth of game time per game.
melancholy wrote:Though I am certainly in the minority for saying this, I find the present story vastly more interesting than the stories that occur in the Animus. I'm thoroughly disappointed they will never make Desmond a main character, or even give him more than an hour's worth of game time per game.
I agree.
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With other news, I beat Tomb Raider - fantastic game. One of the few games its in genre where I haven't got bored mid-way through. Maybe in my chart of GOATs if I ever saw the point in ranking them.
I'm currently continuing with Ni No Kuni waiting for Bioshock Infinite to arrive, but there's other good news: the mythical HD remaster of FFX (my favourite FF by far) is finally, finally being released this year along with FFX-2 on the same disc - the international version of both too. Along with Tales of Xillia in the summer this is going to be a pretty JRPG-heavy year for me. Very happy right now.
If you're (somehow) on the fence about purchasing this game, or if you'd just like to hear the latest and greatest argument for video games as art, please watch this.
"He who cannot draw on 3,000 years is living hand-to-mouth." -Goethe
GBA - original model (AGB-001) with SP backlit screen installed. I've already got two other AGB-001s I'd like to convert. Maybe someday soon I'll actually get to finish Zelda: Four Swords.
Specially Cork wrote:2012 was a year of so many disappointments.
I'll second that one... and for movies as well. Every high-profile release that sounded interesting (and there were several) ended up being either generic mediocrity or just outright bad.
not just souLLy now wrote:I only ever played Bioshock 2 which looked pretty but was really repetitive and dull to play. Do I still pick up infinite?
I'm not a huge fan of FPS games in general and grew quite tired of the gameplay in the original two Bioshocks - the story and setting carried me through them both.
Infinite not only does those things better, but I actually love the gameplay this time around.
The Sky-Lines are a masterstroke. Imagine your typical FPS area in a game with you tucked behind cover as usual. Now imagine somebody built a load of roller-coaster tracks over the top, and with a single button-press you can hook on to them and ride around - picking off enemies from above and jumping off to new cover locations. Of course, the AI will use these too and it just makes fights so much more fun because you're no longer just stuck ducking behind something.
I hate FPS. I can count the number of FPS that I have beaten on one hand. My general rule is that if 50% of the game involves shooting mechanics, I'm probably going to hate it. So when I got my free copy of Bioshock Infinite (through the AMD promotion), I thought I'd probably last an hour at most before I was done with it.
Nope. This is easily the best FPS I have ever witnessed. The world begs you to explore every corner, every nook, every piece of environment they created. It's paced at a totally different rate than the average FPS, and wants you to pay attention to everything. Plus they made an AI partner that you literally do not want to be without. It's better than every game that came out in 2012. Looking at a chapter list, I've got about 2-3 hours left, and I think I might actually cry when it all ends.
Forget my recommendation. Fuck Bioshock Infinite. I regret ever beating that game for so many reasons beyond the mental rape I just experienced. Like the fact that I can never, ever, ever, ever play that wonderfully rich and beautiful game again because I KNOW EVERYTHING AND I HATE YOU BIOSHOCK INFINITE!
Okay, so I've spent two hours collecting my thoughts and making charts on scrap paper sorting everything out and I feel better now. Bioshock Infinite is a good game again.
Enjoying the game a lot more than expected. They pushed the idea of four player gameplay, but I've yet to give it a try on my own yet. I'm worried its going to be like 4 player mario where everyone is just bouncing off of each other.
Sonic Racing Transformed
Seriously one of the best kart racers I've ever played. The first game was a bit rough but still a lot of fun, this improves in every way and makes it a more solid title to rival the best of kart racers. Takes awhile to unlock everyone, and some of the characters seem pointless (puddin from Space channel 5, mimi from monkey ball, and fucking danica patrick.) But there is a lot of sega fan service and every level is creative and different in its own way. I can't suggest this game enough.
Child of Eden
Got this a few months ago and finally started to play through it. Its REZ 2, thats all there is to say. I love the game.
Borderlands 2
I don't know what it is about Borderlands, but I just can't get myself into it. I feel no drive to play it. Tired the first one several times and found it boring, and now I am facing the same thing in Borderlands 2. So many people say "Its a first person shooter PSO" and I just dont feel it. The FPS and RPG elements just dont mix well for it IMHO. I know I am in the minority here when I say it, but its just not an interesting game.
Ikaruga
Found a good condition complete dreamcast version of the game at a local game store the other day for about 20 bucks, so I couldn't pass it up. One of my favorite SHMUPs of all time. Felt nice to pick it up at this price when I remember eyeballing it on ebay for near 100 dollars.
Finally finished Bioshock Infinite (hey, I'm a busy guy!). Just...wow. I can't remember the last time I've felt this sad to leave a game behind. I honestly wish I could just forget it all and start again. Just a brilliant experience from beginning to end. I'm playing through some other unfinished stuff now and it all just seems not worth my time. It feels like I'm trying to get over my wife leaving me by fapping to midget porn.
There's a couple of other games on my radar this year that could be GOTY contenders, but they've got a hard job.
Nico0020 wrote:Borderlands 2
I don't know what it is about Borderlands, but I just can't get myself into it. I feel no drive to play it. Tired the first one several times and found it boring, and now I am facing the same thing in Borderlands 2. So many people say "Its a first person shooter PSO" and I just dont feel it. The FPS and RPG elements just dont mix well for it IMHO. I know I am in the minority here when I say it, but its just not an interesting game.
Stop failing at liking it and get the fuck online so we can play.
L.A. Noire - The Complete Edition
I never played the stand-alone version, this was my introduction. This is the longest fucking game I've ever played. What started out as highly enjoyable is now a complete chore. I do however feel obligated to finish it since I'm so close to the end. I should start a Livejournal or Xanga account logging my daily punishment where I attempt to finish another case in the game. You know how people complain that games nowadays are too short? Yeah, they've never played THIS fucking thing. They should have either expanded on the gameplay formula or made the game 1/4 of the length it is now. Not including DLC. Holy Christ. I can recite the dialogue word-for-word that the gamewell bitch says everytime you call her. In the exact. Same. Tone.
XCOM came with my purchase of Bioshock Infinite, and I've finally gotten around to playing it. Holy. fuck. I am absolutely in love with this game and am absolutely ashamed of how long it's taken me to get around to it.
"He who cannot draw on 3,000 years is living hand-to-mouth." -Goethe
