aspro said:

ASK_Story said:

Dvader said:

And they are?

Games you probably don't care about.

J/K

They're FEAR 2 and Timeshift. I've been craving to play some FPSs lately.

My only exposure to FEAR was a 360 demo a few years ago, and I was not impressed.  Is FEAR a pretty good FPS?

Yes. I loved it when I first played it on my ancient rig. I think some of it's because I just got a new gaming card and my PC was able to meet the system requirements. And the game ran very well. The optimization in that game was very well done by the developers.

But it was also a great game. I think it was one of the first great FPSs when this generation started. It was also fresh so the scares and surprises was genuine. I did jump out of my seat a few times!

But playing through FEAR 2, it's different now. First, there have been just too many better FPSs that came out since the first FEAR, but mostly, FEAR 2 is basically FEAR with a new coat of paint. So that been there done that feeling creeps in and the scare factors aren't really scary anymore.

It's still a very solid game. But it came out when Killzone 2 came out and was overlooked.

I recommend you check out the first FEAR or maybe even start with FEAR 2. I mean, you endured through Blacksite so I'm sure you'd find some enjoyment with FEAR.

I don't know how much FEAR and FEAR 2 are in Australia, but I picked them up since they're cheap now. So it's cheap-thrills! As with Timeshift. Great games for cheap!

Ravenprose said:

^ I enjoyed NSMB Wii for the most part. I've just become burned out on Super Mario, I think.

I can't get enough.

I hope Nintendo makes NSMB Wii2, and add the new character Miyamoto was talking about...

...a playable hamster!

ASK_Story said:

aspro said:

ASK_Story said:

Dvader said:

And they are?

Games you probably don't care about.

J/K

They're FEAR 2 and Timeshift. I've been craving to play some FPSs lately.

My only exposure to FEAR was a 360 demo a few years ago, and I was not impressed.  Is FEAR a pretty good FPS?

Yes. I loved it when I first played it on my ancient rig. I think some of it's because I just got a new gaming card and my PC was able to meet the system requirements. And the game ran very well. The optimization in that game was very well done by the developers.

But it was also a great game. I think it was one of the first great FPSs when this generation started. It was also fresh so the scares and surprises was genuine. I did jump out of my seat a few times!

But playing through FEAR 2, it's different now. First, there have been just too many better FPSs that came out since the first FEAR, but mostly, FEAR 2 is basically FEAR with a new coat of paint. So that been there done that feeling creeps in and the scare factors aren't really scary anymore.

It's still a very solid game. But it came out when Killzone 2 came out and was overlooked.

I recommend you check out the first FEAR or maybe even start with FEAR 2. I mean, you endured through Blacksite so I'm sure you'd find some enjoyment with FEAR.

I don't know how much FEAR and FEAR 2 are in Australia, but I picked them up since they're cheap now. So it's cheap-thrills! As with Timeshift. Great games for cheap!

I buy my games in the states and import them, so I'll pick up FEAR and see how I like it based on your testimony.  A lot of demos short change the full game.  The demo was set in a very generic office/ factory setting and over-played the little girl thing.  I really like almost every FPS, so I'm sure I'll find something to like about it.

aspro said:

Makes me wonder if the abilities behind that game are unique, or if everyone else could make that game if only given the leeway that Nintendo offers their devs.  Or flipside, if we only apprciate it/ award our patience because of the Nintendo name and if it was a game from THQ we'd never bother going pass the second level.

Level design is tight. Flawless, carefully crafted. At first some levels seem imposing, maybe a bit overwhelming, but there's a point in every level, where the difficulty curve crosses your own learning curve, and then it's like an epiphany , a sudden burst of light inside your brain and from that point onwards you start moving like Neo and doing all kinds of weird shit. 

Of course, until the next level arrives and humbles you. Then the process repeats itself. 

I honestly believe level design like this would shine through regardless of the Nintendo brand or characters attached to the game. I haven't found it in any other title, but then again, I'm not strong on the genre. 

^Yeah, we are alike in that fashion.

I abhore platformers, 2-D or 3-D, but I was amazed by SMG1, which is why it was my GOTY last year.

I tried it once, at launch, and after 2 minutes went, "ok platformer, sucks" then put it away.  Then last year I tried it for some reason and it took over my life until I beat it.  Now granted, I did the minimum number of stars to gt to credit roll, but for me, that was a breakthrough.

And what you describe was my exact reaction to it.

Identifying and overcoming the challenge, without the incumbrence of controls or camera -- the essence of gaming.

aspro said:

^Yeah, we are alike in that fashion.

I abhore platformers, 2-D or 3-D, but I was amazed by SMG1, which is why it was my GOTY last year.

I tried it once, at launch, and after 2 minutes went, "ok platformer, sucks" then put it away.  Then last year I tried it for some reason and it took over my life until I beat it.  Now granted, I did the minimum number of stars to gt to credit roll, but for me, that was a breakthrough.

And what you describe was my exact reaction to it.

Identifying and overcoming the challenge, without the incumbrence of controls or camera -- the essence of gaming.

SteelAttack said:

ASK_Story said:

Cool.

To each his/her own but I prefer the microwave burrito.

 Oh, don't get me wrong, it's an alright game, but whereas the difficulty in a game like Galaxy seems to be derived from its outstanding level design, the overall feeling that I got from NSMB Wii is that it resorts to every little cheap trick from the old school book in order to ramp its difficulty up. 

Everytime I died in Galaxy, I knew it was because of my lack of ability. I rarely felt like this when dying in NSMB Wii. And I died a LOT. 

Funny thing, even though Galaxy is a much longer game, I ended up wanting it to continue, which was the exact opposite feeling I got from NSMB Wii. By the time I reached the very last castle, I just wanted it to be over. 

That's the same as I felt, at first.

The game seems to be setting traps for you to die in. It got annoying. However, once you complete it in terms of beating bowser, go back and try to get all the coins. That is when the game starts to shine for me. You also get a lot better at the game and eventually, welcome and relish the challenges. Also the hint videos at Peaches castle show you moves that you can try to duplicate to grab those important coins.

It reminded me of Super Ghouls and Ghosts, I got the VC version and it was so difficult. Then after some practice you are threading the eye of the needle and loving it.  

New Thor movie, thor on left, Hopkins as Odin. 

Also:

I hate this actor. Is being constantly smug and unfunny, acting?