April
April 12, 2011
Been a bit busy lately, which has slightly killed my game-playing time. But, thanks to some wicked insomnia, I finally gave Ghost Trick a try.
Hot damn, that's some awesome stuff.
The puzzles are cool - if not almost a little too trial-and-error for my taste - but the overall style is beyond top notch. The animation is so freaking good, and I love the "cutaways" of interiors. Also, thanks to some fantastic dialog and characters, it's WAY more fun than I was expecting...
Got into the second chapter tonight, and my friend - who I borrowed it from - says I can't return it until it's finished. Which I hope to do one day soon...
Hot damn, that's some awesome stuff.
The puzzles are cool - if not almost a little too trial-and-error for my taste - but the overall style is beyond top notch. The animation is so freaking good, and I love the "cutaways" of interiors. Also, thanks to some fantastic dialog and characters, it's WAY more fun than I was expecting...
Got into the second chapter tonight, and my friend - who I borrowed it from - says I can't return it until it's finished. Which I hope to do one day soon...
April 02, 2011
Huh, not sure if it was a great idea to go directly from Crysis 2 to Killzone 3.
Well, one thing is for sure, Killzone has freaking incredible lighting and atmospheric effects - the heavily filtered illumination (through dust and floating bits of…stuff) makes for some of the most beautiful backdrops I've pretty much ever seen (helped greatly by stunning skyboxes) - they're like scary gorgeous.
The gameplay, though… Yeah.
I'm playing with the move controller(s), which is cool albeit a little janky (even after doing tons of calibration) - aiming at targets is dead on, but getting it so it helps you move / look around quickly without spinning is a pain. I'm sure I'll get used to it?
But, but, but… Yeah. It's so freaking by-the-numbers so far I almost feel like I'm playing an on-rails shooter. Move forward, enemies pop out, kill them, repeat. Over and over.
That said I'm only an hour or so in, I'm sure there's some variety coming up. But, again, after playing the sandbox'y Crysis 2, this seems like an incredibly beautiful yet incredibly generic affair.
Think I'm going to play something else for a bit before coming back, need to space out the shooters methinks.
Well, one thing is for sure, Killzone has freaking incredible lighting and atmospheric effects - the heavily filtered illumination (through dust and floating bits of…stuff) makes for some of the most beautiful backdrops I've pretty much ever seen (helped greatly by stunning skyboxes) - they're like scary gorgeous.
The gameplay, though… Yeah.
I'm playing with the move controller(s), which is cool albeit a little janky (even after doing tons of calibration) - aiming at targets is dead on, but getting it so it helps you move / look around quickly without spinning is a pain. I'm sure I'll get used to it?
But, but, but… Yeah. It's so freaking by-the-numbers so far I almost feel like I'm playing an on-rails shooter. Move forward, enemies pop out, kill them, repeat. Over and over.
That said I'm only an hour or so in, I'm sure there's some variety coming up. But, again, after playing the sandbox'y Crysis 2, this seems like an incredibly beautiful yet incredibly generic affair.
Think I'm going to play something else for a bit before coming back, need to space out the shooters methinks.
March
March 31, 2011
Neat stuff. I really, really wasn’t expecting Crysis 2 to be this good. Beating it on the hardest difficulty was a blast, easily the most fun I’ve had in a FPS in years. Years.
Yes, it did stretch from time to time (but, for a 10 hour game, not as much as you’d think), and the story was way too convoluted for its own good (lots of cool ideas awkwardly presented), but hot damn did it feel like a finished game. There was no signs of rushed work or cut areas, every single battle seemed well thought out and exciting. And while I understand why some feel as if the ending fight is a bit of a let-down, it follows the original Halo formula to a T (well, up until the warthog dash). No bothersome boss fight, just a rad and intense battle to top it off.
Really hope they pull a Warhead with this game, I really want another one soon.
Yes, it did stretch from time to time (but, for a 10 hour game, not as much as you’d think), and the story was way too convoluted for its own good (lots of cool ideas awkwardly presented), but hot damn did it feel like a finished game. There was no signs of rushed work or cut areas, every single battle seemed well thought out and exciting. And while I understand why some feel as if the ending fight is a bit of a let-down, it follows the original Halo formula to a T (well, up until the warthog dash). No bothersome boss fight, just a rad and intense battle to top it off.
Really hope they pull a Warhead with this game, I really want another one soon.
March 30, 2011
I think I’m nearing the end of Crysis 2. The past few hours of gameplay were crazy good, and I’m loving (loving) how they mix up the types of foes you fight; right when I was getting tired of aliens, bam - more humans.
I actually hope I’m almost done, to tell the truth. This game is just fantastic, but it’s also freaking long. I need to play some other games, but I also need to see this one through.
I actually hope I’m almost done, to tell the truth. This game is just fantastic, but it’s also freaking long. I need to play some other games, but I also need to see this one through.
March 28, 2011
Still addicted to Crysis 2. The fight in a certain famous part of New York (er, as to not get all spoiler’ific) floored me. I was just there a few months ago, and am astonished how well they pulled it off. It didn’t feel like a game representation of the area, it was the area under alien attack. Nice.
March 27, 2011
Just met up (and am fighting with) a bunch of soldiers in Crysis 2 - this worried me at first (game AI often fails at the worst possible moments), but so far they’re holding their own, and the game’s giving me plenty of “go do this by yourself” objectives. Also, the amount of destruction (and detail) in some of these areas is pretty insane.
Also, wasn't expecting to see so much detail in the backgrounds - watching soldiers stack body bags then rest afterwards or witnessing an altercation between a guy in a suit and a soldier (he wants to see his wife, man!) has more detail than most games have on characters you actually interact with... I got a little bit further, and I'm loving how they're folding the army into the story / gameplay experience.
Also, wasn't expecting to see so much detail in the backgrounds - watching soldiers stack body bags then rest afterwards or witnessing an altercation between a guy in a suit and a soldier (he wants to see his wife, man!) has more detail than most games have on characters you actually interact with... I got a little bit further, and I'm loving how they're folding the army into the story / gameplay experience.
March 26, 2011
Holy CRAP there’s a lot of stuff in Crysis 2. This is easily the most dense game I’ve ever played in terms of objects and textures. I’m taking a few seconds / minutes between firefights to just look around, and am really impressed (and amazed) by the amount of content that’s being rendered at once, not to mention the apparent care taken when placing it. Nothing feels random, everything has a place and fits. Homefront, for the most part, felt like “everyday objects” where placed over a pre-created game space. This game feels like its happening in a REAL location, not something created for the gameplay. It’s nuts. NUTS.
According to the achievements I think I’m around half way through, which is impressive. This already feels (and, frankly is) a much meatier game than Homefront…
According to the achievements I think I’m around half way through, which is impressive. This already feels (and, frankly is) a much meatier game than Homefront…
March 25, 2011
Was only able to play a bit today, and I took it up with Crysis 2. I’m so enjoying these little sandbox fights, and even when I die I’m quick to try out a different strategy. Sure, you can “cheat” the system a bit by stealthing past enemies (well, to a point), but it certainly hasn’t broken the game for me. Hell, in some ways it even makes it more fun…
March 24, 2011
I didn't exactly have high hopes for Crysis 2. It was far (far) below Homefront on my wanted list, and I had heavy doubts Crytek could make a solid console game.
Wow, I love being the idiot from time to time.
After only an hour or two of play, I'm pretty sure this is going into my all time favorite shooter list. It's easily the most organic shooting experience I've had since the original Halo (or Half-Life 2), and I feel like I have to use actual smarts to overcome some of these situations.
After a few fights I restarted on Supersolider difficulty, which made an already great game just that much more excellent. Looking damn forward to playing this tomorrow...
Wow, I love being the idiot from time to time.
After only an hour or two of play, I'm pretty sure this is going into my all time favorite shooter list. It's easily the most organic shooting experience I've had since the original Halo (or Half-Life 2), and I feel like I have to use actual smarts to overcome some of these situations.
After a few fights I restarted on Supersolider difficulty, which made an already great game just that much more excellent. Looking damn forward to playing this tomorrow...
March 21, 2011
I'm still not sure if I like-like Dragon Age II yet, but I'm really, really enjoying the "gray area" decisions I'm having to make. Thought I was doing good in one part, helping a fellow out, until I realized I was leading him to his death. By that time, it was too late, and I actually felt bad.
I love feeling something in games. You know, other than joy when winning and the like.
I love feeling something in games. You know, other than joy when winning and the like.
March 20, 2011
Was able to get a bit of Dragon Age II in during the rain, and played a bunch of Hard Corps: Uprising with a pal online.
Dragon Age II still heavily impresses in the story / voice acting department - really enjoying the layers and where it's going. The combat is blah, as are the visuals at times (yay for super detailed faces over super blurry clothing), but I'm digging the overall clean aesthetic, despite its sparseness.
Hard Core: Uprising. Holy hell, that game is crazy hard, but in a great old-school way. Heavy Treasure vibes at times, and the fact you can upgrade pretty much everything (albeit super slowly) is key. My pal and I had a blast, despite not ever beating the first area - wow at the never-ending boss fights.
That said, we ended stronger than we began, so I'm sure we'll take it down next time we play...
Or the time after that.
Dragon Age II still heavily impresses in the story / voice acting department - really enjoying the layers and where it's going. The combat is blah, as are the visuals at times (yay for super detailed faces over super blurry clothing), but I'm digging the overall clean aesthetic, despite its sparseness.
Hard Core: Uprising. Holy hell, that game is crazy hard, but in a great old-school way. Heavy Treasure vibes at times, and the fact you can upgrade pretty much everything (albeit super slowly) is key. My pal and I had a blast, despite not ever beating the first area - wow at the never-ending boss fights.
That said, we ended stronger than we began, so I'm sure we'll take it down next time we play...
Or the time after that.
March 19, 2011
Not sure what to think about Dragon Age II so far... I almost loved the first game (great dialog / choices, good combat, crappy visuals) but this one is a very different beast.
A very different one.
Not exactly sure why it's even labeled as a "2", everything from the structure to combat is so radically different this seems more like a side story than a proper sequel.
That said, it's pretty good so far. Like the first game, the story side of things has been solid (and the visuals not so much), and I'm enjoying the action-oriented combat. Then again, I have a feeling the plot is what's going to keep me coming back, and not the fighting - it's already feeling a tad repetitive, and I've only been playing a couple of hours.
A very different one.
Not exactly sure why it's even labeled as a "2", everything from the structure to combat is so radically different this seems more like a side story than a proper sequel.
That said, it's pretty good so far. Like the first game, the story side of things has been solid (and the visuals not so much), and I'm enjoying the action-oriented combat. Then again, I have a feeling the plot is what's going to keep me coming back, and not the fighting - it's already feeling a tad repetitive, and I've only been playing a couple of hours.
March 18, 2011
Played a bit more PixelJunk Shooter 2 tonight, and hot damn is that game a tad on the hard side.
Finished off the second "world," and found myself restarting a few levels many times thanks to not-perfect playing. Thankfully the control is spot on...
Still love the game, but you can tell it was made for those who mastered the first PJ Shooter. Or, in my case, those who thought they had mastered the first. :P
Finished off the second "world," and found myself restarting a few levels many times thanks to not-perfect playing. Thankfully the control is spot on...
Still love the game, but you can tell it was made for those who mastered the first PJ Shooter. Or, in my case, those who thought they had mastered the first. :P
March 17, 2011
OK, hate Homefront a little less now. After finally getting past that assy area (yay for grenade spam and blind luck), I made it through the rest of the game without too much trouble. The end bits aren't all that bad, and really worked well from time to time.
It's (sort of) sad, I highly doubt we'll see another game in this series (well, unless it sells like mad), and it's too bad - I'm still a fan of the concept, and the end left it open for an interesting "retaking America" vibe. A second game with more polish would be something I could get excited about.
That said, I'm not pre-ordering it again.
Oh, on a side note I was replaying an early level to test some stuff out, and found a hidden QR code on a wall. Scanning it with my iPhone netted me a wallpaper, silly but cool.
It's (sort of) sad, I highly doubt we'll see another game in this series (well, unless it sells like mad), and it's too bad - I'm still a fan of the concept, and the end left it open for an interesting "retaking America" vibe. A second game with more polish would be something I could get excited about.
That said, I'm not pre-ordering it again.
Oh, on a side note I was replaying an early level to test some stuff out, and found a hidden QR code on a wall. Scanning it with my iPhone netted me a wallpaper, silly but cool.
March 16, 2011
Fuck Homefront. Wait, that's mean. Fuck Homefront's fifth level on the hardest difficulty. Trying to get through endlessly spawning enemies is not fun. At all. Gave it a good twenty tries before giving up in defeat, and I'm really not sure right now that I'll ever pick it up again.
Which sucks, because that level (up until the point I got stuck) was a bright shining star in an otherwise mediocre game. Sure, it ripped off the sniper levels in Modern Warfare, but it did it pretty freaking well...
Which sucks, because that level (up until the point I got stuck) was a bright shining star in an otherwise mediocre game. Sure, it ripped off the sniper levels in Modern Warfare, but it did it pretty freaking well...
March 15, 2011
Wow, what a shame. I was really, really looking forward to Homefront. Rad story idea with a solid team, I thought this would be a AAA shooter. And, instead, I apparently made a stupid pre-order.
The single player has been a rough and shockingly sloppy affair so far - horrible collision (AI pals knock you around invisible walls aplenty), basic (and repetitive) battles, and one of the worst looking Unreal-powered games I've seen in a while (low resolution textures and shadows, gah).
The worst part is this game brings some heavy (and awesome) Half-Life 2 "near future occupation" vibes, but it's no where near as good in terms of pacing, characters and polish.
Anyways, I got through the second area (haha at the Wolverines reference), and I'm sure I'll continue until the end - I hear it's a short experience...
The single player has been a rough and shockingly sloppy affair so far - horrible collision (AI pals knock you around invisible walls aplenty), basic (and repetitive) battles, and one of the worst looking Unreal-powered games I've seen in a while (low resolution textures and shadows, gah).
The worst part is this game brings some heavy (and awesome) Half-Life 2 "near future occupation" vibes, but it's no where near as good in terms of pacing, characters and polish.
Anyways, I got through the second area (haha at the Wolverines reference), and I'm sure I'll continue until the end - I hear it's a short experience...
March 10, 2011
I played a bunch more Torchlight today, and got through the third (or is it fourth?) area, the one with the plants. Yes, it's still repetitive. But yes, it's still fun. I also found some AWESOME swords, which kill things post haste (which, ironically, is my favorite way to kill things).
March 10, 2011
Maybe it's because I played a bunch of Torchlight on PC, but it's one heck of a mixed XBLA port. For one, it's kind of ugly, with low res textures and lots of strange slowdown. But, on the other hand, it's freaking fun as all heck. The developers really pulled off the transition from point-and-click to button-press gameplay, it feels super tight and responsive.
I made it down a couple levels and had a blast. Hot damn I love loot games.
I made it down a couple levels and had a blast. Hot damn I love loot games.
March 4, 2011
I got through the collapsing building bit, but sort of gave up on Bulletstorm shortly after that. The game never really clicked with me, and since Amazon was offering a $40 trade-in (which was more or less the price I paid for it), I figured this was a good stopping point.
I might grab it again one day (yay for system-based saves), but for now...yeah. Done.
I might grab it again one day (yay for system-based saves), but for now...yeah. Done.
