Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Editorial
Just to let all my avid readers now that I'm away from tomorrow until Sunday. I'm having a bit off a break in Manchester. Having been so absorbed in Saints Row 2 that I've finished the campaign (and seeing as my online friends who'd I'd happily join to help them in co-op have all moved on to Fable 2) in a week combined with the fact that Little Big Planet has been delayed I may pick up a new game while I'm away...
Russ & Ross Vs Manuel
So this has been rumbling on for several days now.
Now obviously causing controversy is pretty much what Brand does and you either love him or loathe him for it and Ross is probably old enough to know better.
But what I specifically want to discuss is the media back lash.
Surely all this publicity is actually making any embarassment caused to Sachs or his grand daughter worse?
Isn't the rest of the media being pretty sanctamonious over it all?
So what do you all think? Sack 'em or we really shouldn't censor our performers?
Now obviously causing controversy is pretty much what Brand does and you either love him or loathe him for it and Ross is probably old enough to know better.
But what I specifically want to discuss is the media back lash.
Surely all this publicity is actually making any embarassment caused to Sachs or his grand daughter worse?
Isn't the rest of the media being pretty sanctamonious over it all?
So what do you all think? Sack 'em or we really shouldn't censor our performers?
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
The "Complete" List
John Woo Presents Stranglehold
Portal
Test Drive: Unlimited ( ALL Gold in the SP challenges.)
Loco Roco*
The Darkness (Easy)
Lost: Via Domus
LEGO Indiana Jones - The Original Adventures (Story Mode)
Battlefield: Bad Company (Easy) & (Normal)
Ratchet & Clank : Quest for Booty
God of War: Chains of Olympus
Tiger Woods 2009
Haze
Saints Row 2
It's been a pretty rubbish year for completing games for me this year. There's been a lot of games I've put a lot of time into and haven't had the enthusiasm/skill for the final push to completion and some of the games I've completed (TD:U and Portal)where kind of hung over from last year. Still I hope to make a decent final push in the last two months.
What can I say about Saints Row 2? I started off saying it wasn't a GTA IV beater.. And in some ways I probably wasn't wrong. Rockstars effort has more polish, better characters (If there was an award for supporting character of the year Packie would win it every time) better physics, better car handling and although it's not quite so cut and dried probably the more memorable missions (certainly the HEAT copying mission and the funeral where gaming highlights of the year) but in almost every way that counts Saints Row 2 is the superior game.
Most Importantly it's heaps more fun. The co-op is fantastic. Being the crime lord is much more fun than working for them. The gun combat (despite not having any cover) is far more fun. The side missions are far more fun. The locations are nearly always better, The character customisation is brilliant, It has checkpoints, it has recovering health... There's far less frustration and there's much more interesting stuff to do.
Suffice to say I had a blast all the way through. Everything you'd like to try it not only let's you do but will probably reward you for doing. I've spent nearly 30 hours on it in just under a week. Who couldn't love a game that let's you do nearly everything wearing nipple tassles, a g string and a pair of high heels?
A strong contender at this point (with a whole heap of big titles to come) for GOTY
Portal
Test Drive: Unlimited ( ALL Gold in the SP challenges.)
Loco Roco*
The Darkness (Easy)
Lost: Via Domus
LEGO Indiana Jones - The Original Adventures (Story Mode)
Battlefield: Bad Company (Easy) & (Normal)
Ratchet & Clank : Quest for Booty
God of War: Chains of Olympus
Tiger Woods 2009
Haze
Saints Row 2
It's been a pretty rubbish year for completing games for me this year. There's been a lot of games I've put a lot of time into and haven't had the enthusiasm/skill for the final push to completion and some of the games I've completed (TD:U and Portal)where kind of hung over from last year. Still I hope to make a decent final push in the last two months.
What can I say about Saints Row 2? I started off saying it wasn't a GTA IV beater.. And in some ways I probably wasn't wrong. Rockstars effort has more polish, better characters (If there was an award for supporting character of the year Packie would win it every time) better physics, better car handling and although it's not quite so cut and dried probably the more memorable missions (certainly the HEAT copying mission and the funeral where gaming highlights of the year) but in almost every way that counts Saints Row 2 is the superior game.
Most Importantly it's heaps more fun. The co-op is fantastic. Being the crime lord is much more fun than working for them. The gun combat (despite not having any cover) is far more fun. The side missions are far more fun. The locations are nearly always better, The character customisation is brilliant, It has checkpoints, it has recovering health... There's far less frustration and there's much more interesting stuff to do.
Suffice to say I had a blast all the way through. Everything you'd like to try it not only let's you do but will probably reward you for doing. I've spent nearly 30 hours on it in just under a week. Who couldn't love a game that let's you do nearly everything wearing nipple tassles, a g string and a pair of high heels?
A strong contender at this point (with a whole heap of big titles to come) for GOTY
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Chinese Whispers?
Excuse the terrible title.
After (For me) a 17 year wait since their last new album it seems the much fabled Chinese Democracy from Guns N' Roses may actually be close to release!
The new single (named after the album) was actually played on Sara Cox's show this morning on Radio 1.
Obviously after only one listen it's difficult to pass a judgement on whether the wait has been worth it but after the opening guitar riff as soon as Axl wades in with his trade mark caterwaul I thought it was going to be pretty awesome.
Whether an album that's been in production for that long can end up being anything over than a self indulgent mess who can say? But I'm looking forward to finding out.
After (For me) a 17 year wait since their last new album it seems the much fabled Chinese Democracy from Guns N' Roses may actually be close to release!
The new single (named after the album) was actually played on Sara Cox's show this morning on Radio 1.
Obviously after only one listen it's difficult to pass a judgement on whether the wait has been worth it but after the opening guitar riff as soon as Axl wades in with his trade mark caterwaul I thought it was going to be pretty awesome.
Whether an album that's been in production for that long can end up being anything over than a self indulgent mess who can say? But I'm looking forward to finding out.
Monday, 20 October 2008
A look ahead to Quarter 4 - Part 3
So this is the third part.. Not quite so easy to title either.. It's the: "Ones I've registered an interest in but will only buy if they get a great review score andI get time Andthey're cheap"..
Far Cry 2
Sounds like an interesting concept.. Is weapons jamming and breaking going to be fun? So many FPS's so little time
Midnight Club: LA
It certainly looks very pretty and unlike GTA IV it has licensed cars. It's probably between this and...
Need for Speed: Undercover
Last years game was so rubbish even my casual mate (Whom I normally play EA's yearly offering with didn't want to bother) but having lifted it's plot from The Fast & The Furious this looks like something of a return to form.
James Bond: Quantum of Solace
Really looking forward to the film. Based on the CoD4 engine this could be pleasant enough distraction in a quiet spot spell next year.
Silent Hill: Homecoming
Is this going to pull of the magic? The signs aren't looking good. This can be summed up by 'Pyramid Head' turning up in it.
Motorstorm 2
Enjoyed the first game up to a point.. Later on in the game it just got to random to compete at the highest levels without teeth grinding frustration. Doesn't sound like much has changed this time around either.. This'll have to be cheap. Maybe even Platinum.
Resistance 2
Another PS3 exculsive that now has to work a whole lot harder for my gaming time now the novelty of PS3 ownership has worn off and I'm beginning to see the 360 dominate my gaming time.
Far Cry 2
Sounds like an interesting concept.. Is weapons jamming and breaking going to be fun? So many FPS's so little time
Midnight Club: LA
It certainly looks very pretty and unlike GTA IV it has licensed cars. It's probably between this and...
Need for Speed: Undercover
Last years game was so rubbish even my casual mate (Whom I normally play EA's yearly offering with didn't want to bother) but having lifted it's plot from The Fast & The Furious this looks like something of a return to form.
James Bond: Quantum of Solace
Really looking forward to the film. Based on the CoD4 engine this could be pleasant enough distraction in a quiet spot spell next year.
Silent Hill: Homecoming
Is this going to pull of the magic? The signs aren't looking good. This can be summed up by 'Pyramid Head' turning up in it.
Motorstorm 2
Enjoyed the first game up to a point.. Later on in the game it just got to random to compete at the highest levels without teeth grinding frustration. Doesn't sound like much has changed this time around either.. This'll have to be cheap. Maybe even Platinum.
Resistance 2
Another PS3 exculsive that now has to work a whole lot harder for my gaming time now the novelty of PS3 ownership has worn off and I'm beginning to see the 360 dominate my gaming time.
Sunday, 19 October 2008
A look ahead to Quarter 4 - Part 2
Next we come to the games that I'm interested in and will probably buy.. But not until they turn up cheap somewhere... So many games seem to get released these days and then get heavily discounted within a few weeks.. Not only from the usual interweb suppliers but even on the high street.
So what's on the Radar and which titles do I think will get the discount treatment?
FABLE 2
Never played the first game and I'm not normally an RPG fan either. Molyneux also has a history of over promising. This does look very interesting though and being a more action orientated (as opposed to the JRPG) RPG it certainly looks like one to watch. It'll be between this and..
FALLOUT 3
Another action orientated RPG. Never played any of the prequels or indeed Oblivion either. I guess I'll wait and see which game gets the best review score, See what the forum feedback is and make a judgement on which one I take the plunge with.
DEAD SPACE
The review scores are already in on this one and it seems to be a decent, if uninventive, game. Graphically it looks amazing and I'm looking forward to some survival horror to fill the gap until Resi 5. A definite new year purchase for me when I can find it cheap.
GEARS OF WAR 2
I enjoyed the first game but it was certainly over hyped. For me the multi player didn't have much depth and I soon grew tired of it. However it's not essential as it seems to be more of the same. Again I'll definitely pick it up. It's bound to be a solid amount of fun but there's bound to be a huge number of cheap second hand copies to occupy the quite spring months.
CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR
Another year another CoD, Obviously CoD 4 was brilliant (although in my opinion not the masterpieces the forum boys seem to think). This is the only title on this particular list that could pop into the essential purchase list if it scores highly and the feedback from players is good.. Not really interested in the multi-player... I find online FPS's a bit too hardcore these days.. But the co-op could be a laugh.
So what's on the Radar and which titles do I think will get the discount treatment?
FABLE 2
Never played the first game and I'm not normally an RPG fan either. Molyneux also has a history of over promising. This does look very interesting though and being a more action orientated (as opposed to the JRPG) RPG it certainly looks like one to watch. It'll be between this and..
FALLOUT 3
Another action orientated RPG. Never played any of the prequels or indeed Oblivion either. I guess I'll wait and see which game gets the best review score, See what the forum feedback is and make a judgement on which one I take the plunge with.
DEAD SPACE
The review scores are already in on this one and it seems to be a decent, if uninventive, game. Graphically it looks amazing and I'm looking forward to some survival horror to fill the gap until Resi 5. A definite new year purchase for me when I can find it cheap.
GEARS OF WAR 2
I enjoyed the first game but it was certainly over hyped. For me the multi player didn't have much depth and I soon grew tired of it. However it's not essential as it seems to be more of the same. Again I'll definitely pick it up. It's bound to be a solid amount of fun but there's bound to be a huge number of cheap second hand copies to occupy the quite spring months.
CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR
Another year another CoD, Obviously CoD 4 was brilliant (although in my opinion not the masterpieces the forum boys seem to think). This is the only title on this particular list that could pop into the essential purchase list if it scores highly and the feedback from players is good.. Not really interested in the multi-player... I find online FPS's a bit too hardcore these days.. But the co-op could be a laugh.
Saturday, 18 October 2008
The "Complete" List
John Woo Presents Stranglehold
Portal
Test Drive: Unlimited ( ALL Gold in the SP challenges.)
Loco Roco*
The Darkness (Easy)
Lost: Via Domus
LEGO Indiana Jones - The Original Adventures (Story Mode)
Battlefield: Bad Company (Easy) & (Normal)
Ratchet & Clank : Quest for Booty
God of War: Chains of Olympus
Tiger Woods 2009
Haze
It'd be easy to give Haze a proper kick in. It's rubbish in almost everyway. However it's not devoid of entertainment.. Certainly enough to see it through to the end. Mostly it's cos I feel a bit sorry for Free Radical. Haze is clearly a victim of over ambition, low budget and a failure to get to grips with developing for PS3 in the time available. The central concept is solid. The opening section, to me at least, felt almost like a Verhoeven satire. However rather than feeling the horror of corporate war it's actually the best bit of the game. Not only are the rebels annoying their set of, I hestitate to call them powers, abilitys are poorly thought through, not much fun to use and sadly of little point (although playing dead is hilarious as you feet fly in the air every few seconds as you're up and down like a yo yo in heavy fire fights (although apparently gunship pilots don't have a problem continually peppering you with heavy fire while you're playing dead))as they don't actually seem to do much.
So to sum up very much a missed opportunity rather than an out and out bad game for me.
Portal
Test Drive: Unlimited ( ALL Gold in the SP challenges.)
Loco Roco*
The Darkness (Easy)
Lost: Via Domus
LEGO Indiana Jones - The Original Adventures (Story Mode)
Battlefield: Bad Company (Easy) & (Normal)
Ratchet & Clank : Quest for Booty
God of War: Chains of Olympus
Tiger Woods 2009
Haze
It'd be easy to give Haze a proper kick in. It's rubbish in almost everyway. However it's not devoid of entertainment.. Certainly enough to see it through to the end. Mostly it's cos I feel a bit sorry for Free Radical. Haze is clearly a victim of over ambition, low budget and a failure to get to grips with developing for PS3 in the time available. The central concept is solid. The opening section, to me at least, felt almost like a Verhoeven satire. However rather than feeling the horror of corporate war it's actually the best bit of the game. Not only are the rebels annoying their set of, I hestitate to call them powers, abilitys are poorly thought through, not much fun to use and sadly of little point (although playing dead is hilarious as you feet fly in the air every few seconds as you're up and down like a yo yo in heavy fire fights (although apparently gunship pilots don't have a problem continually peppering you with heavy fire while you're playing dead))as they don't actually seem to do much.
So to sum up very much a missed opportunity rather than an out and out bad game for me.
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