What are you playing?

[Eric P]

i'm playing lots of Carcassonne.  It's a great "i want to game but don't want to commit to anything" time waster.  i'm understanding the game enough that i am winning with a great degree of regularity. 

[chronovore]

Just use cheatcodes when doing the goals beforehand (not during). Explosive Shotgun makes for easy headshots. Also use the auto-aim.

How does that work? I thought if you enabled cheats, the Achievements are also disabled?

[demi]

Some cheats do, but you can do full health/armor and weapons. Just dont do them during a mission.

[duckman2000]

Burnout Paradise

[bork]

How long is Mass Effect to beat? I may play that when I'm done with DQ7.

8 - 12 hours if you just focus on the main story.

And maybe around 30 hours or so if you do everything.

[tiesto]

How long is Mass Effect to beat? I may play that when I'm done with DQ7.

8 - 12 hours if you just focus on the main story.

And maybe around 30 hours or so if you do everything.

Doesn't sound too bad at all, gonna give it a shot, should be able to finish it up before FF13 drops.

So the sequel is even more of a shooter than an RPG, from what I've been hearing?

[demi]

It's just as much of an RPG

[chronovore]

Some cheats do, but you can do full health/armor and weapons. Just dont do them during a mission.

Ah, thanks. The game always starts mission replays with full health and armor, and I haven't really had a hard time with weapons. I've got a metric ton of cash from drug missions and stuff. Just got through a couple more tonight; not going to do 100%, just 80%, and call it good. I am not going for the online 'cheevs for GTA IV either. Just too much.

[AdmiralViscen]

Just beat Noveria in Mass Effect. Without doing side missions, how long will it take to rush through Virmire and close out the game?

i'm playing lots of Carcassonne.  It's a great "i want to game but don't want to commit to anything" time waster.  i'm understanding the game enough that i am winning with a great degree of regularity. 

There are still people online? I only ever play locally. Great game.

[demi]

There's still more after Virmire

[AdmiralViscen]

Isn't that part short though?


I got past the breeding trenches at the end of Virmire and I'm standing in the landing site for the Normandy, but it's not showing up. Do I have to do something to trigger it?


had to reload a save 

[Raban]

Playing Dragon Quest VI DS and Phantasy Star Portable.  Good times.

DQ6 is already out for DS? In the US?

[Raban]

Playing Dragon Quest VI DS and Phantasy Star Portable.  Good times.

DQ6 is already out for DS? In the US?

No, I live in the glorious nippon empire.

Good. I was about to shit my pants. I'm gonna play the greater half of the DQ series in succession this year, I don't need to live knowing DQ6 is out there waiting for me as we speak.

Speaking of which, can I get word on each of the DQ games? Everything from 4-8 is worth playing, correct? And I'm totally getting 9.

EDIT: So is DQ7 really hard to find or what? I really want to play it considering it's a bazillion years long, and it has classic DQ story coming out the anus, which is all good to me.

[tiesto]

The US version DQ7 isn't terribly rare if you don't mind Ebay. My friend picked up a copy last year at an anime con, for like $40. It's probably even cheaper online. I would say everything from 3 onwards is worth a go, tho.

[Raban]

The US version DQ7 isn't terribly rare if you don't mind Ebay. My friend picked up a copy last year at an anime con, for like $40. It's probably even cheaper online. I would say everything from 3 onwards is worth a go, tho.

3 is SNES, right? I wasn't gonna dig really deep into the early ones, since iirc DQ1 is an FF clone with better mechanics.

[Raban]

The US version DQ7 isn't terribly rare if you don't mind Ebay. My friend picked up a copy last year at an anime con, for like $40. It's probably even cheaper online. I would say everything from 3 onwards is worth a go, tho.

3 is SNES, right? I wasn't gonna dig really deep into the early ones, since iirc DQ1 is an FF clone with better mechanics.

Heh, you've got that the wrong way around.  FF is a DQ1 clone with better mechanics.  DQ1-4 were NES games, originally.  There's a SNES (well, Super Famicom) version of DQ3 that kicks mucho ass and has an English patch out.  Probably the way to go for that one.

So Enix beat Square to the punch on that one? Nice.

DQ7 - If you're looking for a game to keep you busy a while, this is it.  Takes the job system to absurd heights and frankly loses control a bit because of it.  The narrative setup is one of the straightest pitches towards DQ's "vignette" stories possible (only DQ9 has a more direct idea to feed this DQ trope).  I really enjoyed the game, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't overstay its welcome just a little by the end.  Play it on PSP via the PSX version.

I'm assuming I'd have to hunt down the .iso for this, I'm positive it isn't on the PSN.

Looking at the cover art, I think I've seen this at my local second-hand video game store. I'm gonna scope it out.

[archie4208]

I'm going to actually play a DQ game one day.  I played DQ8 for about 5 hours and got annoyed at how slow the battles were.  Apparently that is anomaly for the series and the other games are blazingly fast battle wise.

[Raban]

I'm going to actually play a DQ game one day.  I played DQ8 for about 5 hours and got annoyed at how slow the battles were.  Apparently that is anomaly for the series and the other games are blazingly fast battle wise.

I never understood the speed complaints towards DQ8. Maybe I don't really care, or maybe it's because I haven't even SEEN the PAL version of the game, but I didn't mind anything in DQ8, I fucking loved it. But I only played about 8 hours into it, because I started it at the prime of my ADD game-hating phase.

[bork]

How long is Mass Effect to beat? I may play that when I'm done with DQ7.

8 - 12 hours if you just focus on the main story.

And maybe around 30 hours or so if you do everything.

Doesn't sound too bad at all, gonna give it a shot, should be able to finish it up before FF13 drops.

So the sequel is even more of a shooter than an RPG, from what I've been hearing?

So far it hasn't really been that much different, just that they ditched the shitty Mako driving stuff and the combat feels better.  The original is already enough of a "shooter" to begin with.

[archie4208]

I'm going to actually play a DQ game one day.  I played DQ8 for about 5 hours and got annoyed at how slow the battles were.  Apparently that is anomaly for the series and the other games are blazingly fast battle wise.

I never understood the speed complaints towards DQ8. Maybe I don't really care, or maybe it's because I haven't even SEEN the PAL version of the game, but I didn't mind anything in DQ8, I fucking loved it. But I only played about 8 hours into it, because I started it at the prime of my ADD game-hating phase.

I liked the characters and stuff, but the gameplay was unbearably slow.

[magus]

i finished it first time and i quite enjoyed it,it was okay
"GO AND FIND THE MCGUFFIN SO WE CAN UNLOCK THE GUFFIN BOAT REQUIRED TO REACH GUFFIN ISLAND" it's a standard rpg,nothing special besides the ultra awesome level 5 visuals... good but not great

i tried to replay it two month ago and i stopped after acquiring the boat,ultra-annoyed at the amount of random battles (i swear you can't even get off the boat that by the time you turn back you have been attacked at least once) i hate how dragon quest is more than happy to drop you in battle with more than 6 or 7 enemies,some battles take forever in DQ8 (and dare to say some older dragon quest like DQ3 too) because there is twice the amount of baddies x battle than in a standard rpg!
i told myself "i already know what comes next (hint: it was a really annoying boss) what's the point to continue?"

[Raban]

i finished it first time and i quite enjoyed it,it was okay
"GO AND FIND THE MCGUFFIN SO WE CAN UNLOCK THE GUFFIN BOAT REQUIRED TO REACH GUFFIN ISLAND" it's a standard rpg,nothing special besides the ultra awesome level 5 visuals... good but not great

i tried to replay it two month ago and i stopped after acquiring the boat,ultra-annoyed at the amount of random battles (i swear you can't even get off the boat that by the time you turn back you have been attacked at least once) i hate how dragon quest is more than happy to drop you in battle with more than 6 or 7 enemies,some battles take forever in DQ8 (and dare to say some older dragon quest like DQ3 too) because there is twice the amount of baddies x battle than in a standard rpg!
i told myself "i already know what comes next (hint: it was a really annoying boss) what's the point to continue?"

The game is so pretty I don't even care. I remember the random battles being crazy common, but I never really mind. Really that's all an RPG is. Playing menus and watching cinematics. Even with all the battles, DQ8 still has a really strong exploration vibe given the fuck-amazing overworlds.

[Bebpo]

Finished Tales of Graces.  Was good.  Slightly tempted to new game+ it with some of the grade shop things.  Thought about doing that with Abyss also, but I've never actually new game+'d any of the Tales games.

[bork]

Finished Tales of Graces.  Was good.  Slightly tempted to new game+ it with some of the grade shop things.  Thought about doing that with Abyss also, but I've never actually new game+'d any of the Tales games.

Go play Bayonetta and No More Heroes 2 already!

[ToxicAdam]

Still enjoying my Gamecube revival. I've been slogging through Zelda TP for the past few nights. Such a joyless, soulless game. Especially after coming off of a Mario Sunshine/Wind Waker playthrough.  I'm just past the Goron mountains, hopefully things pick up.

[archie4208]

I think I played a game of Heroes of Newerth with reirom .  This guy was intentionally getting killed by the other team, spammed "AUAHAHHAHA" and said he was from Brazil.

[Bebpo]

Finished Tales of Graces.  Was good.  Slightly tempted to new game+ it with some of the grade shop things.  Thought about doing that with Abyss also, but I've never actually new game+'d any of the Tales games.

Go play Bayonetta and No More Heroes 2 already!

Playing Sin & Punishment 2 instead   

Might start Silent Hill Wii tonight as well.  Then play NMH2 afterwards until RENGLEIV next month.

I'm becoming a Wii gamer ;_;  I need to buy another one though.  Getting stupid gpu glitches more and more.

[Rman]

Finished Tales of Graces.  Was good.  Slightly tempted to new game+ it with some of the grade shop things.  Thought about doing that with Abyss also, but I've never actually new game+'d any of the Tales games.

I would love to, but grade farming is such a pain.

[Bebpo]

Graces doesn't let you farm, which is good I guess.  There's no grade in the game but depending on how much you completed you get a certain amount of grade points.  Like if you did 30% of the subevents you get 30 points out of a 100.  If you mastered 5 titles you get 50 points.  If you beat it in 10 hours you get 100 points and 10 points less for every hour after that, etc...so you just accept what you got or you replay the game to get more points for a 3rd play.  A lot of the stuff is pretty cheap so you can have a lot for your 2nd play.

[Bebpo]

Now that I finished Graces and played S&P2 I finally put together my 2009 top10.  Wanted to wait until I played the big jrpgs (FFXIII and Graces) before committing.

1. Demon Souls
2. Machinarium
3. Williams Pinball Hall of Fame
4. SMT SJ
5. Death Smiles
6. Mushihimesama Futari
7. Sin & Punishment 2
8. Uncharted 2
9. Trials HD
10. Batman Arkham Asylum

S&P2 should probably be higher as I think it's one of the best games ever made (10/10) and games above it are less than 10/10 but games above it were more impacting experiences (whatever that means).  Graces almost made it, but too many good games in 2009. 

[Beezy]

What a weird list.

[CHOW CHOW]

So far it hasn't really been that much different, just that they ditched the shitty Mako driving stuff and the combat feels better.  The original is already enough of a "shooter" to begin with.

The Mako stuff was not "shitty" at all...I'm playing through ME1 now and enjoy driving around the desolate planets, climbing up mountains and all kinds of treacherous terrain...and seeing the amazing space backdrop and lighting and shit.  It just adds a lot to the atmosphere of the game.

But now, because of overly critical forum-dwellers who harped on the sidequests being boring over and over for the past two years, we have no Mako.

Thanks!

[CHOW CHOW]

Now that I finished Graces and played S&P2 I finally put together my 2009 top10.  Wanted to wait until I played the big jrpgs (FFXIII and Graces) before committing.

1. Demon Souls
2. Machinarium
3. Williams Pinball Hall of Fame
4. SMT SJ
5. Death Smiles
6. Mushihimesama Futari
7. Sin & Punishment 2
8. Uncharted 2
9. Trials HD
10. Batman Arkham Asylum

S&P2 should probably be higher as I think it's one of the best games ever made (10/10) and games above it are less than 10/10 but games above it were more impacting experiences (whatever that means).  Graces almost made it, but too many good games in 2009. 

"look at me, i like niche japanese games and am better than you because of it"  is what i deciphered from your list :-/

[Raban]

Now that I finished Graces and played S&P2 I finally put together my 2009 top10.  Wanted to wait until I played the big jrpgs (FFXIII and Graces) before committing.

1. Demon Souls
2. Machinarium
3. Williams Pinball Hall of Fame
4. SMT SJ
5. Death Smiles
6. Mushihimesama Futari
7. Sin & Punishment 2
8. Uncharted 2
9. Trials HD
10. Batman Arkham Asylum

S&P2 should probably be higher as I think it's one of the best games ever made (10/10) and games above it are less than 10/10 but games above it were more impacting experiences (whatever that means).  Graces almost made it, but too many good games in 2009. 

Here's my Top 10 list for 2009.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

[bork]

So far it hasn't really been that much different, just that they ditched the shitty Mako driving stuff and the combat feels better.  The original is already enough of a "shooter" to begin with.

The Mako stuff was not "shitty" at all...I'm playing through ME1 now and enjoy driving around the desolate planets, climbing up mountains and all kinds of treacherous terrain...and seeing the amazing space backdrop and lighting and shit.  It just adds a lot to the atmosphere of the game.

But now, because of overly critical forum-dwellers who harped on the sidequests being boring over and over for the past two years, we have no Mako.

Thanks!

It might have been less shitty had driving around those desolate planets not have been the same stupid, repetitive, boring thing.  Every.  Single.  Time.   

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

Moar Batman!

[chronovore]

Playing Hexic again. I don't know why. It's kind of relaxing, until I get very close to making a "flower" and accidentally line up a combo which destroys it. Or trying to shove several stars around in order to make more, and accidentally hitting the wrong rotation (which I will neologize as "wrotation") and combo-ing them into disappearing for points.  I can't figure out how to use the black pearl's unique rotation, either. I'm sure if I keep it up long enough, I'll figure it out.

[magus]

i wanted to keep my rpg streak but i really didn't want anything that contained random battle so i just picked puzzle quest again

dayum it's so damn addictive

still i'm somewhat disappointed,first time i played i rolled a warrior and steam rolled everything thanks to deathbringer (turns random gems into skulls) now i'm playing a wizard and i'm steamrolling everything with burning skulls (turns green gems into skulls) maybe i should've wussified myself more and just picked knight or druid 

i heard the 360 version had an expansion with new classes and items but i couldn't find any info about what these new skill are... any idea where i can get this info?

[CHOW CHOW]

mass effect 1 just won't end
i'm at noveria about to go in the hot labs
and then after that there's a bunch more shit like Ilos and the epic 2+ hour fight at the end...fuck me

[demi]

The final boss is nowhere near 2 hours, you can even skip the first part if you have high Charm/Intimidate

[CHOW CHOW]

wasn't talking about the boss fight, but the whole deal leading up to it on the citadel

[CHOW CHOW]

this is infuriating me...this fucking maze in the peak 15 hotlabs or whatever...million different doors, hallsways, just let me fucking get in the lab and end this shit fuck game

[Rman]

Now that I finished Graces and played S&P2 I finally put together my 2009 top10.  Wanted to wait until I played the big jrpgs (FFXIII and Graces) before committing.

1. Demon Souls
2. Machinarium
3. Williams Pinball Hall of Fame
4. SMT SJ
5. Death Smiles
6. Mushihimesama Futari
7. Sin & Punishment 2
8. Uncharted 2
9. Trials HD
10. Batman Arkham Asylum

S&P2 should probably be higher as I think it's one of the best games ever made (10/10) and games above it are less than 10/10 but games above it were more impacting experiences (whatever that means).  Graces almost made it, but too many good games in 2009. 

"look at me, i like niche japanese games and am better than you because of it"  is what i deciphered from your list :-/

Half the list are Western games.  Also, don't you know Bepbo's tastes by now?

Given the state of gaming in Japan, I don't know how anyone could say enjoying them makes you ''better'' than anyone else. 

[tiesto]

Now that I finished Graces and played S&P2 I finally put together my 2009 top10.  Wanted to wait until I played the big jrpgs (FFXIII and Graces) before committing.

1. Demon Souls
2. Machinarium
3. Williams Pinball Hall of Fame
4. SMT SJ
5. Death Smiles
6. Mushihimesama Futari
7. Sin & Punishment 2
8. Uncharted 2
9. Trials HD
10. Batman Arkham Asylum

S&P2 should probably be higher as I think it's one of the best games ever made (10/10) and games above it are less than 10/10 but games above it were more impacting experiences (whatever that means).  Graces almost made it, but too many good games in 2009. 

"look at me, i like niche japanese games and am better than you because of it"  is what i deciphered from your list :-/

None of those games are really that niche (except for like Machinarium and Trials HD, never heard of either), and like 1/2 of that list isn't even Japanese in origin.

[demi]

ACTUALLY HALF IS TIESTO

[CHOW CHOW]

just messing around

[iconoclast]

Speaking of Williams Pinball, I just picked that up for $10 from Gamestop. Been playing some in between Mass Effect 2 and I'm really liking it so far.

Medieval Madness

PS. Vanguard suuuucks on Insane in ME2. None of my powers are any good until the enemy's shields and/or armor deplete, and at that point you can just kill them in like 3 seconds anyway. And the charge attack is just suicide unless it's the last enemy left.

[archie4208]

Oh god I just had my first ragequit in HoN.  I was playing a support hero (who cannot solo AT ALL) and was told to solo mid (wat).  Needless to say I died pretty quickly.  Then my team bitches at me and I pretty much say "fuck ya'll im gonna just go get myself killed".  I want to like the game so much but I'd rather play with a room full of Xbox Live racists over your average HoN player.

[demi]

Speaking of Williams Pinball, I just picked that up for $10 from Gamestop. Been playing some in between Mass Effect 2 and I'm really liking it so far.

Medieval Madness

PS. Vanguard suuuucks on Insane in ME2. None of my powers are any good until the enemy's shields and/or armor deplete, and at that point you can just kill them in like 3 seconds anyway. And the charge attack is just suicide unless it's the last enemy left.

I said Vanguard got the nerf in the thread. Pick Sentinel or Infiltrator

[maxy]

Speaking of Williams Pinball, I just picked that up for $10 from Gamestop. Been playing some in between Mass Effect 2 and I'm really liking it so far.

Medieval Madness

PS. Vanguard suuuucks on Insane in ME2. None of my powers are any good until the enemy's shields and/or armor deplete, and at that point you can just kill them in like 3 seconds anyway. And the charge attack is just suicide unless it's the last enemy left.

I said Vanguard got the nerf in the thread. Pick Sentinel or Infiltrator

Adept is awesome too.Try to redistribute points,upgrade like crazy and always take people with good shield/armor destruction powers.

[CHOW CHOW]

can you still change the class if you're transferring over a save from me1

[MCD]

yeah, along with the look.

you can press the analog sticks for direction too, chow chow.

[CHOW CHOW]

direction for what

[MCD]

your objectives, you won't get lost like in that hot lab area.

[iconoclast]

Speaking of Williams Pinball, I just picked that up for $10 from Gamestop. Been playing some in between Mass Effect 2 and I'm really liking it so far.

Medieval Madness

PS. Vanguard suuuucks on Insane in ME2. None of my powers are any good until the enemy's shields and/or armor deplete, and at that point you can just kill them in like 3 seconds anyway. And the charge attack is just suicide unless it's the last enemy left.

I said Vanguard got the nerf in the thread. Pick Sentinel or Infiltrator

Eh, I'm already like 10 hours in so I'm sticking with it. Hasn't really been a big problem so far, I just let Miranda and Archangel do a lot of the dirty work with Overload and Warp. Still sucks that I'm basically just a shitty Soldier though.

I haven't really been reading anything about ME2, so I didn't know Vanguard got nerfed (it looked pretty good in the class select screen, until I noticed the powers were worthless on armored enemies...). I'm just trying to go through it with as little outside info as possible. Amazing game so far though.

[CHOW CHOW]

your objectives, you won't get lost like in that hot lab area.

awesome   i loved the dots in fable 2 that helped you find where to go

[Bebpo]

Speaking of Williams Pinball, I just picked that up for $10 from Gamestop. Been playing some in between Mass Effect 2 and I'm really liking it so far.

Medieval Madness

Yeah, Pinball is soooo good.  After you get the hang of a few tables and start racking up scores you should bump the old thread with our demi/muckhole leaderboard.

[Bebpo]

None of those games are really that niche (except for like Machinarium and Trials HD, never heard of either), and like 1/2 of that list isn't even Japanese in origin.

You have a 360 right?  You should check out Trials HD on XBLA if you like Super Monkey Ball.  It's the same addictive retry/retry/retry race/platformer/puzzler gameplay.

[tiesto]

None of those games are really that niche (except for like Machinarium and Trials HD, never heard of either), and like 1/2 of that list isn't even Japanese in origin.

You have a 360 right?  You should check out Trials HD on XBLA if you like Super Monkey Ball.  It's the same addictive retry/retry/retry race/platformer/puzzler gameplay.

Yeah, I do... I'll check a demo out, I never really heard of the game before. I haven't paid much attention to XBLA/PSN/WiiWare lately for some reason.

[MCD]

because you are still grinding in some fuck shit jrpg.