What Game Are You Playing At The Moment?

[Junkenstein]

Originally Posted by standardman

Unfortunately, that's what developers seem to struggle with most. The Uncharted games are probably the best example of well defined, believable characters and Alyx from Half-Life 2 and it's episodes springs to mind. I felt that Rockstar did an interesting job with Niko Bellec in GTA4 too, he wasn't a good person but you could see how he got there and how his choices were affectiving him.

Valve are great with characters that arent the player. Just watch Portal. Fair enough, the gameplay is sickeningly addictive, but would have been the same without the genius that is GlaDos? The turrets? They managed to make people fall in love with a cube.

I think that NIko is more interesting than CJ. Fine CJ is the quintessential cool gangsta, but Niko is a complex, tragic, being.

By the way, i speak of compelling characters and i do not mention April Ryan... Shame on me.

[standardman]

Originally Posted by Junkenstein

Valve are great with characters that arent the player. Just watch Portal. Fair enough, the gameplay is sickeningly addictive, but would have been the same without the genius that is GlaDos? The turrets? They managed to make people fall in love with a cube.

I think that NIko is more interesting than CJ. Fine CJ is the quintessential cool gangsta, but Niko is a complex, tragic, being.

By the way, i speak of compelling characters and i do not mention April Ryan... Shame on me.

They really are great at that, and they use the same techniques to develop their worlds around you - even in Left 4 Dead 1/2.

Yeah, I'd agree, I've never felt bad about my character doing something in a GTA game until 4.

Oh! You just reminded me - Andrew Ryan of Bioshock, especially after that scene.

[standardman]

Bionic Commando
I borrowed the 3D reboot of this from work because I'm very fond of the original and I flat out loved the 2D revamp. I like the idea the grappling hook in games but I've not seen swinging done right in 3D since Spider-man 2.

The game looks gorgeous, taking place in a fallen city just after a massive explosion - sunlight filtering through smashed skyscrapers that are broken across the horizon, it really makes you want to explore this world with your abilities.

Unfortunately, the game doesn't want you to explore. This is a game about fluid, high altitude movement, set in a city begging to explored and it has invisible walls EVERYWHERE. Worse still, these invisible walls can kill you due to radiation immediately after you swing into them thanks to 'fallout from the explosion' (read: developer couldn't be bothered making multiple routes).

In addition to this, the game is glitchy and inconsistent - often sending you tumbling to your death for reasons that have nothing to do with your skill. This is a problem compounded by the terrible checkpointing that makes you drudge through the poorly designed level all over again, even making you pick up the hard-to-reach collectable items again and - worse - sit through all the cut scenes (which seem to have been scripted by a 12 year old boy) AGAIN.

The original Bionic Commando (and the remake) was hard but if you died it was because you weren't skilled enough and if you finished a hard level, you felt like you'd achieved something. In this game finishing a level means you just navigated bugs and poor design and makes you a more patient man than I. A wasted opportunity.

[Junkenstein]

First peeks:

Dragon Age

Whoa. I normally do not like fantasy rpg's but this game feels like peeking into another universe. I actually like the voiceless, disembodied aspect given to my charcter (although i wouldnt trade it for my smooth talking, mind fucking, Sheperd).
The intro is simply breath taking. Very good

Audiosurf

I know that in this neutered sterile age, kids dont smoke pot anymore but let me say this. When me and my oldest friends were puffing out in front of a PSX while playing Wipeout... This was what we were dreaming of. You can call it an addictive game, a great idea, but this is a stoner dream projected by a stoner for stoners. That's the thing you build a giant playlist and loose yourself in the vortex. For Days, equipped with Amnesia Haze and brownies.

Finished

Mass Effect

Perfect., The greatest game i've played up in competiton with Arkham.
It's a game that doesnt only train you to face your enemies or obstacles, but it has you make tough decisions that are even harder, considering thed depth of the relationships that you find yourself into with the other characters.

And if that isnt enough,watch this spoilerific dialogue (or dont watch it if you havent played the game) delivered by the most frightening antagoinist (well almost) ever:



Jesus.

[rhesusattack]

Anyone checked out that Darksiders game? I watched a bit of it this morning and it seemed neat and like a straight-up Zelda clone on the 360, which I am okay with.

[standardman]

Originally Posted by Junkenstein

First peeks:

Dragon Age

Whoa. I normally do not like fantasy rpg's but this game feels like peeking into another universe. I actually like the voiceless, disembodied aspect given to my charcter (although i wouldnt trade it for my smooth talking, mind fucking, Sheperd).
The intro is simply breath taking. Very good

Audiosurf

I know that in this neutered sterile age, kids dont smoke pot anymore but let me say this. When me and my oldest friends were puffing out in front of a PSX while playing Wipeout... This was what we were dreaming of. You can call it an addictive game, a great idea, but this is a stoner dream projected by a stoner for stoners. That's the thing you build a giant playlist and loose yourself in the vortex. For Days, equipped with Amnesia Haze and brownies.

Finished

Mass Effect

Perfect., The greatest game i've played up in competiton with Arkham.
It's a game that doesnt only train you to face your enemies or obstacles, but it has you make tough decisions that are even harder, considering thed depth of the relationships that you find yourself into with the other characters.

And if that isnt enough,watch this spoilerific dialogue (or dont watch it if you havent played the game) delivered by the most frightening antagoinist (well almost) ever:

Jesus.

You are playing a lot of great games. Isn't Audiosurf just a brilliant thing? There five different opening for Dragon Age, which faction/race did you pick?

Originally Posted by rhesusattack

Anyone checked out that Darksiders game? I watched a bit of it this morning and it seemed neat and like a straight-up Zelda clone on the 360, which I am okay with.

I've heard good things, I admit I dismissed it as a God of War clone but I hear it's a nice hybrid of Zelda and God of War.

[unrealrob]

Originally Posted by rhesusattack

Anyone checked out that Darksiders game? I watched a bit of it this morning and it seemed neat and like a straight-up Zelda clone on the 360, which I am okay with.

Hey there Rhesus... I picked up Darksiders a couple of weeks ago. It was decent. Not great, but pretty good.

I can absolutely see why people describe it as a clone between God of War and Zelda. Combat = GOW. Gameplay and puzzles = Zelda.

I'd say give it a go, I had fun.

Anyone else pumped about Mass Effect 2???

[rhesusattack]

Yeah, while watching a buddy play the beginning of it earlier I couldn't help but notice that keywords in the intro text were highlighted...a la Zelda.

[iheartnihilism]

Originally Posted by Junkenstein

First peeks:

Dragon Age

Whoa. I normally do not like fantasy rpg's but this game feels like peeking into another universe. I actually like the voiceless, disembodied aspect given to my charcter (although i wouldnt trade it for my smooth talking, mind fucking, Sheperd).
The intro is simply breath taking. Very good.

What he said.

[Junkenstein]

Originally Posted by standardman

You are playing a lot of great games. Isn't Audiosurf just a brilliant thing? There five different opening for Dragon Age, which faction/race did you pick?

I picked the human noble one, but i'll try the others.