Comments on: Playing Console Catch-Up

By: Sindora@aion

Sindora@aion — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:17:32 +0000

Like to have that Dell tower skin, where can I find it?
.-= Sindora@aion´s last blog ..Les meilleurs site sur Aion! =-.

By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 06:21:55 +0000

I do love the structure of X-2. I’m generally not big on sidequests, so I’m having a hard time not just going directly for the “Hotspot” marker on the map. I need to get myself out of that mindset. The great part is that I can pretty much decide how long I want to take with the game since my main focus is narrative.

And as for XII, the level-grinding is one of the main reasons I haven’t gone back. I don’t spend a lot of time in FF games just leveling up. I power through most of the games so I can see the story and use a great deal of strategy with underleveled characters most of the time. (My VII battle with Sephiroth was epic…and about 3x longer than any of my friends’.) That’s why I love the ATB on wait with turn-based battles. The Gambit system makes it so I must level up, and that’s not fun for me. So I may not give it a second chance at all.

I haven’t played Fatal Frame 2, but I watched one of my college buddies beat the first one. It was a fantastic game. I’ve recently picked up Resident Evil 4 and am looking at the newest Silent Hill on 360. I think RE will be my next endeavor once horror gets into my system over JRPG.

By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 06:17:51 +0000

It really is underrated. Vivi is the most fleshed-out and empathetic character of any FF game I’ve ever played. I honestly felt bad for him with his wanting to be human.

By: fy

fy — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:40:29 +0000

To me, the main appeal of FFX-2 was the nonlinear structure—the whole thing is essentially a series of sidequests, and if you get bored with one, you can just hop back on the airship and go do something else for awhile.

As for FFXII, the Gambit system (along with transitionless battles) was my favorite thing about it. The downside is that, as much help as it is against endless legions of common monsters, it’s all but useless against bosses. Unlike FFX, you can’t use your wits to beat a boss that has you outmatched; if you’re not within a few levels of a FFXII boss, you have no chance. Which means lots of level-grinding, a term we shouldn’t even have to use anymore.

Recommendations? I’ve played a lot of Fatal Frame 2 lately. Scariest game I’ve played in a long time, right up there with Silent Hill. And extremely addictive and fun. (Your weapon is a camera; what’s more awesome than that? It’s like Pokemon Snap with ghosts.)

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:32:35 +0000

You, my friend, are like me in that we are one of the few who rank FFIX as one of our favorites. It’s underrated.

Since I am desperately waiting for FFXIII as well, I’ve been playing through Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series. You might like it since it is very dark and requires summons.
.-= Robert´s last blog ..Writers and Their Environment =-.

By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:59:26 +0000

I’ve never even heard of Sins of a Solar Empire. Give me the lowdown, Gordon! I needs it!

And I am thinking about Fallout 3. As much as I love post-apocalyptic stuff, I am amazed I haven’t done it yet.

I am in that boat now: not worrying about the drama that goes with MMOs and just enjoying the game. It’s a nice change of pace. I can appreciate the art and the sound and the narrative and just the love that was put into making a cohesive whole instead of always chasing that dangling carrot. After nearly 12 years, I think I’m getting tired of running after it.

By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:57:05 +0000

I am part of the way through Mass Effect, and it’s fantastic when I like it, but terrible when I don’t. It has a very strange pattern: awesome bits that make me want to play more, crappy part that makes me turn it off and not want to turn it back on again, time passes because it wasn’t fun, I get into the mood to play again so I fire it back up and beat the unfun part, awesome bit makes me want to play more, unfun part makes me turn it off. Wash, rinse, repeat.

If I could ever break that cycle, I’d beat it. But it happens every time I start it up. Maybe I’ll get through it sometime before ME2 goes on sale as a greatest hit.

By: Professor Beej

Professor Beej — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:54:53 +0000

I haven’t played a Metal Gear game since the first Solid on the PS1. I loved it, but I never did get into the mood to stealth around like I did in that one. If I had a PS3, I’m certain I’d give 4 a shot. Maybe once Jennifer and I upgrade to an HDTV, we’ll get one and I can try.

By: We Fly Spitfires

We Fly Spitfires — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:57:06 +0000

I’m totally with you on this one, Beej. I think I pour too many hours into MMOs and miss out on so many great single player games. Still, when I played something like Dragon Age Origins, I find myself thinking “damn, this would be sooo much better as a MMO”

Some recommendations for you:

Mass Effect (it is AWESOME)
Sins of a Solar Empire
Oblivion
Dead Space

I’m currently playing through DAO now, reinstalled SoaSE and plan to play Dawn of War 2 and Fallout 3. It’s kinda nice not needing to worry about all of the stuff that comes with playing MMOs and just play a game for a games sake…
.-= We Fly Spitfires´s last blog ..The Importance Of Character Customization =-.

By: Em

Em — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:59:11 +0000

I completely agree with Nick, if you haven’t played Mass Effect you need to now. A great game with an amazing story, plus if you get it now you’ll have time to play it through ready for the next installment out at the end of January.
Also as a fellow RPG-er I’d recommend Fallout 3 and any of the Elder Scroll games for hours of fun.