The Gaming Thread

[gunsage]

I hadn't tried any of the previous CoDs. I really wanted to try this one, so I'm glad to hear it's good.

[DarthRetard]

Ok, now that I've played through a good part of it, I can give a straightforward review.

The gameplay runs smoothly, just like every other CoD. The in game cinematics are amazing, and part of the way through, I got to be the gunner in an AC130 during a special forces mission.

The game took a dive into the spectrum of true reality, combining the action of Killzone, the intensity of Gears of War, and the stylistic gameplay of a true FPS.

[Gravekeeper]

Update: Lifesigns DS amuses me greatly. Its literally ER the anime the game. I even had an insane highschool girl stalker try to knife one of the nurses with a boxcutter.

The surgeries themselves, while ridiculously realistic, take a back seat to just dealing with the drama between coworkers and patients. Its awesome. I'm on vacation now. Like, literally, in the game I'm vacation on some southern island with my incredibly androgynous kid sister. I'm not sure what the point of the episode is aside from just being on vacation.

Side note: If you pick the game up...don't trust the other intern with ANYTHING. She *will* slay your patients. Then leave you to try and explain to their grieving parents. Jesus Christ. >< I had to redo the end of Episode 2 a few times until I was able to do the first surgery fast enough to get to the second patient before the other intern began operating on them. Because she WILL kill them. Seriously, don't even trust her to make toast.

[Kara]

Sounds pretty good. Sounds like the intern is about as useful as the nurse in Trauma Center. Damn she was bitchy. I hope in the sequel they give you an option to hand her the scalpel and say "Here, since you OBVIOUSLY know more about an unknown evolving killer virus than a SURGEON, why don't YOU do the operation while I stand back here and tell you everything you're doing wrong? Hmm? No? Then shut the hell up and get me a coffee, STAT!"

I'm not sure what the point of the episode is aside from just being on vacation.

That can only mean that you will have to perform some type of complex, delicate surgery with whatever limited resources are on hand.

[gunsage]

YOU'RE FREAKIN' KIDDING ME! Yes, I beat the fourth episode on PW3, but come on! ANOTHER cop-out episode?! BULL! Hopefully the fifth episode more than makes up for it!

[Gravekeeper]

Sounds pretty good. Sounds like the intern is about as useful as the nurse in Trauma Center. Damn she was bitchy. I hope in the sequel they give you an option to hand her the scalpel and say "Here, since you OBVIOUSLY know more about an unknown evolving killer virus than a SURGEON, why don't YOU do the operation while I stand back here and tell you everything you're doing wrong? Hmm? No? Then shut the hell up and get me a coffee, STAT!"

That can only mean that you will have to perform some type of complex, delicate surgery with whatever limited resources are on hand.

Its the bastard child of Trauma Center and Phoenix Wright. I've periodically had to convince people with "evidence". Including talking down a suicidal girl. =p

Yes, I've had to do a couple of operations now despite being on vacation. Plus the wife of the island's doctor is trying to foist her teenage daughter on me after finding out I don't have a girlfriend back in Tokyo. >.>

One of the nurses has a thing for you but I doubt she'll be impressed if I come back to work with a teenage bride.

I'm trying to pull a piece of steel reebar out of a guy that fell on it and impaled himself. This game is awesome. ^^

[Trayol]

Sounds Fun. Right now I'm dabbling in some of my old games before I get new ones for the holidays.
Paper Mario 2 I've played about 14 times since I got it when it first came out. I now know it backwards and forwards & upwards and downwards & sideways and frontways & backways and any other kind of ways. (Name the Movie) Somewhat sad but still a fun game to play.

I've also been honing my skills playing Super Smash Bros. Melee waiting for Brawl. Damn it being pushed back But I'll survive, by viciously destroying the cute and cuddly characters. Muhahahahahaha, MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA
"Lost the happy, but the happy's back"

I have not done much else gaming the past several months than the occasional Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2, Wii Sports (love that tennis), Soul Calibur 2 (GC) & 3 (PS2), Mario Party 8, WarioWare Wii, and Super Paper Mario. I'm only upset that I haven't had adequate time to play Bully (PS2) but soon winter break shall arrive and I will have a month to play them.

I'll gladly take suggestions for any games to buy. Just PM me games for the Wii, GC or PS2.

[gunsage]

Okay, so...I popped in Jade Cocoon for all of 5 minutes, saved, then went back to playing Castlevania Curse of Darkness. Honestly, the way I look at Castlevanias is this...

- THE best Castlevania game EVER is Castlevania: Syphony of the Night with Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow at a close second. Yes, Portrait of Ruin was fun, but the swap out system got confusing, there was very little stylus involvement at all, and while it's probably the largest Castlevania ever, that doesn't quite compete with Dawn of Sorrow and thusly, SOTN.
- 3D Castlevanias were a good idea...WERE. Not ARE. This is unfortunate because with a little more emphasis on level design, they could probably get it right.

Not following? What I mean by the 3D CS statement is that the best "innovative" 3D CS was, well, the N64 versions. Unfortunately, the controls and emphasis on cliffs as "barriers" left something to be desired. Regardless, the level design was pretty good. The enemies were decent and varied and the levels lasted juuuuust long enough for you to have a decent taste of the level and then move on.

With Lament of Innocence and Curse of Darkness, I refer to them as "Hallway Masters." Why? While there are very few cliffs in either of them, height typically only comes into play on a very minor basis...thus you're left with rooms...and halls. Oh, the endless endless halls. It gets annoying because even though the maps look decent from a distance, when you get right down to it, the jump button is really not used very much at all because, well...most of the time it's not necessary.

Plain. Suck. Level. Design. At least with Curse of Darkness you can level up and such. With LoI, not so much. And on top of that, it took FOREVER to earn enough cash to actually do something...even stock up for boss fights! Sadly, Castlevania is a game that grows uglier in the 3D realm. I suppose I could say the same about Contra, but then again, Shattered Soldier was bad ass.

[Geek King]

Okay, so...I popped in Jade Cocoon for all of 5 minutes, saved, then went back to playing Castlevania Curse of Darkness.

Oops, too late. I was going to say that Jade Cocoon 2 is like a more mature version of Pokemon, but it is kind of slow at the beginning. Once you get a couple of different kinds of monsters you get into the more tactical aspects of the game. I kind of like it.

I have CoD4 now, and I've played through Single player on Normal, and am playing through on Veteran (hardest mode). Currently stuck on that bastard second Ghillie-suit mission on the final push near the Chernobyl ferris wheel. ****ing grenade whores.

I am currently rank 24 playing multiplayer, and having a great time. Unfortunately the issue with X-Box live has affected me, and I'm having problems connecting to games except with Japanese players, for some reason. They're a fun lot, but its hard to do tactics when I can't understand most of what they're saying. I play with Sniper Rifles and the Light Machine Guns mostly, but I'm a fair shot with the assault rifles. Oh, and I have claymores now. I'm not above taking a false shot to lure people into them, either.

If anyone wants to friend me in X-Box Live, I play as Ogredjinn. Just mention CS in the message, as I don't accept random invites.

[Eddie The 'Ead]

I'm a huge Zelda fan myself. Ocarina of Time is one of my most favorite games ever. Twilight Princess is also great, but can't hold up to OoT. I need to play more of the older games as well.

[Spiffy McMoron]

I've been dying to play WoW now that the 2.3 patch is out but I have two final exams to write today, and another tomorrow.

Life is a cruel, cruel mistress.

[gunsage]

I was going to say that Jade Cocoon 2 is like a more mature version of Pokemon, but it is kind of slow at the beginning.

Yeah, I had the old Jade Cocoon for the PS1. I'm pretty sure I already sold it on Amazon for, again, MAD CASH. Love it. I really enjoyed the first one as well, but never really got too involved in it. I need to hurry up and beat PW3. I've barely been playing games at all at home because I've been concentrating on...

1) Knocking out various movies I've DVR'd.
2) Knocking out various episodes of shows I've DVR'd.
3) Going to Tech Skills like crazy.
4) Going to the fitness center (not so much currently as I've allocated more time to Tech Skills).
5) Doing various chores.

Really, on my days off, I can justify playing videogames because on Thursdays I'm watching my baby girl and she always watches when I play. The best part about this is that she's only watching it for the colors and has no idea what's going on, so I can play ANYTHING I want...currently. On Sundays, Tech Skills isn't even open, so even though my wife is off on those days too, which would normally enable me the ability to go as opposed to Thursdays, I can't.

Typically, though, I'm concentrating on knocking out movies I've DVR'd on those days because I still have about 30 or so DVR'd. That and I series record Simpsons, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, etc. But in any case, I really need to beat the following games, preferably in the following order...

- Kingdom Hearts 2 (right at the last boss).
- Persona 3.
- Paper Mario 2.
- The Godfather.
- Prince of Persia - Warrior Within.
- Splinter Cell - Double Agent.
- All the GTA games (after 3, of course).
- Manhunt.
- Arc the Lad 2
- Whiplash

In most of these games, either I got stuck and just didn't have the determination to keep at it or I'm VERY close to beating it, but just never bothered. Honorable mentions are Xenosaga 2 and 3 as well as various other MegaTen games.

[piratemonkey]

You must be the only other person I've ever met that has played the PS1 Jade Cocoon. Wow. I'm in awe.

Currently playing (in no particular order)

- Animal Crossing DS
- Final Fantasy XII
- Dragon Quest VIII
- Guitar Hero II

I am waiting with anticipation for Guitar Hero III, and I'm getting the urge to replay MGS3 too.

[gunsage]

I still need to catch up on Guitar Hero...currently, I only have the first one and just one guitar. Never tried the DS Animal Crossing, though if it's anything like the GC one, I'm sure it's decent. I need to get back into FF12, but it's one of those games I've grown to love AND hate. Yes yes...I'm one of THOSE people that loves 6 and 7, but from 8 on I've been a bit of a skeptic.

DQ8, however, is hands down the best DQ in existence. Don't get me wrong...I enjoy the first DQ, but 2 - 4 were a little confusing for me. 5 and 6 were okay, but the fact that they weren't released in English, even now, irks me. 7 was kinda boring, actually. There are actually a number of reasons I like 8...

1) I'm a sucker for cel-shading, especially when it's done VERY well.
2) This was a hand-in-hand project with Level 5, of whom I also have great respect and EVERY LAST ONE of their games (except those I had to sell ).
3) It's a perfect blend of oldschool RPG, new age graphics, nostaglic music, and top notch voice acting.
4) The story is something I can follow and don't get bored with.

That last point is especially crucial, as I have ADHD.

[piratemonkey]

I'm a sucker for English-accented voice acting

But the game itself was great. Really engaging and different but still had a really old-school charm. And I agree, cel-shaded graphics are gorgeous.