Messages

1

General Chat / Re: Quantum of Solace

« on: November 17, 2008, 01:08:33 PM »

The Bond fan in me liked this a little more than Casino Royale as a return to form. While the previous film was concentrating on rebooting the franchise, it feels like this one goes back to its roots while still retaining the style that made CR so refreshing. It's a bit shallow, sure, but it's not 007 if I don't feel a little bit guilty for enjoying the movie.

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General Gaming / Re: Fable II

« on: November 11, 2008, 11:29:13 PM »

"No boss fight? Sorry, Lionhead. I am trading this game in tomorrow."

LOL insert Prince of Persia, StarFox Adventures, Twilight Princess, Tetris...
final fail battles.

Actually, I felt much the same way about StarFox Adventures. But the point is well taken. "No boss fight" is, I think, an oversimplification of what I was trying to express. It's more that I felt like the game didn't have a proper culmination, either story-wise or gameplay pacing-wise, and in fact ended too soon altogether. The ending felt very abrupt and unsatisfying to me. There's a comparison to be made there to certain nocturnal acts, but I'm going to choose not to. It's there if you want to avail yourself of it.

In fact, I've had much the same problem with many adventure games developed in Europe in recent years. From the aforementioned StarFox Adventures, to Sudeki and Fable 1, now this...each time I was warming to the game and then it ended right when I felt the third act should be just beginning. I don't know if it's just a pacing issue or if two or three more hours of actual gameplay are needed, but it's not a good feeling.

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General Gaming / Re: Mirror's Edge

« on: November 11, 2008, 07:40:06 PM »

The store here, when I reserved I was told that they wouldn't have the bags until the game comes out tomorrow. So hopefully there's one set aside for me as part of my preorder.

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General Gaming / Re: Fable II

« on: November 11, 2008, 07:38:50 PM »

Ultimately disappointed in this one. I was really enjoying it right up until the end, which came too soon and was a huge let down. No boss fight? Sorry, Lionhead. I am trading this game in tomorrow.

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General Gaming / Re: Braid (XBLA) - The next Portal?

« on: November 11, 2008, 06:59:34 PM »

What I liked most about this game is the interesting design decision where the last few puzzle pieces actually can't be collected because the puzzles have no possible solution. It really turned my expectations on their head, and I admire that innovation. It took me hours to realize that I was actually at the intended end of the game.

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General Gaming / Re: Mirror's Edge

« on: November 11, 2008, 06:56:45 PM »

My only disappointment so far is that the demo didn't have the hidden bags that it had when I played it at PAX. But I'm definitely excited to go in tomorrow, trade in my bastard copy of Fable 2, and pick this up along with my pre-order bag. Some of my favorite gaming moments are when I get in the groove, if you'll forgive the expression, and pull off some fancy maneuvers flawlessly. This whole game seems designed to channel that feeling. My one concern is that there will inevitably be portions where I'll fall and break the illusion of my own badassness. But we'll just pretend those didn't happen.

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General Chat / Re: Video Game Ring Tones

« on: November 11, 2008, 06:48:51 PM »

http://www.tindeck.com/audio/fileshack/f/frss-glad-call4.mp3

My current ringtone, I quite enjoy it.

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TalkBack / Re: Wario Land and Azhdarchid Pterosaurs

« on: November 11, 2008, 06:40:31 PM »

I bought a factory-sealed copy of Plok on Ebay awhile back for like $15. Money well spent.

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TalkBack / Re: PODCAST: Radio Free Nintendo: Episode 118

« on: October 19, 2008, 03:36:11 AM »

You rock, I was -just- about to shut down my computer for the trip. As always, Virginia boys get it done.

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TalkBack / Re: PODCAST: Radio Free Nintendo: Episode 117

« on: October 17, 2008, 07:44:33 PM »

Here's hopin one gets up before I leave on Sunday, got a 4-5 day drive from seattle to austin and it'd sure be nice to have one to listen to along the way. Still, sure they'll be just as good to listen to after I arrive.

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General Gaming / Re: Space Invaders Extreme on XBLA

« on: October 10, 2008, 05:03:54 PM »

I gave up on getting this the moment the DSi was announced. Goodbye, paddle controller...

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General Gaming / Atmosphir

« on: October 10, 2008, 06:44:09 AM »

http://atmosphir.com/

Free platform game creator- it's very simple and still slightly buggy, but interesting for what it is and admirable for what it's trying to be. Plus, y'know, can't beat the price. Just got my beta invite tonight and I've played a couple of the levels that are up there and toyed around with the editor a bit. As a veteran of Games Factory, Timesplitters, RPG Maker and Garry's Mod, and an avid follower of Little Big Planet thus far (haven't quite sprung for a PS3 yet), this isn't blowing me away as far as game creator/level editor. It's very simplistic, but I think the biggest asset it has going for it right now though -is- that simplicity. This is startlingly powerful in ratio to how easy it is to pick up and use. It looks like they're laying a pretty good groundwork to add to it and create a community around it going forward, and I'm excited to see if anything comes of it.

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TalkBack / Re: PODCAST: Radio Free Nintendo: Episode 117

« on: October 10, 2008, 06:01:22 AM »

Considering that we got a new business with no feature, and then a feature with no new business, I kinda feel like I just got one good, solid episode with a long-ass intermission in the middle.

Crimm, just curious, how much editing is involved with these? And what gets cut out of the average episode? 

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General Gaming / Re: Left 4 Dead Official Systm Requirements

« on: September 30, 2008, 05:45:29 AM »

Craaaap I've only got a 2.4 ghz Athlon 64 4000+. But Source hasn't choked on me yet; maybe that'll be enough... I'm moving in a couple weeks, but after that it is so very much time for me to build a new PC. I guess two and half years is the expiration date.

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TalkBack / Re: PODCAST: Radio Free Nintendo: Episode 115

« on: September 17, 2008, 04:30:58 AM »

James, Kudos for breaking this one up into a goodly number of segments. I get bored when the same art is up too long.

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General Gaming / Re: Viva Pinata

« on: September 13, 2008, 02:35:44 PM »

Funny, I just randomly tried the demo, and it was like a friggin siren. I think I played for 4 hours straight. The game was never really on my radar at all, but now I think I'm seriously interested in the sequel.

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TalkBack / Re: PREVIEWS: Puzzle Quest: Galactrix

« on: September 07, 2008, 04:43:47 PM »

Dunno from your preview if it had already been done at E3, but when I played it at PAX four-of-a-kind matches didn't give an extra turn. That took a fiver, which did seem to come up more often than the original PQ.

I enjoyed playing this for awhile, but I think the increased depth of strategy might turn off some people who enjoyed the slightly more casual nature of the first game. I'm not sure myself if I'm going to get it.

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General Gaming / Re: Left 4 Dead

« on: September 07, 2008, 04:34:38 PM »

The Aim Assist they've built into the 360 version actually works fairly well.

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TalkBack / Re: Square RPGs Launching on Virtual Console in Japan

« on: September 06, 2008, 06:32:34 AM »

Don't get too excited. You won't see big name titles till they work out that all-too-crucial perfect length of time that allows for the maximum amount of profit from VC sales without hurting the potential profits of the DS port x months ago.

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TalkBack / Re: PODCAST: Radio Free Nintendo: Episode 113

« on: September 04, 2008, 04:11:54 PM »

Also- I actually prefer Halo's pacing to the more twitchy shooters. It's more strategic; more about what you do once the shooting starts than who gets off the first, most well-aimed shot.

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TalkBack / Re: Metallic Silver DS Lite On Sale Next Week

« on: September 03, 2008, 11:05:10 PM »

meh, I'd still go black, I think, if I ever replace my current white Lite. I'd prefer navy, but I don't like that weird half and half thing Nintendo did with that and the red one.

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TalkBack / Re: PODCAST: Radio Free Nintendo: Episode 113

« on: September 03, 2008, 09:16:04 PM »

Personally, I've got a USB adapter and drivers that let me use my old Xbox 1 gamepad with my PC.

Of course, the offset for cheaper PC games is the additional money one puts into a truly quality gaming rig versus any of the consoles.

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TalkBack / Re: PAX '08: The Home Stretch

« on: September 03, 2008, 02:46:54 PM »

I dunno if there -is- a bigger venue. Maybe Qwest Field...?

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood

« on: September 03, 2008, 02:13:31 PM »

Now that I think about it, the stories seem to have some suspicious parallels...

Meh, all japanese RPG stories have strong parallels (and I bet Bioware is going for a japanese style for the game or even letting Sega write the story).

Yes, but this isn't the more common, "main character, cute princess, hot worldly girl, gruff mentor, silver-haired bad guy" type, but the slightly rarer "random invaders from another dimension, often used when making an RPG with established characters".

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TalkBack / Re: PAX '08: The Home Stretch

« on: September 02, 2008, 04:34:50 PM »

Edit: now how did that happen...?