What are you playing?

[Joe Molotov]

id hasn't even tried to make a multiplayer game since Quake 3. Doom 3 had some really tacked on 4-player death match. I think they did the mp in Quake 4, but it was basically just Q3 with better graphics. Rage had dune buggys. Their premier mp game for like the past 5 years has been a f2p version of Quake 3.

[Great Rumbler]

RAGE's multiplayer is just incomprehensible. You've got co-op of singleplayer missions and car-combat racing [which was never that good to begin with]. No 4v4 arena deathmatch, no capture the flag. They should even have bothered if they were going to put in so little effort.

[demi]

Get the Scorchers DLC at least to make the game feel longer

[archie4208]

Randoming overpowered heroes. 

[demi]

Gamefly sent me Uncharted Vita -- so I pulled it out of my underwear drawer and started charging it again. Rocking pussies in Treasures of Montezuma Blitz. Could totally get all trophies.

[chronovore]

Get the Scorchers DLC at least to make the game feel longer

I think mine's the LTTP Edition, which includes all the trimmings. I'll peek. The damned thing suggests a 22GB install, so lord only knows what additional tomfoolery they have yet to include.

[Himu]

I tried doing a quick speed run of Jet Set Radio last night. I do this every few months. I switched from 360 pad to dual shock 3 for my pc pad and holy shit, JSR is unplayable with this fucking controller. Fuck. Due to the sticks, which have your thumb sitting on top rather than your thumbs sitting IN them, messing up on tags is a regular thing. I'll do a tag motion that's right and still goof up. What the shit. TERRIBLE.

At least on the Cast, the controller has grooves which hold your thumb in place. This is unplayable to me.

JSR is a game I can play at any time, any where and love it. Fucking dual shock analog sticks. 

Maybe I'll have better luck with Tab and not Gum. His motions are easier!

[fistfulofmetal]

So I referenced it earlier but I've been playing Shantae for the GBC. Mostly because of the recent Kickstarter and have been hearing about this series for awhile and heard it was good.

Shantae for the GBC is a pretty interesting little game. It feels plenty "old-school" and has a decent setup. But I have a difficult time playing because it's so "old-school". I find myself using the 3DS's restore point feature like, all the time. I don't plan on finishing it but I just wanted to see what it was about.

So instead of finishing it I just moved on to Shantae: Risky's Revenge which is a DSi-Ware game. And instantly I'm more into this than the first game. The 2D art is pretty gorgeous. The controls are tighter. The "explore" gameplay from the first feels more manageable. It's more of a modern game that I have a better interest in playing.

[demi]

Risky's Revenge is also on iOS

[Rufus]

Way of the Samurai 2
I've realized that I only like these games in theory. Fuck getting all the pointless endings and dialogue trees and dumb quest system they introduced in this one. Nice music though.

Odin Sphere
Looks really good, dunno about the game though. I really don't like the gardening, alchemy and cooking stuff. Just make the enemies drop potions or more money so I can buy the shit I need for the bosses. The inventory is too fucking small to juggle all this crap and I don't want to stop all the time to plant flowers and separately combine three ingredients to upgrade the base potion before I can finally mix what I actually want. And why does nothing stack? So that I have to take an alchemy break all the time? Ugh.

[Eric P]

Still playing Metro Last Light and really enjoying it.  It's content tourism at Normal Difficulty but it's so pretty and fairly varied especially when compared to the first game. 

[Rufus]

I'm beginning to hate the combat system in Odin Sphere. There are no real combos, anyone can hit you out of an attack string whenever they want, so you have to hold back a lot. Furthermore, attack and block are on the same button, tap to attack, hold to block. What the fuck kind of asshole design is this?

[Joe Molotov]

I'm beginning to hate [...] Odin Sphere.

Welcome to 2007.

[Himu]

Walking Dead is amazing. Sceneman sucks. This is the most progressive adventure game I've played in years.

[Rufus]

Welcome to 2007.

Ugh.
I think I'm just going to finish the Valkyrie's story and then watch a Let's Play to see what the other characters are like. This shit is driving me up the wall. It looks neat, but the everything else is kind of a mess. I mean, the only reason there's a minimap showing silhouettes up in the upper right is because you would get off-screened all the time. Happens anyway because you can't tell what some enemies are doing once you're comboing, but hey, the sprites sure are big and pretty!

[brob]

Or, read this: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/odinsphere/odinsphere.htm and go on with your life, comfortably not having to play more Odin Sphere.

[magus]

Welcome to 2007.

Ugh.
I think I'm just going to finish the Valkyrie's story and then watch a Let's Play to see what the other characters are like. This shit is driving me up the wall. It looks neat, but the everything else is kind of a mess. I mean, the only reason there's a minimap showing silhouettes up in the upper right is because you would get off-screened all the time. Happens anyway because you can't tell what some enemies are doing once you're comboing, but hey, the sprites sure are big and pretty!

the other character are more or less the same,the second has a spin jump attack,the third has a rage meter which makes him go into berserk mode as he punch stuff,the fourth use a crossbow which translate into ranged attack and the fifth just suck... they also go through the same stage so really there is no reason to play the game other than the plot

but boy do i love it,please if you decide to stop,watch a let's play of it because as far as actual plot goes it's the best drama rpg you will ever see

oh and if you ever decide to pick dragon's crown,don't worry it plays nothing like odin sphere

[Rufus]

Yeah, the plot is actually a positive surprise so far.

What about Muramasa? I heard that's kind of crap too, but I'll give it a spin in Dolphin if it's not complete rubbish...

Or, read this: http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/odinsphere/odinsphere.htm and go on with your life, comfortably not having to play more Odin Sphere.

Ah, Hardcore Gaming 101. I used to follow that site. They need an editor so badly. Anyway, my gut instinct is tl;dr, but I guess it's better than watching hours of video...

From that article:

Naturally, all of this gorgeousness comes at a price. There really isn't much variation in the backgrounds at all. In fact, each sphere is completely flat, with no variation whatsoever in the terrain, and they each look almost identical. The graphics only change when you reach a new area. There are a total of eight different areas in Odin Sphere (the deathly Netherworld, the barren Battlefield, the Elrit and Ringford forests, the cities of Titantia and Nebulapolis, the freezing mountains of Winterhorn, and volcanic Volkenon Lava Pit.) The problem is that each character visits seven of them, which means over the course of the entire game, you'll replay each stage at least five times. Furthermore, most of the bosses are recycled, so you'll need to fight the same battles over and over. Gwendolyn's final stage, boss fight included, is almost identical to Cornelius' first stage.

As you delve further and further into the chapters, Odin Sphere eventually spirals downward into repetition, as you play and see the same things over and over and over again. Admittedly, you're playing through as different characters - most of them have at least slightly different play styles, and many bosses require different tactics to win - but after a certain point, you're really just playing to see what happens in the story, because it eventually runs out of new situations to toss at you. Even the final battles contain recycled bosses.

Say no more, Let's Play it is!

Reading it further, this is spot on. Especially the part about ostensibly being a Beat'em'Up that punishes you for playing it like one.

[magus]

you are more agile in muramasa being a ninja and all and there is nothing to interrupt your combo and the like so it plays a little better... there are 2 characters only but they go through different stages and fight different boss (even if the stages itself draw mostly from the same pool of enemies) but unlike odin sphere there isn't really a plot to speak off other than a really basic one... there are still rpg element but they are less relevant,there is no alchemy or inventory management for example

apparently the vita version of muramasa adds around 3-4 extra character but i don't know how they play or if they go through new stage (probably not)

[Joe Molotov]

vanillaware games are beautiful pieces of grindy shit.  some people have a particular sort of brain damage that allows them to enjoy them, be thankful you're not in that group, rufus.

Don't forget they also have "an intricately spun tale worthy of a place in the canon of classic literature".

[Rufus]

I did a search for that phrase and the Bore was among the few results. Part of me hoped that it was some reviewer's gushing.

I'm going to try to beat this stupid boss (the "King") and then put it down (minor brain damage after all, I'm afraid). Exited to rediscover what's in the other cardboard boxes under my bed.

[Great Rumbler]

I did a search for that phrase and the Bore was among the few results. Part of me hoped that it was some reviewer's gushing.

That line was on the back of the box. Yes, really.

[Rufus]

Yeah, the HCG101 article mentions it, but it wasn't clear if it was a review quote or just the marketing blurb.

[Beezy]

I bought Odin Sphere for PS2 when it launched. Felt like I got robbed.

[Rufus]

I paid 10€ and feel like I got ripped off. Probably explains why I got it new for that price.

[Himu]

The Walking Dead pushes what games can be. That is not hyperbole. I am amazed it was a success. Scene man I hope you hang yourself, taco.

[chronovore]

Christ, Himu. You're entering into intolerant space again. Any chance you'll relax before I have to Ignore you again?

[brob]

I suppose an argument could be made for The Walking Dead's success establishing/enabling the development of "western visual novels" as a genre-type. Don't really see how that's "pushing what games can be" though, "bolstering the existing breadth" would be better.

[Himu]

It pushes games because this is the first game I have played that is TV/film quality in its gravitas, writing, and general direction. You may not agree, but it is what I think. It is better than any film I've seen in theatres and on par with the best TV I have consumed this year. Let me tell you: I watch quality TV. If that isn't pushing games, I don't know what is.


Walking Dead is probably the most even game story I've experienced. I felt a full gamut of emotion playing it: tension, drama, parental love (towards Clem), laughter, disgust. For the first time in a long time, if ever, I made choices in a game which I immediately regretted that had no obvious right or wrong answer. I'd do something that, at the time, made sense, and be disgusted seconds later after I reveled in the cruel, perverse aftermath.

[demi]

So basically,

tl;dr

I got the feels, GOTY

Game is wank, Heavy Rain is better

[Himu]

I somehow doubt that, Demi.

In terms of writing and direction is Heavy Rain really better?

I wouldn't say it's goty or anything, because as an actual game it's limiting, seeing as how it is an adventure game, but as an experience - wow, I think it shows what games are fully capable of doing.

For reference, I've gone often about how game stories don't feel any better than Sy Fy Channel movies. They're very much snuggled neatly in between C and B movies. For me, it's mostly the scripts, the lack of humanism and emotional weight, even in games where they're trying to promote the game as a major breakthrough in game storytelling it'll often be another game - like the new Tomb Raider - that has zero sense of realistic character development. Then there's the writing, direction, and drama. Even with games I think have good game stories like Silent Hill 2, or even Shenmue, have script problems that dip into absurdity and take me out of the game to the point where, if it were a tv show or movie, I wouldn't finish it. But The Walking dead, man. Everything is firing on all cylinders here. It's the first game I can honestly say is on par with the best Hollywood and tv has currently to offer.

Many people on this forum agree with the stipulation that games are lightweight in their writing, thus I don't see why it's a problem to say that a game that actually steps up its writing and situations/themes it throws at players isn't pushing games forward. It's a pretty fucking heavy game and it's extremely enhanced by the fact it's an interactive piece of entertainment and not a movie. I wouldn't like it nearly as much if it were a tv show, because actually choosing your choices is a personal experience you can't share with another medium.

They did a great job and I think they deserve kudos for their accomplishment. Even Heavy Rain's writing, from what I've experienced from the demo - haven't played the full game - is very...."game-y".

[fistfulofmetal]

Can't beat the Baron Tower in Risky's Revenge :\

I have to go through 10 floors of combat in 3 minutes (with small time bonuses here and there). I get to the very end with 1:30 on the clock but can't beat the final floor.

I figure, I need to leave and go find upgrades for my weapons or something. I'm probably not killing enemies fast enough. That's really the only thing I can think since I'm not even coming close. I've basically went through the floors as fast as I can with minimal wasted time and I still need about 20+ seconds to beat the last few guys.

To me, that's kinda bad design. The game should have done a better job at informing me there are upgrades to find out there that are basically required to complete this next section. I know there are upgrades but to make the next required area so much harder than the last seems lame to me.

Unless I'm just straight up bad at the game, which I'll admit I'm open to the concept. But I have my doubts this game would get so brutally difficult and require such pro-skill to complete when it's been fairly low-key difficulty wise so far.

[Joe Molotov]

Metro: Last Light is pretty cool. Pavel is a true commie bro.

[magus]

One Piece Musou 2

i don't care much for either one piece or dynasty warrior but somehow i'm having fun with this,i'd put my money on...

A) the character all feel different enough (i especialy like nami who has a gimmick where some of her attack create clouds which you can then detonate with R2 and jinbei who's really slow but has the ability to summon a wave that cover all the screen and a one-strike punch that deals a shitload of damage,blows enemies away and look super cool)
B) the animation are really well done and colorfull
C) there is really a shitload of enemies on screen,i find myself using the lock option simply to keep track of the boss

i tought the game would follow the anime plot but i guess there still isn't enough time skip plot to do it so you get a token plot where all of the straw hat become evil except luffy and nami (yes,even chopper,especialy chopper) so luffy has now to hunt them and punch them in the face until they become good again oh and you get to start with smoker too for some reason (i guess because he's popular?)

there is no weapon system and instead you get coins,you equip coins to your stat and if you put 2 coins related to each other together they boost each other (so say... put straw hat pirates coins together,put nami coin with nami weapon coin) missions have objective where you can unlock more powerfull coins but it's usualy just to get 1000 kill,get the S rank,and finish the stage with no NPC dying

mmm... so what's bad about it? well the character all sort of feels underpowered,i mean they make a lot of explosions and have attack that makes enemy fly everywhere blow away which also have huge range but the damage you do to small grunt is pitifull and they usualy need more than 1 combo to end up dead,this is particulary annoying because you get ranked on your death count and i've lost count how many times the game told me "oh yeah,you finished the stage quickly,you didn't take a lot of damage but whooooops! you didn't kill enough people! no full remark for you!" the stage are also sooooooooooooo long,i had a stage that took like 24 minutes

[The Sceneman]

The Walking Dead pushes what games can be. That is not hyperbole. I am amazed it was a success. Scene man I hope you hang yourself, taco.

"Pushes what games can be"- yeah, a game comprised entirely of dialogue choices and QTEs, with no actual puzzles or exploration. Totally fucking innovative

[Himu]

Goddamit. I'm on Episode 4 and the writing has taken a drastic dip in quality the very second it said WRITTEN BY GARY WHITTA. Everything I liked about the last three episodes is thrown out the window as Gary serves up typical gamer bullshit: a fucking ninja chick, a stupid zombie barricade, shallow character development, melodramatic writing, almost every line in this episode is some wise cracking nerd quip or a fucking nerdy ass Hemingway quote that no one with a brain who'd see a horde of zombies would say. "The bell, it tolls for thee" after seeing a horde of zombies? Really? Someone end this mans career.

FUCK.

YOU HAVE RUINED IT GARY WHITTA. WHY CAN I NOT HAVE NICE THINGS?

[fistfulofmetal]

He didn't actually write the episode. Just came up with some characters/scenarios. Anyway, stop being such a hyperbolic queen and finish the fucking thing.

[Himu]

Gary couldn't resist inserting a FALLOUT reference either.

[Himu]

He didn't actually write the episode. Just came up with some characters/scenarios. Anyway, stop being such a hyperbolic queen and finish the fucking thing.

He didn't? It totally said Written By Gary Whitta on episode 4.

I'm not being a queen at all. Seems ep 4 is the worst one. AND it is written by Gary Whitta.

[fistfulofmetal]

Of course it says that, nerds know who Gary Whitta is. But he wasn't the sole writer and didn't write the entire thing. He talked about it on a podcast around when it came out. He mostly oversaw the narrative components and came up with characters but didn't write the actual dialogue. He may have put through some lines here and there.

And yeah, it's the lesser episode of the bunch. It still has some great moments so just finish it and move on to the finale.

[Joe Molotov]

Goddamit. I'm on Episode 4 and the writing has taken a drastic dip in quality the very second it said WRITTEN BY GARY WHITTA. Everything I liked about the last three episodes is thrown out the window as Gary serves up typical gamer bullshit: a fucking ninja chick, a stupid zombie barricade, shallow character development, melodramatic writing, almost every line in this episode is some wise cracking nerd quip or a fucking nerdy ass Hemingway quote that no one with a brain who'd see a horde of zombies would say. "The bell, it tolls for thee" after seeing a horde of zombies? Really? Someone end this mans career.

FUCK.

YOU HAVE RUINED IT GARY WHITTA. WHY CAN I NOT HAVE NICE THINGS?

Are we still in the "This is not hyperbole" portion of your review?

[chronovore]

Tornado Outbreak is dumpstered; this is the last time I buy a game just because I like the sound middleware they used.

[Himu]

I just fucking hate Gary Whitta man.

[fistfulofmetal]

Ugh. I hate when the item shop person's list doesn't have a scroll wheel so you have no idea there's MORE STUFF to buy. After buying up a bunch of SUPER STRONG magic attacks I was able to beat the time challenge in Shantae without a problem.

[chronovore]

Ugh. I hate when the item shop person's list doesn't have a scroll wheel so you have no idea there's MORE STUFF to buy. After buying up a bunch of SUPER STRONG magic attacks I was able to beat the time challenge in Shantae without a problem.

Yeah, that sucks. Done in by poorly implemented UI.

[tiesto]

Made it to the Monolith in Soul Hackers, which is apparently one of the most annoying RPG dungeons ever. The last few dungeons were pretty cool and went by rather quickly... gonna take a breather from it till next weekend where I can hopefully finish the dungeon in one go. Meanwhile, I think I'll finally get around to Asura's Wraith.

[The Sceneman]

been meaning to check Asura's Wrath now that it's in the bargain bin.

You gotta buy lots of DLC though, right?

[Joe Molotov]

been meaning to check Asura's Wrath now that it's in the bargain bin.

You gotta buy lots of DLC though, right?

Ya, DLC ending and one or two extra DLC chapters.

[demi]

GET THE ENDING DLC ITS THE BEST PART OF THE ENTIRE GAME

Dont bother with the stupid extra stuff and Street Fighter ones

[Joe Molotov]

Pavel, you commie bastard. 

[The Sceneman]

Ah all the DLC is only about 10 bucks

[Rufus]

Red Dead Revolver
Started it over after I took a very long break from it. Turns out it's not even that long. Finished it in one go. The last few stages are brutal though, starting with that cunt Kelley and his ridiculous lost fourth Musketeers get-up. Almost rage quit a few times. Fuck the last few duels as well.
I forgot how ugly this game is. Must have been sub-par even when it came out. Some of the mooks in this look like they're from the planet of the apes or something. I imagine the Xbox version looked much better. An OK TPS, but nothing special. I wonder how far along Capcom were with it when they sold it to Rockstar.

[chronovore]

Red Dead Revolver
Started it over after I took a very long break from it. Turns out it's not even that long. Finished it in one go. The last few stages are brutal though, starting with that cunt Kelley and his ridiculous lost fourth Musketeers get-up. Almost rage quit a few times. Fuck the last few duels as well.
I forgot how ugly this game is. Must have been sub-par even when it came out. Some of the mooks in this look like they're from the planet of the apes or something. I imagine the Xbox version looked much better. An OK TPS, but nothing special. I wonder how far along Capcom were with it when they sold it to Rockstar.

Yeah, it was ugly even at the time.

Revolver was a multiple restart development. I suspect it was a sink-or-swim situation once Rockstar bought them.

[Himu]

Beat TWD.

Goddamn the tears down my face for that conclusion. I kicked my dog out of my room because I didn't want her to see me in a weak state.



Amazing experience. Thank goodness I'm sick and could play all weekend.

[The Sceneman]

Beat TWD.

Goddamn the tears down my face for that conclusion. I kicked my dog out of my room because I didn't want her to see me in a weak state.



Amazing experience. Thank goodness I'm sick and could play all weekend.

[Himu]

Hold me Scene. I'm sorry I was picking on you. It was funny at the time.

Now I want to lay in bed in fetal position. What an emotional roller coaster.

This game.

[Himu]

Christ, I start up 400 days and there's a fucking bulletin board of missing people and I just start bawling. I can only hope this is not written by Mr. Whitta.



Edit:

My friend cosigned TWD being an emotionally exhaustive experience. He suggest I play TLOU because it has more diverse subject matter and shit, such as theology. I got it sitting right here on my shelf. Maybe after GTAV. I have had enough of the human condition in my video games for one weekend. Then again I love a good tear jerker. So time to take out the whiskey.

[chronovore]

While my Crash Course reflexes are "hot," I thought I'd try and compete in some Crash Course 2 tournaments. I got 3 races into 3 tournaments, when the rest of the players dropped out. I wouldn't care about XBOX LIVE LOSERS except that being abandoned in an in-progress tournament doesn't count as a win.

Scenester, let's private match this bad boy, and kill those online 'cheevos.

[The Sceneman]

sure thing man, you free tonight?

[Eric P]

Metro: Last Light is pretty cool. Pavel is a true commie bro.

i was totally unaware that there was a sex scene in this game until it came out of nowhere.