Just bought/currently playing/recently completed

[Toxxyc]

I'm still busy with the first Witcher game, so if you guys can keep in mind that spoiler tags exist should they be needed, I'd appreciate it! :)

That being said, Witcher 1 is starting to drag out a bit. Too many running around and too little big monster fights. I'm starting to get tired of slashing Drowners and Bloedzuigers around every tree and bush now. Just sprinting past everything now works for me.

[Yuri]

Firstly I feel that the world in W1 is more complete, it felt more "alive". I prefered the atmosphere, the monster variety. I felt like a monster hunter in the first 1.

Also just general questing, there seemed so much more to do, the quests seemed more complex. more demanding. The game just came across as less of a hand holding experience.
I also really dislike QTE's, don't see why an RPG needs them.
I'd like to get into this more, but I'm really busy right now. I'm interested in your opinion of the quality of questing between the 2?

I'll get to your questions, but I hear the boss shouting my name. :)

[Azraphael]

I decided to give all my attention to Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Xbox 360)this weekend. I'm really enjoying it, but find myself constantly getting distracted. I played for about 12 hours in total this weekend, but only completed two side quests, and have manged to get to the point where I'm looking for the hackers broadcasting equipment in the slums. Finally got over the lack of ammo, I've just reverted to silent take downs and being all stealthy like. As a result my hacking skill has suffered, I really suck at hacking, able only to crack level 2 devices. All in all, a very solid game. Definitely the best R99 spent this year.

[Obi Two Kenobi]

I decided to give all my attention to Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Xbox 360)this weekend. I'm really enjoying it, but find myself constantly getting distracted. I played for about 12 hours in total this weekend, but only completed two side quests, and have manged to get to the point where I'm looking for the hackers broadcasting equipment in the slums. Finally got over the lack of ammo, I've just reverted to silent take downs and being all stealthy like. As a result my hacking skill has suffered, I really suck at hacking, able only to crack level 2 devices. All in all, a very solid game. Definitely the best R99 spent this year.

It does take a while to get 'good' at hacking though. The stealth upgrade for the hacking helps quite a bit. I always saved just before I attempted any hack in case I screwed it up early. Once you get the hang of it and know how to best go about the process (with the help of the stealth upgrades), you'll be able to hack high level terminals without the use of Stop worms and Nukes.

[McDangerous]

I played the Dirt: Showdown demo this weekend, and I'm really disappointed by it unfortunately. My main complaints:

1. Terrible demo. It really is the weakest demo I've ever seen. You literally get ONE figure 8 demolition derby track and ONE car, that's it. I honestly don't know what the entire 2.8GB download was for.

2. No more Rallying. Yup, a franchise that started out as a semi-arcade-rallyer has now completely left its roots behind in favour of Blur style racing. While the demo obviously doesn't tell you much about the final product (see #1) it seems like every last remaining bit of true off-road driving has gone out the window. There isn't even a ****pit view anymore!

3. They kept the same annoying voice actors from Dirt 3, mainly YouTube guy, who has the most annoying voice I've ever heard in my entire life.

I was really hoping that they'd build on Dirt 3 in the same way the have been progressing throughout the series, but Codemasters has disappointed me with this release. This one's going to go belly-up, I can guarantee it, as it doesn't have enough of a wow-factor to eclipse other destruction racers like Blur and Split/Second, and has lost the vast majority of its "simulator" appeal due to the simplified controls, arcade handling and lack of ****pit view.

[Grimnebulin]

Firstly I feel that the world in W1 is more complete, it felt more "alive". I prefered the atmosphere, the monster variety. I felt like a monster hunter in the first 1.

Also just general questing, there seemed so much more to do, the quests seemed more complex. more demanding. The game just came across as less of a hand holding experience.
I also really dislike QTE's, don't see why an RPG needs them.
I'd like to get into this more, but I'm really busy right now. I'm interested in your opinion of the quality of questing between the 2?

I'll get to your questions, but I hear the boss shouting my name. :)

I hear what you say, and I think part of that is due to the greater variety in environments; in that aspect the game was less like W2 and more like Baldur's. It did give a greater sense of the sprawling aspect of the land, that I'll agree with, as well as the fact that the buildings and areas within the cities had far more character. I'll remember buildings from W1 for a long time, but aside from the odd area in Act 3 of W2, it's not the same. But having more areas to explore and a greater sense of character in the design isn't always a positive. As Toxxyc mentioned, things do tend to drag quite a bit by the time you reach the final third of W1. When the combat is as repetitive as it was in W1, a bigger and lengthier game can make that combat seem even more unyielding.

It's been a while, I'll admit, so that does put me at a disadvantage with regard to being fair toward W1. You should also clarify what you mean by demanding and complex; perhaps W2's quests weren't as multi-tiered, but the originality and writing more than makes up for that.

Did you play the Enhanced Edition of W2?

[ZoRPA]

lack of ****pit view.

*gasp

[Yuri]

You should also clarify what you mean by demanding and complex

perhaps W2's quests weren't as multi-tiered

This basically. For example ( I can't remember names anymore, which is good, so no need for spoiler tags) the one quest where you have to help someone with an autopsy. To prepare for the quest and to sucessfully complete it, you need to talk to the right people and read the right books so as to have a proper understanding of what she's finding, and whether you complete it properly has an effect later on in the quest line.

This is just one example, to me the quests just seemed to require a lot more thought. This is what I meant when I said the game felt more like an rpg that W2.

But having more areas to explore and a greater sense of character in the design isn't always a positive. As Toxxyc mentioned, things do tend to drag quite a bit by the time you reach the final third of W1. When the combat is as repetitive as it was in W1, a bigger and lengthier game can make that combat seem even more unyielding.

I can see what you mean, though I never personally felt that way. Where for me I might see this as more depth, but someone else might see it as really tedious.
And yes I will agree the writing is superior in W2. The storyline with Geralt and Letho stole the show for me. If it wasn't for his big mouth I might have let Letho walk away quietly, but ain't no way Geralt of Rivia is gonna take his smack talk:)

My mind is in no way set in stone though. That is why I plan on playing through them again. After having played W2, I might view certain elements of W1 in a different light.
At the end of the day though, I still really enjoyed W2, and plan on spending quite a bit of time with it, so don't take this as me bashing the game.

[Grimnebulin]

This basically. For example ( I can't remember names anymore, which is good, so no need for spoiler tags) the one quest where you have to help someone with an autopsy. To prepare for the quest and to sucessfully complete it, you need to talk to the right people and read the right books so as to have a proper understanding of what she's finding, and whether you complete it properly has an effect later on in the quest line.

This is just one example, to me the quests just seemed to require a lot more thought. This is what I meant when I said the game felt more like an rpg that W2.



I can see what you mean, though I never personally felt that way. Where for me I might see this as more depth, but someone else might see it as really tedious.
And yes I will agree the writing is superior in W2. The storyline with Geralt and Letho stole the show for me. If it wasn't for his big mouth I might have let Letho walk away quietly, but ain't no way Geralt of Rivia is gonna take his smack talk:)

My mind is in no way set in stone though. That is why I plan on playing through them again. After having played W2, I might view certain elements of W1 in a different light.
At the end of the day though, I still really enjoyed W2, and plan on spending quite a bit of time with it, so don't take this as me bashing the game.

Didn't take that as game-bashing at all! Just curious, as the prevalent opinion is that W2 > W1. Always interested in a divergent viewpoint. Have you also played both versions of Act 2 yet?

[Yuri]

Have you also played both versions of Act 2 yet?

No I havn't, saving that for my second play through.

[fleshTRNDstone]

Started playing Bioshock 2 again, almost done with Fontaine Futuristics now.


Really want to play Bioshock 1, but can't get it working, since after installation, it wants to auto-patch off the net, yet never manages to download anything, and ''cancel'' terminates the entire installation.
So frustrated...


Also started playing Caesar 3 (can't believe it myself!)
But I'm sure there's something wrong with the old game mechanics or something.
Traders just absolutely refuse to trade, even though ever thing is st up right for trading to commence...
Any advice?

[KimmyKae]

Also started playing Caesar 3 (can't believe it myself!)
But I'm sure there's something wrong with the old game mechanics or something.
Traders just absolutely refuse to trade, even though ever thing is st up right for trading to commence...
Any advice?

Dock needs to be staffed, needs road access, needs sea route access (as in, not just a damn or river) needs access to warehouse (or storehouse or whatever C3 calls it) both need access to the industries creating the items you're selling. You have to actually go into the map itself and open a trade route with specific cities, and they will only trade certain items. Go to the trade advisor and click on the name of the item you are trying to trade. Make sure "Exports over 0 (or whatever number you prefer) is on, and make sure you are not stockpiling the item.

[fleshTRNDstone]

^my quote function not working...

Anyway, I did all that, since I was able to complete the previous maps that way.
But even then, they only traded once every other attempt (at the map).
With this one, can proceed without having to import clay, and importing clay is expensive, expenses I have to cover with exports, but they never buy, only sell.

How is Caesar4?
Worth a try or not?

[The Wolf]

I downloaded Swarm, Trine 2 and Castle Crashers. 3 great games. I highly recommend Trine 2.

[James Donaldson]

Saw Halo 2 for PC at CNA for R99 and thought I'd pick it up and my first impression is, though fun, in my entire 20 something years of gaming I've never played a game that looked so much like ass. I'll explain

If you played Combat Evolved, it looks like a Half-Life 1 game, but the graphics/art-style works even if it hasn't aged well. In Halo 2, it seems the most detailed objects in the game world is Master Chief, who you only see in cut-scenes, Cortana, most of the enemies and those air-transports, while everything else looks odd, like the bump-maps are missing.

It's hard to explain, but it's still fairly fun for an older shooter

[Incognito]

^ Google Halo Custom Edition CMT SPV3 Truth and Reconciliation mod. These guys are in the progress of remaking the visuals of Halo Anniversary Edition for the first game on PC. Including new weapons, HD textures, FXAA, bloom, motion blur, bump mapping and even the new guns and animations! There is only one level available so far and it's the Truth and Reconciliation level. So far it looks stunning and even plays awesome! I can't wait for these guys to tackle the multiplayer part of the game.

[KimmyKae]

^my quote function not working...

Anyway, I did all that, since I was able to complete the previous maps that way.
But even then, they only traded once every other attempt (at the map).
With this one, can proceed without having to import clay, and importing clay is expensive, expenses I have to cover with exports, but they never buy, only sell.

How is Caesar4?
Worth a try or not?

Do you have enough temples to Mercury and Neptune? Both of them can affect trade. Check if they are angry. There are also other circumstances, like the other city is no longer willing to trade that item, or there are enemies closing in etc. (check the log of the messages you've received in the bottom right, there might be a clue in there).

I haven't played Caesar4, but you can get Pharaoh/Cleopatra and Zeus/Neptune on Good Old Games (www.gog.com).

[KalMaverick]

Didn't technically buy it but have a 22" monitor now, the thing is HUGE compared to the 17" LG CRT I had.

Busy downloading Diablo 3 using a guest pass, going to see what the fuss is about.

[DarkPrince]

Dragons Dogma - This game is so good, I keep getting lost in the world and lose track of time.

I'm a lvl 22 strider at the moment, want to max out this class first and then I might change to a ranger or an assassin class.

I also love that no matter how much I upgrade enemies are still really tough and will kill me and my group if I mess around. My pawns are also awesome and loads of people have been hiring out my Pawn which is great always coming back with mission experience and items. Love the way the game does this. The Pawn AI is so good it almost feels as if multiplayer isn't needed.

I'm off to hunt for a Drake :)

[FFchick]

I platinum'nd Heavy Rain last night. It's my second one so far =D.