Forums > Game Talk > Game Jorunal Episode V: Escape From Load Times
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 10/18/2010 4:43 AM · Permalink · Report
Dear Users,
Please accept our apologies for the malfunctioning that has been occurring lately in the thread "Game Jorunal Episode IV: A New Hope". Due to technical problems, the thread is now officially out of service. Please use the new thread, "Game Jorunal Episode V: Escape From Load Times", from now on.
Thank you for your understanding!
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j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】 (95185) on 10/18/2010 4:49 AM · Permalink · Report
Today, I did a speed run of Braid. Only took three tries to beat the target time. This one's been on my to-do list for ages, felt good to knock it out. :)
Game is still utterly fantastic. One of the best puzzle platformers ever created. I just wish I didn't know all the solutions and could play it for the first time again...
Patrick Bregger (301024) on 10/18/2010 2:55 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
I finally received my Fallout 3 (GOTY) copy. But now all my enthusiasm is gone :(
I think I'll just preorder New Vegas instead. Let's just hope the UI mod comes fast.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/19/2010 12:05 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Patrick Bregger wrote--] I finally received my Fallout 3 (GOTY) copy. But now all my enthusiasm is gone :( [/Q --end Patrick Bregger wrote--] I just installed new versions of FWE and MMM and now I don't know how am I gonna distribute my time between the many Fallouts I have, and the even more many I'll be having in some hours =P
[Q --start Patrick Bregger wrote--] I think I'll just preorder New Vegas instead. Let's just hope the UI mod comes fast. [/Q --end Patrick Bregger wrote--] I suspect the lesser intrusive mods will be rather easy to port, given that New Vegas is pretty much a glorified DLC, so I'd give stuff like DarnUI about a week tops to appear around the radioactive casinos.
St. Martyne (3648) on 10/19/2010 8:13 PM · Permalink · Report
Playing a lot of the first Stronghold (not the D&D one), enjoying it immensely. I wonder if anyone can recommend the sequel, the reviews are rather controversial.
Indra was here (20755) on 10/20/2010 12:39 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start St. Martyne wrote--]Playing a lot of the first Stronghold (not the D&D one), enjoying it immensely. I wonder if anyone can recommend the sequel, the reviews are rather controversial. [/Q --end St. Martyne wrote--] All the Stronghold expansions are good enough. Crusader should be the next to play. Don't play Stronghold 2 though. Somewhat disappointing.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 10/20/2010 4:30 AM · Permalink · Report
Hey, St. Martyne, you're back! Long time no see :)
Parf (7873) on 10/19/2010 9:36 PM · Permalink · Report
I'm playing Doom II for XBLA mostly at the moment. The extra levels they added are nice, but they don't blow me away the same way the original maps did. Oh well... it's always nice to blast imps with a shotgun, no matter what map you're playing. :D
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/21/2010 3:39 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
Been playing New Vegas for a little while. There are so many new things gameplay-wise that I'm taking my sweet time to wrap my head around it all. If half these features have the impact they promise in the long run, this might be the most awesome DLC ever =P Seriously, though, this might be a gigantic improvement over the original, RPG-wise.
The new hardcore mode isn't nearly as customizable as Fallout 3's FWE mod and I'm suspecting it's much more gimmicky than anything else (it would be just too good if the whole hunger/thirst/sleep really had a major impact in the gameplay), but I guess that was to be expected. Worst case scenario, mods are going to fix it soon enough.
Speaking of which: DEAR GOD ARE THOSE FONTS HUGE!! What the fuck, Bethesda/Obsidian? I can get like 4 characters at once in the screen! Every half-assed greeting sentence requires me to scroll 14 times. I've used the mousewheel more than any other button/key combined so far. What, am I supposed to be playing this on a mobile phone? o_0 Sweet Lord, bring DarnUI to this game pronto! Which brings me to: The screens of the PipBoy are horribly distributed! There's an entire screen solely to see the radiation level? I didn't remember the vanilla Fallout 3 had so many poor design decisions! Seriously, why do this...
...when you can do this...
Long live the mod community! =D
The engine itself is as horrible as ever, though there are a number of small but quite noticeable improvements here and there that make it look and feel slightly better; but still, we can't have one more game running in this crap. Seriously, guys.
Another thing worth noting is that the whiny reviews crying about a myriad of bugs and issues have been rolling fairly steadily for a couple days now. The situation reminded me of the whole Alpha Protocol whinefest and thus I haven't paid much attention. Does this happen with every Obsidian game? Seriously, I may become another Obsidian fanboi just so I am in the opposite side of these crybabies.
In any case, I haven't found any issue yet, but then I've been spending too little actual playing time to make a judgement. They have released a fix a couple hours ago, though, so I guess there is some reason for the whining, but considering that Bethesda never bothered fixing squat in the original and they even went to the lengths of breaking it even more at every turn, we can give props to Obsidian for addressing whatever it is they're addressing this quickly.
Edit: One more thing: I know this guy playing the New Vegas DJ is sort of an icon for Americans and especially for all things Las Vegas and whatever; but seriously, he's not meant to speak in the radio. I can't make out a thing he says, and, as someone who is foreign enough to not even knowing the guy's name and thus can make a completely objective comparison, I can say he doesn't hold a candle to good old Three Dog.
The Fabulous King (1332) on 10/21/2010 5:49 AM · Permalink · Report
Another thing worth noting is that the whiny reviews crying about a myriad of bugs and issues have been rolling fairly steadily for a couple days now. The situation reminded me of the whole Alpha Protocol whinefest and thus I haven't paid much attention. Does this happen with every Obsidian game? Seriously, I may become another Obsidian fanboi just so I am in the opposite side of these crybabies.
The difference now is the review scores. For example, the guy who complained about bugs in Alpha Protocol gave that game 2 out of 10. The same guy complained about bugs in Fallout New Vegas, it gave it 9 out of 10 and said it was the best game ever. Same whinefest, but all 9's and 8's. Bethesda has connections. Connections will get you 9's and 8's. The game is rigged from the beginning.
I can't make out a thing he says, and, as someone who is foreign enough to not even knowing the guy's name and thus can make a completely objective comparison, I can say he doesn't hold a candle to good old Three Dog.
You've never heard of Wayne Newton before?
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 10/21/2010 5:05 PM · Permalink · Report
Bethesda has connections. Connections will get you 9's and 8's.
While there might be truth in that - and while I certainly think Alpha Protocol deserved a much higher grade than 2/10 - I don't think that is the reason for reviewers being more tolerant to the flaws in New Vegas than to those of Alpha Protocol. The flaws in AP were gigantic. They didn't ruin the game for me, but I understand how they could do it to somebody else. NV, on the other hand - at least from what I'm experiencing in my 3-4 hours run - seems to be much more well-rounded, not to mention more polished.
AP was love or hate. NV is more like "we try to satisfy everyone". And this time, I'm totally with everyone :)
Indra was here (20755) on 10/22/2010 4:38 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Zovni wrote--] [Q2 --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--] Does this happen with every Obsidian game? [/Q2 --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--] Well, yeah. Every Obsidian game has been a rushed mess. Sad but true. [/Q --end Zovni wrote--] It all makes sense now...and I keep playing the first version just to see how bad it is.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/22/2010 2:46 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]I've used the mousewheel more than any other button/key combined so far. What, am I supposed to be playing this on a mobile phone? o_0 Sweet Lord, bring DarnUI to this game pronto! Which brings me to: The screens of the PipBoy are horribly distributed! There's an entire screen solely to see the radiation level? I didn't remember the vanilla Fallout 3 had so many poor design decisions! [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
God, I love these guys and their no-life lives =D. Love them. Seriously.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 10/21/2010 8:15 AM · Permalink · Report
Playing New Vegas myself. So far, it looks like my personal wet dream finally coming true: large 3D world with physical interaction AND meaningful role-playing...
The last game by Bethesda had a large 3D world with physical interaction and kindergarden-level role-playing.
The last game by Obsidian had intricate role-playing and no world at all, just a bunch of levels.
Now if this is going to be the best of both worlds, I'm going to be more fanboyish than I was after Final Fantasy XII. Are the two distinct WRPG sub-genres going to be united? Stay tuned...
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/21/2010 12:47 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]Playing New Vegas myself. So far, it looks like my personal wet dream finally coming true: large 3D world with physical interaction AND meaningful role-playing... [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] And no dragons, man, don't ever forget that --no goddamned, motherslapping dragons, for Christ's sake.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 10/21/2010 4:56 PM · Permalink · Report
And no dragons, man, don't ever forget that --no goddamned, motherslapping dragons, for Christ's sake.
Well, I dunno how dragons are any more cliche than the "after a devastating atomic war, humanity was nearly wiped out. Survivors began re-building their life..." setting. I mean, Fallout games are to die for, but this post-apocalyptic stuff has been done to death.
Pseudo_Intellectual (66360) on 10/21/2010 7:56 PM · Permalink · Report
We're sorely lacking in post-apocalypse-with-dragons games. Darksun?
Mister Evil on 10/21/2010 9:16 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
Actually, post-apocalyptic fantasy was always my dream RPG setting. This dream game would have gloomy atmosphere bit like Planescape: Torment, but would be focused on exploration and interaction. It would be also frequently trippy, scary and visually original. If you've read China Mieville's books, then you know what I'm talking about.
By the way, Torment is a proof that not all fantasy RPGs must be cliched. Von Katze, I know you don't like this game, but play don't tell me you thought it had a boring setting ; p.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/21/2010 10:13 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Mister Evil wrote--]Actually, post-apocalyptic fantasy was always my dream RPG setting. This dream game would have gloomy atmosphere bit like Planescape: Torment, but would be focused on exploration and interaction. It would be also frequently trippy, scary and visually original. If you've read China Mieville's books, then you know what I'm talking about. [/Q --end Mister Evil wrote--] Something tells me we'd need Russians for something like that. Maybe a crossover of the Pathologic/The Void guys and Obsidian.
[Q --start Mister Evil wrote--] By the way, Torment is a proof that not all fantasy RPGs must be cliched. Von Katze, I know you don't like this game, but play don't tell me you thought it had a boring setting ; p. [/Q --end Mister Evil wrote--] Well, I didn't think much of the setting, to be honest, what with the walking skeletons and whatnot; but I never got very far so I know I can't judge the world.
In any case, I'm having so much fun with the mechanics of the original Fallout that once I finish it I'm thinking of giving Torment another go. Maybe playing it in parallel with Fallout 2. After all I remember it having a gigantic screen with lots of character-developing sliders and knobs, and apparently I'm developing some kind of fetish for those. In this day and age.
Mister Evil on 10/23/2010 5:23 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--] Well, I didn't think much of the setting, to be honest, what with the walking skeletons and whatnot; but I never got very far so I know I can't judge the world. [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
Well, Fallout also had walking skeletons ;p. I'm not sure you'll love Torment, but I'm pretty sure you'll grow to appreciate its setting. Sometimes fantasy settings lets writers' imaginations run wild, and this is a great example.
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--] In any case, I'm having so much fun with the mechanics of the original Fallout that once I finish it I'm thinking of giving Torment another go. Maybe playing it in parallel with Fallout 2. After all I remember it having a gigantic screen with lots of character-developing sliders and knobs, and apparently I'm developing some kind of fetish for those. In this day and age. [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
Torment's mechanics only seem complicated. It doesn't really let you create many kinds of characters, because playing as a brainy guy is really the only "right" way to finish the game. You can play it as dumb warrior, but it's not really fun or rewarding. It's like a revenge for all those Diablo clones!
But if you're looking for a medieval RPG that you can actually enjoy, you may also try Gothic. It's a german RPG focused on exploration and interaction. It has a nice, gritty feel and atypical battle system. It's actually quite similar to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. in that it's about manly men trying to in a harsh world. Just like in S.T.A.L.K.E.R., you have to be actually careful while exploring the world, because everywhere there are creatures stronger than you and at the beginning it's often best to just run away. Give it a try, you may be surprised at how much you'll like it (although I have never played it to its end, and I've heard that it gets cliched near the end).
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/21/2010 10:12 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]And no dragons, man, don't ever forget that --no goddamned, motherslapping dragons, for Christ's sake.
Well, I dunno how dragons are any more cliche than the "after a devastating atomic war, humanity was nearly wiped out. Survivors began re-building their life..." setting. I mean, Fallout games are to die for, but this post-apocalyptic stuff has been done to death. [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] First off, I may have to clarify that when I say "dragons" I use the term in a hyper-broad sense to encapsulate all things pseudo-Middle Earth; you know, high fantasy or whatever it is they call those worlds with elves and orcs and wizards and swords and whatnot.
With that out of the way: Seriously? Are you comparing that with post-apocalyptic wastelands? I can understand if we're talking movies, but how many games can you name with this setting other than the Fallout's? I'm seriously asking, because I love these and I don't think I ever played anything similar. Borderlands is as close as I can think of, but that's more of a low-grade mind-numbingly boring knock off.
Unless you're talking about some obscure Japanese game that hasn't even been translated to English (and anyway everything coming from Japan starts with come kind of nuclear blast or other, so that sort of rules those out).
Alaka (106092) on 10/21/2010 10:45 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--] With that out of the way: Seriously? Are you comparing that with post-apocalyptic wastelands? I can understand if we're talking movies, but how many games can you name with this setting other than the Fallout's? I'm seriously asking, because I love these and I don't think I ever played anything similar. Borderlands is as close as I can think of, but that's more of a low-grade mind-numbingly boring knock off. ). [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
I think id's upcoming game Rage is suppose to have a post-apocalyptic world to explore.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/22/2010 12:48 AM · Permalink · Report
Yeah, but it's id, you know. If we go by their history, their storytelling has always been pure crap, and I doubt they even get to the level of gameplay complexity in Borderlands (and that's saying a bit).
In fact, all I heard about the game is something on that crazy texturing thing they have where they blow up the images about seven hundred thousand percent and don't lose quality or something like that --same old id story. In other words, id learned how to make outdoor environments. In more other words, chances are we're just getting Quake in the desert.
The Fabulous King (1332) on 10/22/2010 1:50 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
First off, I may have to clarify that when I say "dragons" I use the term in a hyper-broad sense to encapsulate all things pseudo-Middle Earth; you know, high fantasy or whatever it is they call those worlds with elves and orcs and wizards and swords and whatnot. [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
You know, fantasy can be quite varied. Fantasy based off from animistic mythologies (like Mask of the Betrayer) has a completely different vibe and tone than fantasy based on western european middle ages. The problem with modern fantasy is that it's mostly derived from western european middle ages, but it's not the fault of the genre, but of the writers.
Or hell, one can even do interesting things within the parameters of fantasy based from western europe. Like steampunk the hell out of it. And then you'll have characters like orcish socialists, fighting for the emancipation of the working class, organizing trade unions and revolutions against the upper class elitist human capitalist pigs.
"In short, Orcs everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order of things. The Orcs disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling elfo-humanic classes tremble at the Orcish revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Orcs of the world, unite! Fuck the elfo-humanic tyranny!"
Just because it has dragons in it, don't make it necessarily derivative by nature.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/22/2010 3:13 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Drunken Irishman wrote--] Just because it has dragons in it, don't make it necessarily derivative by nature. [/Q --end Drunken Irishman wrote--] I know you're probably right, but it's just one of those chemistry things. The moment I see a burly guy holding a sword I just turn tails and sprint the hell away.
I also know the right game might be around the corner, ready to change my views dramatically. After all, I didn't care much about RPGs before Fallout 3 and now I can't get enough stats juggling. And I hadn't cared for turn-based combat since I finished the second X-Com (hint: it was new at the time) and now I sort of started digging it again. A bit.
So who knows. Say The Witcher 2 has a proper combat system where it feels like you're actually hitting people and I actually have fun playing it --that might just be the first step in a path that ends with me wearing prosthetic pointy ears.
Zovni (10504) on 10/22/2010 3:10 AM · Permalink · Report
Of the top of my head you've got The Fall: Last Days of Gaia, which is actually a pretty decent Fallout clone with the only problem being that there is no English release. For some reason I'm also thinking of Bad Blood, but that's probably because it has such a Gamma World-vibe to it.
Following your ¨dragons¨ logic one should mention that you are not thinking of post-apocalyptic games in a broad sense but merely those that follow the "after the bomb" template like Fallout, namely the "the bombs flew and everything is a desert filled with outlaws/mutants" template lifted straight from 70's and 80's sci-fi (A Boy and his Dog, Damnation Alley, Mad Max, etc.) so you are being rather specific about it even before you add the skill-based RPG gameplay on top. My point is you are never going to find much by casting such a narrow net but if you look around you'll find that there is no shortage of cool games that let you explore post-apocalyptic worlds or deal with dystopian retrofuturistic stuff that doesn't involve running around in a desert filled with scrap metal.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 10/22/2010 5:51 AM · Permalink · Report
Unless you're talking about some obscure Japanese game that hasn't even been translated to English (and anyway everything coming from Japan starts with come kind of nuclear blast or other, so that sort of rules those out).
Well, yeah, I actually meant those :) As for Western games, well, there is also some post-apocalyptic stuff, like what Zovni mentioned. By the way, how about Shadowrun? The SNES one is an awesome little game. It is post-apocalyptic AND fantasy :)
Zovni (10504) on 10/22/2010 1:53 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] By the way, how about Shadowrun? The SNES one is an awesome little game. It is post-apocalyptic AND fantasy :) [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]
Second that, though bear in mind it's more retrofuturistic cyberpunk than post-apocalyptic. Think Blade Runner with elfs instead of Fallout.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 10/22/2010 3:12 PM · Permalink · Report
retrofuturistic cyberpunk
Hey, that's a good definition! I like the "retrofuturistic" part, is it actually used somewhere or did you make it up? 'Cause it surely fits a lot of game settings.
Oh, by the way: Tex Murphy games! The are post-apocalyptic and retrofuturistic, too. A "film noir" thing with radiation and mutants.
Actually, New Vegas and generally Fallout games also have a strong retrofuturistic vibe. They are post-apocalyptic, but with a strong flavor of post-WWII atmosphere. I feel it most of all in New Vegas; Fallout 3 had much less of it.
... ... again by the way: New Vegas is absolutely awesome. It's a dream coming true.
Patrick Bregger (301024) on 10/22/2010 4:30 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] ... ... again by the way: New Vegas is absolutely awesome. It's a dream coming true. [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Thanks, DHL! Grmpfh.
Indra was here (20755) on 10/22/2010 4:50 PM · Permalink · Report
Do you need to patch it?
I'm still extremely traumatized by the pathetic excuse of character development in Fallout 3.
Wha...already maxed out my attribute, now I get these items that increase the attributes for nothing! #!@$!@$!
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 10/22/2010 5:01 PM · Permalink · Report
Do you need to patch it?
Well, I didn't patch it, and the only weird thing that happened to me so far was a deputy marshall who was floating near the ceiling in his office and slowly moving his legs. I could talk to him, accept and solve quests even, but he refused to change that pose. Just kept hanging there, riding an invisible bicycle.
I'm still extremely traumatized by the pathetic excuse of character development in Fallout 3.
Ahh, but that's the whole thing. Bethesda doesn't know how to make good character development. Now Obsidian is another issue! They are masters at that. In every single game they made there was some outstanding role-playing. And New Vegas is no exception, trust me!
Man, this game is too good to be true. I keep waiting for something to go horribly wrong, but it keeps bursting with awesomeness.
This is, quite simply, how you do a modern RPG. No-nonsense, pure perfection.
Zovni (10504) on 10/22/2010 8:20 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
I don't know the genesis of the term but retrofuturistic has been around. I think I picked it up from sci-fi literature but yeah, that's the term for dystopian, bleak and stylistically vintage futuristic settings, and yeah Tex Murphy falls smack in the middle of a post-apocalyptic/retrofuturistic one.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/22/2010 11:50 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Zovni wrote--]I don't know the genesis of the term but retrofuturistic has been around. I think I picked it heup from sci-fi literature but yeah, that's the term for dystopian, bleak and stylistically vintage futuristic settings, and yeah Tex Murphy falls smack in the middle of a post-apocalyptic/retrofuturistic one. [/Q --end Zovni wrote--] Funnily enough, the first time I used the term I thought I had invented it. I used it to describe the whole Fallout theme, and the word "retro-futuristic" just rolled out of my tongue; it was like, there couldn't possibly be any other word to describe that.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/22/2010 8:15 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Zovni wrote--] Second that, though bear in mind it's more retrofuturistic cyberpunk than post-apocalyptic. Think Blade Runner with elfs instead of Fallout. [/Q --end Zovni wrote--] The elfs sort of give me the raising eyebrow, but the rest of the sentence is a total seller. Unfortunately, none of my usual retailers (i.e.: Steam and such) carries the game =T
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/22/2010 11:47 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Zovni wrote--]I imagine the game would be a licensing nightmare to re-release so forget about a legal download on this one. [/Q --end Zovni wrote--]
Why is that? I don't even know what the game proper is about, let alone any legal backstory, but couldn't it be possible for it to appear at GoG, for instance?
Zovni (10504) on 10/23/2010 12:32 AM · Permalink · Report
Well the thing is its a licensed product as Shadowrun is originally a tabletop rpg now owned by Catalyst Games. The SNES game was published by Data East but its latest incarnation was the god-awful fps from Microsoft, so they may hold game-related rights at this point. That was all when FASA owned the brand I guess so it's anybody's guess. But the biggest bump would be that it was a SNES game, and you know the house that Mario built is not going to let that appear anywhere else but Virtual Console should they care to strike a new licensing deal for a cult rpg with little to no mass appeal.
Adzuken (836) on 10/23/2010 1:38 AM · Permalink · Report
Actually, Nintendo only licensed the game for the SNES. It could have been ported, but it never was. The Genesis got a completely different game, which I'm told was pretty good, as well. Japan also got yet another version on the Sega CD, but I'm sure I don't need to tell you guys that.
It's strange how that version only ended up on the SNES. It seemed to want to be a PC game so bad. It even had a really terrible mouse-like interface that would have been better replaced by a simple action button. I've really been itching to play that game again, but I keep remembering all the things about it that bugged me.
Indra was here (20755) on 10/22/2010 4:41 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--] [Q2 --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]Playing New Vegas myself. So far, it looks like my personal wet dream finally coming true: large 3D world with physical interaction AND meaningful role-playing... [/Q2 --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] And no dragons, man, don't ever forget that --no goddamned, motherslapping dragons, for Christ's sake. [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--] Thats actually a bad thing, doc, in this case.
A big arse fire-breathing dragon and you have to shoot it down with a hunting rifle. Dunno about you, but that's the stuff wet dreams for RPG fanbois are made of.
There just isn't enough dragons. Elves and orcs a bit too much, but not enough dragons.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/22/2010 11:59 PM · Permalink · Report
While we're on the subject of New Vegas: BEST. BUG. EVER. I mean, if you're releasing a bugged game, you might as well do it in style! =D
j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】 (95185) on 10/23/2010 6:36 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]While we're on the subject of New Vegas: BEST. BUG. EVER. I mean, if you're releasing a bugged game, you might as well do it in style! =D [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--] Holy hell, that is simultaneously hilarious and creepy. But mostly hilarious. So this is what happens when Obsidian and Bethesda join forces!
So, I've been playing Super Meat Boy almost non-stop since it came out a couple days ago. I have to say, it's easily one of the most sublimely-designed platform games I've ever experienced. If you have any liking for Nintendo-Hard(tm) platform hell games like N+, then go grab this game as soon as you can. It gets extremely difficult, but not unfairly or unforgivingly so. If you haven't got a 360, it's out on Steam and Wii next month.
I'm slowly inching my way toward 100% completion (sitting at about 80% now, 73/100 bandages, and just over 3000 deaths) but at this point it's pretty grueling. It's ever so satisfying to nail those really difficult stages. It was particularly satisfying unlocking The Kid from I Wanna Be The Guy.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 10/23/2010 5:03 PM · Permalink · Report
A quick look around the net revealed more horror stories than I care to list.
That's really strange, I'm 15 hours into the game and haven't had a single crash/slow-down/bug. All the quests work, the game runs marvelously. The only thing that comes to mind is occasional weird path-finding: characters sometimes go to corners and walk against walls, this kind of thing. Oh, and I was stuck in the graphics one time because I tried jumping over an impassable mountain. But that's total nitpicking.
The Fabulous King (1332) on 10/23/2010 5:13 PM · Permalink · Report
Know any open-ended world games that don't have bugs? As far as I have seen, the only games that come without bugs on first release and are super-polished are games on rails, in where you can see only one corner at one specific angle at the time. Not several possible corners in several possible angles in several possible times.
And hey, it's made by the same guys who did Fallout 2. And that game was awesome. And super-buggy.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 10/23/2010 5:25 PM · Permalink · Report
And hey, it's made by the same guys who did Fallout 2. And that game was awesome. And super-buggy.
Yup, actually in a way New Vegas is to Fallout 3 what Fallout 2 was to the first one. I mean, Fallout 2 was just so colorful, so varied, so incredibly versatile and also more interesting story- and writing-wise than the first one.
The quality leap is more noticeable this time around, though. Fallout 3 was great because it did the daring experiment and brought the series back. It was an outstanding achievement in many ways and a very enjoyable game on its own. But New Vegas makes it look ridiculous.
Guys, I haven't been so excited about an RPG since... I don't know... Planescape: Torment? New Vegas is just amazing.
Patrick Bregger (301024) on 10/23/2010 6:34 PM · Permalink · Report
So today I finally received my copy of New Vegas. Guess what I did first? Scanning the covers and recording the credits. Good to know that I have my priorities straight, sigh.
Game is awesome, by the way.
Starbuck the Third (22606) on 10/23/2010 6:42 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Patrick Bregger wrote--]So today I finally received my copy of New Vegas. Guess what I did first? Scanning the covers and recording the credits. Good to know that I have my priorities straight, sigh. [/Q --end Patrick Bregger wrote--]
Fear not, i do the same with covers so your not alone. How about we form a self help group or something?
Indra was here (20755) on 10/23/2010 10:59 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start havoc of smeg wrote--] [Q2 --start Patrick Bregger wrote--]So today I finally received my copy of New Vegas. Guess what I did first? Scanning the covers and recording the credits. Good to know that I have my priorities straight, sigh. [/Q2 --end Patrick Bregger wrote--] Fear not, I do the same with covers so your not alone. How about we form a self help group or something? [/Q --end havoc of smeg wrote--] Oh, we did. Joined up with the MG approvers.
Therapy isn't going very well. :p
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/23/2010 11:02 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Patrick Bregger wrote--]So today I finally received my copy of New Vegas. Guess what I did first? Scanning the covers and recording the credits. Good to know that I have my priorities straight, sigh.
Game is awesome, by the way. [/Q --end Patrick Bregger wrote--] You do realize that Sicarius most likely has had an entry for those pending approval for a couple weeks now, right?
Patrick Bregger (301024) on 10/24/2010 6:17 AM · Permalink · Report
Nope, New Vegas was contributed by another user. At least the regular version.
The Fabulous King (1332) on 10/24/2010 1:00 AM · Permalink · Report
Oh I didn't interpret it that way.
I'm playing Fallout 2 at the moment you see, and my agenda is really to spread the narrative of Fallout 2 as a proto-Obsidian game. Same CEO, same writers, same programmers, a sequel to a different developers game (though in this case, the different developer was the parent company), rushed development (was it 8 months?), super-buggy on release... but damn amazing and ambitious in scope and design and definitely an interesting experience which without the gaming world would be much poorer place.
I was going to write it in that post, but couldn't figure out the exact words and I was too tired.
I'm also going to wait with New Vegas, but for a different reason. I want to go through the whole Fallout saga before going to New Vegas. I've yet to play Fallout 3.
St. Martyne (3648) on 10/26/2010 8:27 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Drunken Irishman wrote--]Know any open-ended world games that don't have bugs? As far as I have seen, the only games that come without bugs on first release and are super-polished are games on rails, in where you can see only one corner at one specific angle at the time. Not several possible corners in several possible angles in several possible times.
And hey, it's made by the same guys who did Fallout 2. And that game was awesome. And super-buggy. [/Q --end Drunken Irishman wrote--]
Truer words have never been spoken. Really, come on, all you bug complainers. Let's remember every single fucking humongous western RPG - Planescape, Fallout, Fallout 2, Daggerfall, Morrowind, Oblivion, Fallout 3, New Vegas, NWN2, BG2, Bloodlines, Arcanum - can either of those games appeal to be the technical marvel? No, all of them are quite broken. But, still, all of those belong to the best games ever made.
Yeah, including New Vegas. Enjoying the shit out of this one.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/24/2010 3:23 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]A quick look around the net revealed more horror stories than I care to list.
That's really strange, I'm 15 hours into the game and haven't had a single crash/slow-down/bug. All the quests work, the game runs marvelously. The only thing that comes to mind is occasional weird path-finding: characters sometimes go to corners and walk against walls, this kind of thing. Oh, and I was stuck in the graphics one time because I tried jumping over an impassable mountain. But that's total nitpicking. [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Seconded. I clocked about 12 hours and I know I have A LOT of ground to cover yet, but so far I haven't found anything remotely as terrible as every review and forum post out there would have you believe. It's certainly WAY more polished than Bloodlines was on release, I can tell you that.
I gotta say, though, I did notice a lot of small improvements in the controls, the shooting, the response time for VATS, and in the general performance of the engine, and not one reviewer ever mentioned any of that. What, does the game work especially well for me as a reward for being such a Fallout 3 fanboi?
The pathfinding is terrible, though. This engine certainly would do better with a smoother ground, NPCs go crazy whenever they stumble on a rock. Also, enemy AI is incredibly stupid --we're talking Doom-level here: They either chaerg! brainlessly into gunfire or they stand still shooting out in the open while I handsomely fill them of holes from behind cover. Anyone remembers if it was so bad in the vanilla FO3?
Oh, by the way, the story of Vikki and Vance is exactly the kind of thing I was afraid could be missing from New Vegas; this is what I would call a "Button Gwinnett Moment", and I'm very very happy to confirm these have made their way to Nevada as well =D
Adzuken (836) on 10/24/2010 4:25 AM · Permalink · Report
You're lucky. Fallout: New Vegas, as well as Fallout 3 before it, crashes constantly on my computer. I can run the game just fine on its highest graphics settings, in fact, I think it runs better than Fallout 3 ever did, but it goes down once every couple of hours. Bad crashes, too. We're talking blue screens of death. Ones that take my whole system down with it. It was worse after I first installed it, too. Get this, to get it to crash less, I had to turn the music off. That sucks. I'd rather lose graphical fidelity than the music.
This is the harsh reality of the Gamebryo Engine. It runs fine on certain setups, but won't put up with others, even on a fresh format. If it was any other game, I wouldn't put up with it. But I play it anyway, constantly hammering the quicksave button, because I have to have my Fallout.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/24/2010 5:25 PM · Permalink · Report
Well, maybe these can ease your pain a little: An incredible h4x0rz that fixes that annoying stuttering when in crowded spaces (and makes the general framerate more even) (this one is really amazing, I can personally attest to a x3 improvement at the very least --now NV runs way smoother than FO3 ever did), and an auto-saving script that saves a new file every 10 minutes, so you're never too far away should a crash or any other nastiness hit out of the blue.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 10/24/2010 6:51 AM · Permalink · Report
Anyone remembers if it was so bad in the vanilla FO3?
Oh yeah, most certainly. Ai isn't this series' forte, that's for sure. I actually remember it was even worse in Fallout 3. Enemies seem to side-step more in New Vegas, and they also come in trickier, more intelligently arranged groups (for example, they send a melee fighter up front to annoy me, while firing from afar).
Another thing: is it me, or is New Vegas much more challenging than Fallout 3? I don't even remember dying in Fallout 3. In New vegas, I once happily emerged at a quiet desert location, only to face 6 heavily armed, maniacal Legion dudes rushing at me. I was dead before I realized what was happening. I actually used VATS to defeat them (I never used VATS in Fallout 3), and that was hard!
Where are you now in the game story-wise, Doc? I'm facing a tough dilemma. Mr. House told me to eliminate the Brotherhood of Steel. "But they were my friends in Fallout 3", - I wanted to say. Actually, there was a dialogue option "But I don't want to kill them", and I gladly used it. But Mr. House said in a tired voice, "It's an employer-employee conversation. There is no room for arguments. Wipe them out already".
So what should I do? Kill my friends or betray my lord and master (you see, in this game I role-play a morally vague character, someone who doesn't really know what he wants, but is fascinated by the splendor of New Vegas and can't resist Mr. House's charisma)?
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/25/2010 3:19 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Enemies seem to side-step more in New Vegas, and they also come in trickier, more intelligently arranged groups (for example, they send a melee fighter up front to annoy me, while firing from afar). [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] They do that in my Fallout 3, but I guess that's part of the tweaks from the FWE mod then.
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Where are you now in the game story-wise, Doc? I'm facing a tough dilemma. Mr. House told me to eliminate the Brotherhood of Steel. [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Oh, I'm way behind you. In fact, I haven't even been to New Vegas proper, go figure, and all I know about Mr. House is whatever bits and pieces I heard here and there. See, I got in the courier business because I like to roam around the world, and I take every little sidequest I'm given. Also I'm an incurable scrounger, so I'll ransack every last drawer in every last building I come across, and that takes time. I guess I'll have to step up and do some story-related quests one of these days :P
St. Martyne (3648) on 10/26/2010 8:40 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Another thing: is it me, or is New Vegas much more challenging than Fallout 3? I don't even remember dying in Fallout 3. In New vegas, I once happily emerged at a quiet desert location, only to face 6 heavily armed, maniacal Legion dudes rushing at me. I was dead before I realized what was happening. I actually used VATS to defeat them (I never used VATS in Fallout 3), and that was hard! [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]
It is. Blame/praise the lack of level scaling. There are some instances of it here and there, but most of all critters/thugs roaming the Mojave ain't scaled to your level. So watch where you're going.
Are you and Doc playing the Hardcore mode? It's quite cool, you know.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/27/2010 2:34 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start St. Martyne wrote--] [Q2 --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Another thing: is it me, or is New Vegas much more challenging than Fallout 3? [/Q2 --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]
It is. Blame/praise the lack of level scaling. There are some instances of it here and there, but most of all critters/thugs roaming the Mojave ain't scaled to your level. So watch where you're going. [/Q --end St. Martyne wrote--] Yeah, I had quite a hard time with a bunch of radscorpions and I found a Deathclaw I simply couldn't deal with in any possible way. And it's cool too, makes all those warnings about carelessly roaming the desert worth hearing.
I haven't had much problem with human enemies, though.
[Q --start St. Martyne wrote--] Are you and Doc playing the Hardcore mode? It's quite cool, you know. [/Q --end St. Martyne wrote--] It is cool. It's still way easier than FWE, but it's certainly a great improvement over vanilla FO3. I like the Survival perk a lot too, too bad I didn't pay enough attention to it at the beginning.
Which gives me the opportunity to inaugurate my New Vegas list of grievances, or Little Annoyances That Are Becoming Increasingly Worrying After The First 20 Hours:
1) I have the feeling I'm leveling up WAY too fast for my taste. I don't know whether there's a level cap in this game, but if there is this is bad news. I mean, I haven't even been to New Vegas proper yet and I'm already at level 10 or 11 o_0
2) In Fallout 3 I used to make a lot of quest-breaking weasely moves, such as doublecrossing an employer mid-quest and then killing the original target anyway for max personal profit, and the game would always keep up and find ways to accommodate itself. The "You gotta shoot 'em in the head" quest comes to mind. In New Vegas I took Boone's quest after making justice on my own, and I was stuck without a way to let him now things had been dealt with. He would just stand there fruitlessly waiting for me to mark him a target. Bad oversight, that one, because I always play as a slaver-hater and I thought about executing that slave dealer before even knowing who it was they had sold (please note awesome spoiler-free phrasing, by the way =D ).
3) Speaking of Boone, I found my first big time bug --not the show-stopping kind but fairly noticeable anyway: Boone had no voice or lipsynching. For all I know, he's communicating with me telepathically =O
4) This one might just be me but I realized this doesn't really feel very Fallout-y, mainly because the whole retro-futuristic thing is noone near as noticeable as it was in FO3. In fact, just by removing a couple of things you could turn this into a completely Fallout-unrelated futuristic western / futuristic road movie. Maybe things will change once I reach the big city, but for now all I find to link this to the series are a handful of mentions to factions and stuff from the original two games, and those sound more like fanservice name-dropping than anything else, anyway.
5) Oh, I just read the .pdf manual --what a piece of shit! First, it wastes pages on explaining the most stupid and straightforward stuff. Second, it ignores a lot of other stuff that would be much more interesting to read about. Third, it's nowhere near as immersed in the gameworld as the manual for the first Fallout --now that was a masterpiece worth digging into. And quite funny too.
Other than those (pretty minor anyway) complaints, the game is still a blast. Oh, wait, why the hell am I cooking food on a fire-less campfire? Immersion, people!! >=(
The Fabulous King (1332) on 10/27/2010 3:24 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
4) This one might just be me but I realized this doesn't really feel very Fallout-y, mainly because the whole retro-futuristic thing is noone near as noticeable as it was in FO3. In fact, just by removing a couple of things you could turn this into a completely Fallout-unrelated futuristic western / futuristic road movie. Maybe things will change once I reach the big city, but for now all I find to link this to the series are a handful of mentions to factions and stuff from the original two games, and those sound more like fanservice name-dropping than anything else, anyway.
[/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
This was actually the criticism about original Fallout 2 too. That it doesn't feel quite Fallout. And Fallout 2 also has a quite a strong western direction.
St. Martyne (3648) on 10/27/2010 9:41 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--] 4) This one might just be me but I realized this doesn't really feel very Fallout-y, mainly because the whole retro-futuristic thing is noone near as noticeable as it was in FO3. [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
I wouldn't say that. In fact it strikes as being more Fallouty than both F2 and F3. In the original game the whole retro-futurism thing is quite downplayed, it's in the background. Noone knows or cares about pip-boy, pop Americana, vintage clothes and music. It never was as in-yo-face as it was in Fallout 3.
St. Martyne (3648) on 10/26/2010 8:35 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
My New Vegas impressions.
It's great. Really, really great. Probably the best Obsidian game to date. What I'm enjoying the most is how the whole world now makes sense. Not only the developers have bothered with creating settlements for the player to quest-search, but they've also wondered: where does the water come from, what about food, supplies, concrete and everything else. New Vegas is probably the most believable Fallout game to date.
With some exceptions of course, Legion is quite idiotic for one, I get the whole Roman/Nazi angle. A single man trying to bring order to society by mimicking a history book. But really, spears against the might of NCR? Roman clothes? Latin quotes? It doesn't reek of Fallout 3 theme park attitude, but it's still quite annoying.
But those are minor quibbles. New Vegas is awesome, it's characters are awesome. It's RPG system works, it's cool, restrained, effective and emotional. The best Fallout yet? No. Better than Dragon Age? Hell, yeah. The best RPG since Bloodlines? Ditto.
The Fabulous King (1332) on 10/26/2010 8:45 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start St. Martyne wrote--] With some exceptions of course, Legion is quite idiotic for one, I get the whole Roman/Nazi angle. A single man trying to bring order to society by mimicking a history book. But really, spears against the might of NCR? Roman clothes? Latin quotes? It doesn't reek of Fallout 3 theme park attitude, but it's still quite annoying. [/Q --end St. Martyne wrote--]
Caeser's Legion is a leftover from the original Van Buren Fallout 3. That game also had a hanged undead evil mormon cowboy as your companion.
Lain Crowley (6629) on 10/26/2010 8:58 PM · Permalink · Report
I can kind of understand how that could work. I mean, if you're pitting spears against assault rifles and helicopters, you must be pretty certain you're going to win. That kind of enthusiasm is going to rub off on people. Plus, look at the USA right now. There's a significant part of the population who think they might have to start an armed insurrection against a fascist government force. They really think that hunting rifles and pistols put them on equal footing with the United States military. Fictional or real, future or present, Americans will always be crazy nutters.
The Fabulous King (1332) on 10/26/2010 9:20 PM · Permalink · Report
But...but.. the federal government is evil. I think we should have those guys in Europe too. It would make this dreadful socialist nightmare much more interesting.
—- (1623) on 10/29/2010 9:01 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Lain Crowley wrote--] They really think that hunting rifles and pistols put them on equal footing with the United States military. [/Q --end Lain Crowley wrote--] Works pretty well for the Afghans so far. Despite Lord Obama's efforts to the contrary.
Lain Crowley (6629) on 10/29/2010 11:07 PM · Permalink · Report
Yes, well, the Taliban also has the advantage of holding out in the easiest to defend and hardest to assault location on the planet, not to mention being able to skip freely over political borders. The mountains of Afghanistan would never appear in any video game because no one could argue that they would be the slightest bit balanced.
Indra was here (20755) on 10/30/2010 1:13 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Lain Crowley wrote--]Yes, well, the Taliban also has the advantage of holding out in the easiest to defend and hardest to assault location on the planet, not to mention being able to skip freely over political borders. The mountains of Afghanistan would never appear in any video game because no one could argue that they would be the slightest bit balanced. [/Q --end Lain Crowley wrote--] Only game that could actually get away with mountain combat is probably Oblivion where climbing mountains isn't particularly difficult. Adding realism to game that involves climbing mountains (e.g. stamina, etc.) would be a total biatch.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 10/27/2010 4:05 AM · Permalink · Report
Hmm, last time I was attacked by Legion assassins, they didn't just use spears, oh no! They used energy weapons, guys. Well-hidden under those Roman armors of theirs.
"Very clever", - I said to myself, stripping a legionaire down to nondescript gray underpants. - "But not clever enough for me, Mr. House's right hand... or should I say, a right hand armed with an assault carabine! Hehehe! He, he! He...". I carefully pried the fearsome "Shish-Kebab" weapon (that's how these spears are called) from the legionaire's cold, stiff hands. Knowing that they won't recognize me when I'm clad in their own armor (though I thought my ruggedly handsome face with bushy eyebrows and long sideburns would have left more of a lasting impression), I merrily repaired a Legion helmet by consuming another one, and accurately placed a marker on the green PipBoy to designate the next destination: Brotherhood of Steel, here I come!..
St. Martyne (3648) on 10/27/2010 9:46 AM · Permalink · Report
I like companions. I've seen three so far - Boone, Veronica and Cass. I enjoy all of them, but the best one so far is surely Cass. Rose cheeked, whiskey smelling, foul-mouthed caravan owner is quite an interesting combination.
As far as combat usefulness is concerned Boone is quite a boon. (he-he) Though, sometimes, it feels like he's a bit overpowered with that sniper rifle of his, especially at the level I got him.
Patrick Bregger (301024) on 10/27/2010 10:57 AM · Permalink · Report
Boone is definitely overpowered. I am level 13 or 14 and he just killed the whole Vault 3 (the Fiends one) almost without my intervention. When I draw my gun the guys where already dead.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/27/2010 10:02 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start St. Martyne wrote--]I like companions. I've seen three so far - Boone, Veronica and Cass. [/Q --end St. Martyne wrote--] What about ED-E?
St. Martyne (3648) on 10/28/2010 6:29 AM · Permalink · Report
Well, it's not a companion in a proper sense. He just flies around and shoots people, he doesn't talk and its quest is a bit shit. Walk around, hoping that something, somewhere will happen.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/28/2010 5:34 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start St. Martyne wrote--]Well, it's not a companion in a proper sense. He just flies around and shoots people, he doesn't talk and its quest is a bit shit. Walk around, hoping that something, somewhere will happen. [/Q --end St. Martyne wrote--] So far I like him, it, more than Boone. Granted, I haven't delved any deeper into their respective quests, but I am seriously thinking about dropping Boone because he's way overpowered and keeps getting all the targets before I even notice them. The game is quite easy as it is without such an exaggeratedly powerful companion.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/27/2010 10:23 PM · Permalink · Report
Just in case you've been living inside a bottle of Sunset Sarsaparilla for the last few days, Telltale is giving away the first episode of their upcoming Back to the Future game. That is, for free. Just like that. I know, that is heavy and such. Just do the clickety-click thing here and get your copy pre-ordered (you may need to enter 121GIGAWATTS as a coupon).
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 10/28/2010 6:01 AM · Permalink · Report
Wait a second... There is going to be a Back to the Future adventure game??!!
-Marty!! -Doc!! -Einstein!!! I HATE MANURE!!..
I'm a big fan of the movies, in case you can't tell :)
Lain Crowley (6629) on 10/28/2010 3:36 PM · Permalink · Report
Watch the developer interview videos they have on gametrailers.com (and I guess a lot of other websites too). The soundalike they got for Michael J. Fox is amazing.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/28/2010 5:10 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]Wait a second... There is going to be a Back to the Future adventure game??!!
-Marty!! -Doc!! -Einstein!!! I HATE MANURE!!..
I'm a big fan of the movies, in case you can't tell :) [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Where were you when we posted that questionnaire about the to-be content of the game? That was a nice move in the side of the developers.
Adzuken (836) on 10/29/2010 12:05 AM · Permalink · Report
Here's a problem I ran into in New Vegas:
After witnessing the Legion's various atrocities across the wastes, I marched into their camp and removed Caesar's tumor with a .50 calibur bullet. Afterwards, no one even reacted to what I had done. I had single-handedly marched into the Legion's fort and exterminated every one of them and no one even noticed. The NCR still acted like they were going to war, and I never heard a single NPC mention that Caesar was dead.
God, how annoying. Apparently the game takes acting on your own accord as sequence-breaking. It's sort of unbelievable that no one on the dev team considered the idea that someone would exterminate the antagonists outside of a quest and didn't install safeguards against that sort of behavior. Obviously no one would have a reason to do such a thing, like, say, frequent assaults by assassins.
So I guess I'll just load to an earlier save and do things the game's way. Sorry, Fallout: New Vegas, I guess I didn't see the sign that said "Danger! Plot important character! Do not exterminate without permission!"
j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】 (95185) on 10/29/2010 12:48 AM · Permalink · Report
I remember either Oblivion or Morrowind popping up with a big warning message if you were about to attack a character who, if killed, would screw up some later quest. Did Fallout 3 do this? I still have yet to play it. :P
Adzuken (836) on 10/29/2010 12:58 AM · Permalink · Report
It was Morrowind that gave you a message. If you killed an important character, it said something along the lines of "You can continue playing, but at this point it's impossible to complete the game." Oblivion, on the other hand, made key NPC's invulnerable. They would simply fall unconscious and get back up later, which was really unsatisfying. I'm not certain of Fallout 3. A lot of plot-important areas were simply closed off.
The thing is, the reason I don't know for certain if Fallout 3's main plot could be broken is because I never had the urge to plug daddy in the back of the head. Caesar gave me plenty of reason to feed him a .50 caliber breakfast in bed. However, I should note that I likely could still finish New Vegas, even with Caesar dead, but it's a big letdown that I'd just have to pretend that he's still alive with the other characters.
Lain Crowley (6629) on 10/29/2010 3:28 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Adzuken wrote--]If you killed an important character, it said something along the lines of "You can continue playing, but at this point it's impossible to complete the game." [/Q --end Adzuken wrote--]
Better than that, the message was
[q]With this character's death, the thread of prophecy is severed. Restore a saved game to restore the weave of fate, or persist in the doomed world you have created.[/q]
If there's a better failure message than that, I haven't seen it (SMT games come close).
Adzuken (836) on 10/29/2010 4:01 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Lain Crowley wrote--] If there's a better failure message than that, I haven't seen it (SMT games come close). [/Q --end Lain Crowley wrote--] I think my favourite would still have to be the game over screen for Friday the 13th on the NES. It simply said:
[q2 --start Friday the 13th wrote--]YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS ARE DEAD.
GAME OVER[/q2 --end Friday the 13th wrote--] I love it because it doubles as an intimidating threat.
j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】 (95185) on 10/29/2010 4:13 AM · Permalink · Report
This one isn't intimidating, but it is pretty amusing.
Also GAME OVER YEAAAAAH!
Clearly I am taking this seriously. :)
Adzuken (836) on 10/30/2010 3:24 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start 雷堂承太朗 -djsw- wrote--]This one isn't intimidating, but it is pretty amusing. [/Q --end 雷堂承太朗 -djsw- wrote--] Oh man, this is awesome. That's my new favourite! Was the game it was attached to any good? I hadn't even heard of it until you posted this.
j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】 (95185) on 10/30/2010 3:41 AM · Permalink · Report
I have no idea, unfortunately, I've never played it. Judging from the screens and ranks we have on file, though, I'm gonna say...probably not.
I actually thought it was from Skullmonkeys until I went looking for the video. >_>
Patrick Bregger (301024) on 10/30/2010 5:16 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
Still playing New Vegas. It is almost embarrasing but during the last week I already put over 30 hours into this game. And I just visited the strip for the first time and according to my brand new explorer perk I didn't even was at half of the interesting points of the wasteland.
I already visited all casinos and now I have to explore the last section of the strip. I can't decide which side to choose. My loyality so far was with the NCR but the "myself" option sounds very tempting...
Edit: Oh, and I also started to play the new CSI game even if New Vegas demands my full attention. The main reason is that I pulled a Sicarius on this one. And I am just a sucker for this series (even if I stopped watching the TV show years ago).
chirinea (47495) on 10/30/2010 6:01 PM · Permalink · Report
Motivated by all this talk about New Vegas and by that "pile of shame" thread, I decided to replay Fallout 2. So far, so good, but I'm already showing my RPG-OCD symptoms. Sometimes, after I play a part of the game, I look into a walkthrough to see if I played it the best way I could (that is, earning the most XP possible). Sometimes I replay a part just because I spent too much time on it (and I hate to see the game clock running). Sometimes I replay a combat just because I lost too much HP on it. That really starts to get annoying and sometimes I quit playing. I'll try to make it this time.
Indra was here (20755) on 10/30/2010 8:08 PM · Permalink · Report
So after yet again paying more attention to games than my female comrades, I discovered the immense level of boredom once achieved after playing 9,999,999 hours on a sand-box game.
Apparently playing a game without a clear and continuing sense of directions feels a tad empty.
Somewhat reminds me of my meager existence. Heh. :p
j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】 (95185) on 10/30/2010 9:16 PM · Permalink · Report
Wait, you've been playing Minecraft? :P
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/31/2010 1:50 AM · Permalink · Report
You know I don't even know what Minecraft is? At times like this I feel like such a gaming outcast =(
Indra was here (20755) on 10/31/2010 12:25 PM · Permalink · Report
Don't worry, doc. Haven't played the game either. Good thing too. Turns you into zombies. Or Homer Simpson. Not quite sure which is the more superior life form.
Hmm. Beer.
The Fabulous King (1332) on 10/31/2010 2:03 AM · Permalink · Report
Hey everyone! Remember when Jorunal threads used to only last 100 posts before going to the Too Big La-La Land? Well those days are back. This thread is now officially in 100 post threshold and a new Jorunal has been created.
Slug Camargo (583) on 10/31/2010 10:47 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Hallow the Snowman wrote--]Hey everyone! Remember when Jorunal threads used to only last 100 posts before going to the Too Big La-La Land? Well those days are back. This thread is now officially in 100 post threshold and a new Jorunal has been created.
Jorunal: Halloween Special [/Q --end Hallow the Snowman wrote--] I rather like this one, what with all the New Vegas talk and whatnot. The other one only has two posts that are way too long and rambling for their own good. I'm afraid the Game Jorunal series might just have jumped the shark =(
The Fabulous King (1332) on 11/1/2010 3:48 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
And it's what you're supposed to do. That's the whole point of Jorunal threads - the first post is irrelevant and completely about something else. Like in the original Rabbi Guru's Game Jorunal. Anyone still remember that thread?
You guys are too used to with Oleg's slam dunk approach to the Jorunal franchise, but the original Rabbi Guru approach was always the artistic discontinuity between the first post and the thread that followed. He hoped to find the meaning of life that way.
And it's time to go back to the roots. It's just one month away from the anniversary after all.
Edit: This battle is not yet over. You haven't heard the last of me. I will force the invisible hand of the free market to bless my thread or die trying it.
chirinea (47495) on 11/2/2010 7:57 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
Well, actually there were 5 iterations of it called Game Journal, started by this thread. But since the 6th iteration Joosua took this whole new Olegian approach to it (more story, less game) so it became Game Jorunal, probably to better express its Eastern character.
The Fabulous King (1332) on 11/3/2010 1:43 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start chirinea wrote--]...Olegian approach to it (more story, less game) so it became Game Jorunal, probably to better express its Eastern character. [/Q --end chirinea wrote--]
I don't think it holds exactly true for modern Oleg (the more story, less game) part, but I guess Olegian in this case is just a scientific term to describe certain phenomens in world. And it's true what chirinea writes, only... there were a lot more than 5 threads, see here for it's enitre history until November 2009.
After that it became Jorunal.
Though chirinea might be one of those who say that half of those threads were not canon. Even Game Jorunal threads have canon wars.
The Fabulous King (1332) on 11/1/2010 6:03 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
Why has New Vegas a 2.9 user score?
"Overall MobyScore (1 vote)"
Okay, who did this?
j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】 (95185) on 11/3/2010 8:42 AM · Permalink · Report
So. Fist of the North Star came out in English yesterday. It's a bit of Dynasty Warriors, and a lot of ATATATATATATAAAA.
Played through two chapters of Ken's story, and one of Mamiya's. I've never really been a fan of DW (played a bit of DW2 and a bit of SW2, the latter definitely being a step up from the former) but this is fantastic mindless fun. Also, Mamiya gets to do more than just be bait for a change. Can't wait to try out the other characters and the 2-player mode.
A few of the name translations are pretty asinine though. "Thouzer"? Really?
Indra was here (20755) on 11/3/2010 10:38 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start 雷堂承太朗 -djsw- wrote--]So. Fist of the North Star came out in English yesterday. [/Q --end 雷堂承太朗 -djsw- wrote--]Is it famous in the west? Didn't really like the comics. The drawings looked a tad 'messy'.
j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】 (95185) on 11/4/2010 8:46 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Bhatara Dewa Indra I wrote--]Is it famous in the west? Didn't really like the comics. The drawings looked a tad 'messy'. [/Q --end Bhatara Dewa Indra I wrote--] I dunno if I'd say it's famous. Most people know the anime version more than the original manga. I don't think the comics have ever been published in English past volume 8 or so, which is probably part of it, while the anime was many peoples' first exposure to Japanese cartoons back in the late '80s.
As for the art, it's basically your standard stiff '80s shonen manga art. See also: Ryoichi Ikegami, Hirohiko Araki, Buichi Terasawa. I don't really mind that it's a bit messy...I'm not really a huge fan of the super-clean computer-generated lines in modern manga anyway. Much harder to put some personality into it that way...
Indra was here (20755) on 11/4/2010 2:22 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start 雷堂承太朗 -djsw- wrote--]Most people know the anime version more than the original manga. [/Q --end 雷堂承太朗 -djsw- wrote--]Oh, it has a cartoon series too? It isn't popular in Indoland and we practically have an appetite for all manga.
Zovni (10504) on 11/5/2010 3:42 PM · Permalink · Report
Agreed. You read stuff like Gantz today (which is as ultraviolent and over-the-top as North Star) and nice as it is it looks just too aseptic. Too much Illustrator and too much 3D backgrounds... North Star looks far more dynamic and brutal just because of the gritty hand-made feel to it.
Patrick Bregger (301024) on 11/3/2010 3:08 PM · Permalink · Report
I started to play Dragon Age: Origins (Ultimate Edition). The game is still great and I look forward to the new content. What I don't understand is this pricing politic: DA was released a year ago. And now the whole package costs less than two DLCs.
And yes, I already finished New Vegas. I am ashamed of myself. (And by finished I mean that I visited every place my explorer perk gave me and that I did every quest I found except the bottle cap search.)
Starbuck the Third (22606) on 11/4/2010 4:27 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
I think it is safe to say that Fallout New Vegas is my personal Game of The Year for one simple fact, that being a week and a half i am still playing, havn't finished, i have been enjoying it a lot and the only thing that will stop me playing it within the next week is the release of CoD: Black Ops, and even then because i pre ordered it to make sure i get the Prestige Edition.
On the bug front, I've found two of persistant ones on my 360 version, the first a few crashes (at least 3 or 4) I've has whilst playing it, unfortunately. Crashed during the load screens. Mercifully that is the only inconvinient one, the other where my gun for some unknown reason keeps getting raised above my shoulder, still horizontal and odd moments.
Also, no spinning heads, much to my dismay.
Slug Camargo (583) on 11/4/2010 9:19 PM · Permalink · Report
Why on earth do people play the Fallout's on a console is beyond me. Especially this one. I mean, do you realize you're stuck with the current wishy-washy version of the game forever? Sure the hardcore mode is great and whatnot, but everything about that mode (in fact, pretty much everything that makes the game itself better than the previous one) was shamelessly lifted from a bunch of Fallout 3 mods. Now the people that made those mods are working on versions for New Vegas, and I can only wet dream about what kind of heavenly blessing those will be (in fact, there are already a handful that make the game way more enjoyable and challenging).
Starbuck the Third (22606) on 11/4/2010 9:27 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]Why on earth do people play the Fallout's on a console is beyond me. Especially this one. I mean, do you realize you're stuck with the current wishy-washy version of the game forever? Sure the hardcore mode is great and whatnot, but everything about that mode (in fact, pretty much everything that makes the game itself better than the previous one) was shamelessly lifted from a bunch of Fallout 3 mods. Now the people that made those mods are working on versions for New Vegas, and I can only wet dream about what kind of heavenly blessing those will be (in fact, there are already a handful that make the game way more enjoyable and challenging). [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
So what if someone plays it on a console? OK it you can't get add ons and mods like you can on a PC, but i don't care. As long as the games are still fun to play, who really cares about what platform they're on. At the end of the day, isn't that what games are about?
Indra was here (20755) on 11/4/2010 11:35 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start havoc of smeg wrote--]At the end of the day, isn't that what games are about? [/Q --end havoc of smeg wrote--]In a PC vs console fanboi community. Not really, mate. :)
St. Martyne (3648) on 11/4/2010 9:27 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start havoc of smeg wrote--]I think it is safe to say that Fallout New Vegas is my personal Game of The Year for one simple fact, that being a week and a half i am still playing, havn't finished [/Q --end havoc of smeg wrote--]
Yeah, it's long, like really, really long. I finished it yesterday after investing about 65 hours in. That's an insane number. I couldn't possibly believe I was still capable of that, now that I have a proper job and all. But, good games do that you. It certainly was time well "wasted".
Slug Camargo (583) on 11/4/2010 9:37 PM · Permalink · Report
Fallout: New Vegas Jorunal:
I finally made it to Vegas proper after suffering the worst kind of mind-numbingly boring, lame-ass quests I've seen in my life, thanks to the King and his problems with that NCR chick --seriously, what the hell were you thinking, Obsidian? Either think up better quests or give those fuckers a damn fax machine so they can solve their problems and leave me alone >=( , and I'm afraid to say the game has taken somewhat of a downturn.
First, in what is either a massive chain of bugs or the sloppiest kind of design, I've found about half a dozen continuity errors, with people running up at me and talking about people and places I never heard of but apparently I should have, including a conversation with one of House's servants regarding a collection of snowglobes I couldn't find anywhere in the building o_0
Second, in what has to be the lamest, weaseliest move since the time Invisible War confessed that all the choices I had made during the game didn't matter squat because either way I had been working for the same people all along, every faction automagically reseted my status, nevermind any of the horrible crimes I might have commited against them. Seriously, Obsidian, what the hell?
Anyway, I'm told the game gets seven kinds of awesome after New Vegas, and I keep hearing specifically about how the main quest is oh so much better than the (admittedly lame) one in Fallout 3, so I'm hoping for some kind of unforeseen blast of genius to hit me in the middle of the nose any minute now; but so far I have to admit I'm tempted to just go back to my good old uber-modded Fallout 3.
Oh, by the way, I finally caved and got a bunch of difficulty-enhancing mods because after I hit level 14 (which, again, happened frighteninly quickly) nothing short of a dual-chaingun-wielding power-armor-clad Deathclaw could pose any serious threat anymore. I mean, I had to force Boone to use melee weapons just so I had a chance to even fight someone, for crying out loud. And I was carrying enough food and water to feed the entire bleeding Nevada too. "Hardcore" my f'ing ass >=(
St. Martyne (3648) on 11/4/2010 10:04 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]. with people running up at me and talking about people and places I never heard of but apparently I should have [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
Never happened to me. Are you playing attentively? ))
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]. including a conversation with one of House's servants regarding a collection of snowglobes I couldn't find anywhere in the building o_0 [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
It's in your Presidential Suite. Farthest room on the right, I believe.
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]. every faction automagically reseted my status, nevermind any of the horrible crimes I might have commited against them. Seriously, Obsidian, what the hell? [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
There are reason for that. Both from gameplay and story points of view. Obisdian never wanted you to journey straight to NV. You are encouraged to take a big detour chasing Benny, in order to get acquainted with the factions of this new place in the Fallout world. And obviously nobody wants to prevent you from familiarizing yourself with the new faction system and doing an odd job or two for either faction.
After you reached NV this is where decision making time starts. Now that you know who's who in this world, maybe you'll take a second guess on being an NCR bitch. Makes sense for me. And I totally changed the way I approached the factions, now that I was given a second chance with the Legion. They seemed quite cool actually and even addressed every single complain I had about in the early hours.
In story-terns this decision to reset faction standings midgame is not as flawless, but I still buy it. Being granted an audience with House is no small thing. Obviously, both NCR and Legion will take additional interest in your persona after having seen that you're not just another hired gun.
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--] I had to force Boone to use melee weapons just so I had a chance to even fight someone, for crying out loud. And I was carrying enough food and water to feed the entire bleeding Nevada too. "Hardcore" my f'ing ass >=( [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]
Personally, I had trouble dealing with a group of deathclaws even at level thirty, but that's probably because I was quite lousy at finding better equipment.
As for the main quest being better or worse than Fallout 3, I can't really say. Because, unlike Fallout 3 there is no set storyline, complex set pieces and plot revelations. Having met Mr. House, you won't find any other mystery to uncover. What is left, however, is deciding how you want to deal with all the factions in Mojave, and bringing that plan into action. That is fun.
Slug Camargo (583) on 11/5/2010 12:09 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start St. Martyne wrote--] Never happened to me. Are you playing attentively? )) [/Q --end St. Martyne wrote--] I'm positively positive. I especially remember the one with the Follower chick that wanted me to bug House's computer, she said something about whether I had thought about their request and I'm sure they never requested anything in that regard, because I rather like the Followers so far and been paying attention to every little thing they say. I'm even taking notes, go figure =D
[Q --start St. Martyne wrote--] It's in your Presidential Suite. Farthest room on the right, I believe. [/Q --end St. Martyne wrote--] It is? I'll have to check it right away. It would be pretty embarrassing if I missed it =$
[Q --start St. Martyne wrote--] In story-terns this decision to reset faction standings midgame is not as flawless, but I still buy it. Being granted an audience with House is no small thing. Obviously, both NCR and Legion will take additional interest in your persona after having seen that you're not just another hired gun. [/Q --end St. Martyne wrote--] I have to admit, it does make sense that way looking, what with they approaching me almost forming in line right after I exit House's casino and whatnot, the opportunist bastards =P Still, the fact that a Fallout game, of all things, includes something that reminds me of Invisible War is like being spit on in the middle of the eye by someone I really really loved.
You got me intrigued with what you say about the Legion, though. So far the only thing that kept me from slaughtering them all right at Nipton was the fact that at the moment I was way outnumbered and still at a rather low level and I have been blasting every one of them I meet since then.
[Q --start St. Martyne wrote--] Personally, I had trouble dealing with a group of deathclaws even at level thirty, but that's probably because I was quite lousy at finding better equipment. [/Q --end St. Martyne wrote--] The Deathclaw reference was an exaggeration. Actually I only found one so far and it kicked my ass pretty badly.
Still, I stand by my complaint about the difficulty. I think the problem is that companions are way overpowered --and very especially Boone. I'm keeping him because I hear his quest is one of the best parts of the game, but really the guy is so good in fights he's annoying.
Indra was here (20755) on 11/4/2010 11:40 PM · Permalink · Report
After reviewing doc's exceptional outburst, it makes me want to play the game so much more. Haven't bad mouthed a game since Dragon Age. It's affecting my morale. :p
Adzuken (836) on 11/4/2010 11:40 PM · Permalink · Report
I'm surprised you only got those glitches, I've had tonnes. One of the most bizarre and annoying ones had to do with my companions' inventory. After traveling with Veronica for a while, I put her in storage and picked up Cass. Cass kept complaining about her rifle not doing enough damage, so I gave her my prized sniper rifle that I wasn't using much anymore since I got the .50 caliber. Later, it was stealth time, so I went to get my rifle and noticed she wasn't carrying it anymore. I look in her inventory and find that it was gone, along with the two hundred rounds of ammunition I gave to her. I was angry because those weapon mods were tough to come by, I've still yet to find another silencer for it.
Later, I decide I want to switch back to Veronica. After a few more adventures, I notice Veronica's power fist was suddenly missing, instead replaced with a simple knife. I check her inventory and find my prized Sniper Rifle, with the ammo nowhere in sight. What the hell? Now she's gimped until I can find her a power fist to replace the one she's supposed to have by default! How did this even happen?
I also have a few quests in my list that I can't finish because the dialogue options have vanished. The guy at my local used game store says he was on a quest to save a guy's son. He had to run from the perpetrators, but when he finally found the guy to return his son, neither of them would acknowledge the other. He couldn't complete the quest despite the fact that they were standing right next to each other.
Another problem I have is with manually aiming. There have been moments where my crosshairs are trained directly on a guy's head, but the shots aren't even hitting him. Yet after I scope in, suddenly my bullets are effective despite the fact I haven't even moved my gun. Other times, it's the opposite, with the scope not working. VATS also seems to have the same problem, because despite giving me a %95 chance to hit, I'll sometimes miss every shot despite no obstructions. It's bizarre.
At this point, I'm focusing on completing the main quest because I'm afraid the game is breaking down all around me.
Slug Camargo (583) on 11/5/2010 12:16 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Adzuken wrote--] Another problem I have is with manually aiming. There have been moments where my crosshairs are trained directly on a guy's head, but the shots aren't even hitting him. Yet after I scope in, suddenly my bullets are effective despite the fact I haven't even moved my gun. Other times, it's the opposite, with the scope not working. VATS also seems to have the same problem, because despite giving me a %95 chance to hit, I'll sometimes miss every shot despite no obstructions. It's bizarre. [/Q --end Adzuken wrote--] I think that might be on purpose. RPG experts here correct me, but I think both new Fallouts give much more importance to dice rolling and stats and behind-the-curtains RPG crap than to actual, physical aiming. That's one of the things FWE for Fallout 3 fixes, actually: Stats and shit are mostly important in VATS, but in realtime combat it's all about your actual g4m0r skills.
St. Martyne (3648) on 11/5/2010 12:55 AM · Permalink · Report
I think so, yeah. As for not being able to hit in VATS with 95%, two possible reasons:
1) Enemy is too close, so he affects your aiming. Especially evident while trying to hit something in VATS at point-blank range with a sniper rifle.
2) 5% ))
Slug Camargo (583) on 11/5/2010 3:01 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
Hey, has anyone put points in melee and/or unarmed combat? I neglected them because they were pretty sucky in FO3, and only too late I'm finding out it could be pretty cool to use in NV, what with all those crazy moves I'm learning and whatnot.
Patrick Bregger (301024) on 11/5/2010 8:40 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Adzuken wrote--] Another problem I have is with manually aiming. There have been moments where my crosshairs are trained directly on a guy's head, but the shots aren't even hitting him. Yet after I scope in, suddenly my bullets are effective despite the fact I haven't even moved my gun. [/Q --end Adzuken wrote--] That's called "RPG" and the way it is supposed to be.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 11/5/2010 9:04 AM · Permalink · Report
Finished New Vegas. It took me only 12 hours, hehehe :) Time's a factor, what can I do...
Definitely the most open-ended and addictive RPG since... well, Fallout 2. Not perfect, but overall incredible. Actually, it's almost like my personal RPG dream coming true. The pedigree shows...
Indra was here (20755) on 11/5/2010 11:24 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]Finished New Vegas. It took me only 12 hours, hehehe :) Time's a factor, what can I do... [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] An RPG that can be finished on a weekend is....dubious.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 11/5/2010 11:31 AM · Permalink · Report
An RPG that can be finished on a weekend is....dubious.
The first Fallout can be finished in 1 hour. You just need to create a super-intelligent character, run away from all the fights, and do the few necessary quests to finish the game.
A RPG that can be finished on a weekend or in 60 hours - that's not dubious, that's what makes RPGs beautiful!
Though I must say, at level 14 I had some seriously tough time against the final boss (Legate Lanius, in my case). Man, he hits hard, and his guards are beyond psychotic. 30 stimpacks, Speech skill of 90 and and careful VATS usage did the trick eventually...
Patrick Bregger (301024) on 11/5/2010 11:57 AM · Permalink · Report
Nothing better than a boss who can be talked to death.
Indra was here (20755) on 11/5/2010 4:54 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]A RPG that can be finished on a weekend or in 60 hours - that's not dubious, that's what makes RPGs beautiful! [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]I was thinking more in the time frame of 60 hours and a month. My RPG fanboi ego argues that it is insulting if an RPG has gameplay time similar to an arcade game.
j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】 (95185) on 11/6/2010 7:30 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Bhatara Dewa Indra I wrote--]My RPG fanboi ego argues that it is insulting if an RPG has gameplay time similar to an arcade game. [/Q --end Bhatara Dewa Indra I wrote--] Are you counting this series in that assessment? Because for all their flaws, Way of the Samurai is a pretty great example of a short-form RPG that (mostly) works.
Starbuck the Third (22606) on 11/5/2010 5:17 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Though I must say, at level 14 I had some seriously tough time against the final boss (Legate Lanius, in my case). Man, he hits hard, and his guards are beyond psychotic. 30 stimpacks, Speech skill of 90 and and careful VATS usage did the trick eventually... [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]
What weapons were you using? I've got the alien blaster, and am wondering how it will fare against the legate.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 11/6/2010 6:22 AM · Permalink · Report
What weapons were you using?
Mostly those crazy fists I got from his Praetorian Guards. Needed just a few hits to pound him down. Grenade launcher didn't work :)
Slug Camargo (583) on 11/6/2010 7:06 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]Finished New Vegas. It took me only 12 hours, hehehe :) Time's a factor, what can I do...
[/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] What? Are you sure you got that right? I was barely reaching Primm for the first time by my 12th hour! o_0 I mean, how can you simply run through like that knowing that you're leaving all those boxes and drawers and cabinets and trashcans unexplored?
Indra was here (20755) on 11/6/2010 9:45 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]...how can you simply run through like that knowing that you're leaving all those boxes and drawers and cabinets and trashcans unexplored? [/Q --end Dr. M. "Schadenfreude" Von Katze wrote--]I found it quite odd that I was more concerned in finding and collecting tin cans than I was to finishing sub-quests in Fallout: 3. :p
Anyway, probably has something to do with what Foxhack once mentioned: Some people beat the game, others finish it. Beating the game doesn't count in my book.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 11/7/2010 2:33 AM · Permalink · Report
What? Are you sure you got that right?
Yup. I could've even done it quicker, but for some reason I felt compelled to finish all the Brotherhood of Steel quests, gain their trust, be trained in power armor, become their paladin, and then blow them all up to pieces, just like Mr. House ordered. I'm weird that way.
Anyway, for me it's not the finishing the game that counts, also not completing. I have a pile of 40-50 "to play" games, so I don't have time even to finish every game I play... let alone "complete" it, like Indra says.
Indra was here (20755) on 11/7/2010 4:50 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] I have a pile of 40-50 "to play" games, so I don't have time even to finish every game I play... [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]Eh, 40-50 games? I think you're taking the "have no life" motto a wee bit too seriously, Oleg. "Finishing" each game will do wonders to your entertainment budget. :)
Indra was here (20755) on 11/7/2010 8:16 AM · Permalink · Report
I somewhat stopped hoarding games since meine university days. Do you know what happens when you don't leave your room for a month or so during school break?
A zombie would look good in comparison. Though I do terribly miss those days. Who needs a life when you have 20 games waiting to be played?
Adzuken (836) on 11/5/2010 3:18 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Patrick Bregger wrote--] That's called "RPG" and the way it is supposed to be. [/Q --end Patrick Bregger wrote--] Ugh, you don't have to get offensive.
First, I know it's an RPG, that would be why I tailor built my character to use firearms like sniper rifles and magnums. I built him that way because I specifically don't want him to miss. I'm at level 26, even if my character wasn't carefully built with this slant, at this point he's competent with about anything.
Secondly, I never had this problem in Fallout 3. Sure, sometimes something would get in the way of my shot, but at that point I'd know what I'm hitting. Here, the bullets are either not leaving the gun's barrel, or phasing through my target.
Lastly, this isn't Morrowind. I'd know if I was rolling the dice every time I click the mouse. New Vegas isn't like that. These are a few very specific moments where my bullets cease to be effective for no apparent reason.
I was merely asking if anyone else had instances such as these. There's no reason to get snarky.
Patrick Bregger (301024) on 11/5/2010 3:39 PM · Permalink · Report
Well, since I read a few too much Alpha Protocol reviews I assume the worst. Sorry.
It doesn't say "95%" for nothing in VATS - it means that even the most skilled rifleman has a change to miss. The same applies to the real-time combat.
[q]Lastly, this isn't Morrowind. I'd know if I was rolling the dice every time I click the mouse. New Vegas isn't like that. [/q] Well, no, it is exactly like that.
Adzuken (836) on 11/5/2010 4:31 PM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start Patrick Bregger wrote--] Well, no, it is exactly like that. [/Q --end Patrick Bregger wrote--] Is it?
"We really just wanted to make sure that the real-time [combat] stuff was improved a little bit." Sawyer says. "We've got sight aiming, so there's a little bit more connection to where your gun is shooting at. It's not taking anything away from VATS. People use VATS all the time, they really enjoy it, it's a good tool in the game and there's a lot of RPG stuff that ties into it. But we did want to make sure that if people do want to play the game real-time, it's as responsive as they'd expect." (Here.)
Your character skills tie into real-time combat by affecting recoil, spread, and sway. Otherwise, it's exactly like a standard shooter. If the bullet contacts your target's hitbox, it counts as a hit. My bullets are disappearing.
On the other hand, technically you are correct, as it still rolls a dice to decide whether the hit was critical, and how much damage it did. But again, whether the bullet makes contact or not is done the same as any other shooter.
j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】 (95185) on 11/6/2010 7:37 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
Still playing Fist of the North Star. Still awesome, but it's a short burst game, playing one or two missions a day rather than binging all out.
Other than that, I played through Limbo. Then I played through again to find all the hidden eggs. Then I made my friend play through it. Beautiful, haunting game. Kinda wish I'd played it on Halloween. Maybe I'll do that next year.
I picked up Blade Kitten as well since it was already on sale (that took, what, a month?) and played the first few stages. The characters are immensely unlikable, but some floatiness aside, it plays decently. Tons and tons of side areas to find and wander around in. Collectibles will be a pain. You can unlock a Ty costume. That's...certainly something, I suppose.
Parf (7873) on 11/6/2010 7:29 PM · Permalink · Report
At the moment I'm alternating between a couple of games (all on the 360, since I'm too lazy to hook up any of the other consoles right now), namely:
Bioshock 2 (Special Edition): Multiplayer only. I tend to play without sound lately, so the MP part is good because it's all just running and gunning. Doing so in Rapture is immense fun!
Doom II: Trying to work my way through the game on UltraViolence. I finished the new episode they made for the 360 Arcade version, but I wasn't all that impressed with it. I like the "original" game better. The new ones just felt like they tried to cram as many monsters in as possible all the time. It totally lost its surprise value after a stage or two when you realised that as soon as you'd open a door, hit a switch or pick up a key 15 minutes of holding down the Fire button would occur shortly after.
Bejeweled 2 Deluxe: I know... I'm sorry. I'm ashamed of myself really... but it's the only game I have which only requires one hand to play it. Elias tends to fall asleep on my one arm on the couch in the mornings, and putting him down is out of the question, so having something to occupy myself with is always welcome, even if it is the mother of all casual games. ;)
Actually... there is one non-360 game I'm playing at the moment; Willow for the NES. I got it when it was new for my birthday and got as far as the final boss, but then I sold my NES to trade up to a MegaDrive and never finished it... about time I do so I'd say. :)
St. Martyne (3648) on 11/7/2010 10:43 PM · edited · Permalink · Report
Now that New Vegas is over, I turned my attention to some Wii games I was yet to play.
No More Heroes 2. Even Suda 51 himself called this an unnecessary sequel. That sums it up. Even though the game is still fun and crazy as ever, without the freshness and originality of the first one, there is now nothing to hide god-awful environments and tedious game design, strikingly jarring for a game desperate to crush all the conventions and expectations. 8-bit minigames are genius, though.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 You would've expected this to suffer the same fate, but there so ingenuity and potential left in this title, that I won't mind collecting stars for Lumas even for a third time. Yoshi is a great addition and so are new mushrooms. Now if only it wasn't so cheesy and talky... Well, the world couldn't handle such a perfect game I guess.
Endless Ocean 2 More, bigger, better. Exploration sim returns and it looks like developers really took their time assesing what was wrong and right with the original game and tried their best to rectify the mistakes. Some of the new stuff works - the island hub, big story, coming ashore. Other stuff not so well - dissappointing soundtrack, ridiculous devices (heal the fish by firing a plasma gun in its face), idiotic characters. Still, lots of fun.
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories Finally, got around to completing it. The game's every bit as good as I expected it to be. Not for the SH fan, probably, but inventive (albeit rudimentary) motion-controlled puzzles, great story (literally made me cry in the end) and all well-written psychological fluff never let go.
vedder (70795) on 11/8/2010 9:04 AM · Permalink · Report
Took a break from Minecraft for a bit and continued Mass Effect 2. I didn't think much of the first part, but this one is definitely a major improvement. Most importantly, level design is a billion times better (both graphically and when it comes to flow).
I also like that they removed that idiotic shared inventory system. The new system is much more elegant and I don't miss picking up useless loot at all. At least now you know for certain that every loot you find is very valuable. Loot fever might be a good mechanic for games that don't have much else going for it, but ME2 proves that a good RPG doesn't need it.
Currently doing all the side missions for my team members. Although I still need to pick some up.
The (free) DLC missions were pretty lousy as was to be expected. Confirms my assumptions that it would be a complete waste of money to ever buy DLC. To me DLC still refers to a poor add-on pack.
My biggest gripe with the game is the glitchy cover system. This is the first cover-based shooter that I play (not counting the Mafia 2 demo), and while I don't oppose to the system, I think they didn't implement it very well. It seems to be completely random which items you can't or can take cover behind. Sometimes there are two identical objects right next to each other, but you can't get cover behind one of the two. The same thing with the ability to jump over objects, I feel I'm at the level artists whim. If (s)he thought I might have liked to jump over a certain object, I can. But if (s)he didn't I can't. There's lot's of low ledges you can't jump over that are the same size or lower than ledges you can jump over. Also (particularly in the DLC missions) Sheppard tends to go flying when walking up or down ramps which has to do with sloppy bounding boxes and walkpaths I assume.
Actually, my biggest gripe with the game is the stun-lock that you get when hit by a missile or flamethrower. You get blown away from cover, massive damage, and are stunned for 2 seconds. There's absolutely no way you can survive that, so it all comes down to an insta-kill from the AI you can do nothing about. It should've been possible to quickly dash back to cover or something as a sort of quick-time event or whatever.
And what's with the gun that kills entire armies in a single shot? It feels more like a cheat. "Darn I got defeated twice in this battle.Oh well..." click *BOOM "GG!" I'm not sure that balances out, even if you can only use it once every two missions or so.
Indra was here (20755) on 11/8/2010 9:08 AM · Permalink · Report
Er. You make it sound like the game was difficult. :p
Indra was here (20755) on 11/8/2010 10:41 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
At least the story for Mass Effect is the best Bioware has yet to offer. No not the main plot, still lousy. The Salarian scientist, the assassin, and that insect-cyborg thingy sub-quests should be paid a little special attention.
Almost feels like the people who developed ME 1&2 were two different teams.
GAMEBOY COLOR! (1990) on 11/18/2010 2:20 AM · Permalink · Report
I'm in a good groove with MGS. I just lost the torture section of the game a few minutes ago. And because I forgot to save my game, I have to face Sniper Wolf again. Lovely. 8/
j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】 (95185) on 11/19/2010 5:33 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
Just finished Phantasy Star IV earlier tonight with my RPG buddy. While Final Fantasy VI is obviously the more ambitious and technically-accomplished game, having finished both recently I find PSIV to be my preferred game. That last dungeon is kind of lazy design, though. :P
We both agreed that a modern full-blown remake could be something seriously special. Rika... :D___ Though I shudder to think how a modern anime style would moe-ify characters like Demi and Kyra...maybe even Alys. Ugh, maybe it's for the better that they don't. Sega seems intent on forgetting the original series ever even existed, anyway.
Up next is a quick breather with Breath of Death VII, then we're moving on to more modern fare with Final Fantasy XIII.
Indra was here (20755) on 11/19/2010 5:48 AM · Permalink · Report
[Q --start 雷堂承太朗 -djsw- wrote--]While Final Fantasy VI is obviously the more ambitious... [/Q --end 雷堂承太朗 -djsw- wrote--] Heard it had a better story than FF VII.
Unicorn Lynx (181775) on 11/19/2010 6:31 AM · Permalink · Report
While Final Fantasy VI is obviously the more ambitious and technically-accomplished game, having finished both recently I find PSIV to be my preferred game.
Ouch... I'll try not to start a flame war with you :)
PSIV beats FFVI in one thing, though: Rika looks sexier than any female character in FFVI :)
Ugh, maybe it's for the better that they don't
Yeah, I mean, one thing that was really good in PSIV were the graphics. Have you seen the PS2 "remake" of Phantasy Star II? Nei looks ugly there... I loved the original anime designs.
And generally, this old 2D art is the real deal when it comes to Japanese RPGs. That's why PC Engine is the best thing that happened to mankind since the invention of garlic sausage.
j.raido 【雷堂嬢太朗】 (95185) on 11/19/2010 6:42 AM · edited · Permalink · Report
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]PSIV beats FFVI in one thing, though: Rika looks sexier than any female character in FFVI :)[/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] Damn straight. Chaz is one lucky bastard.
[Q --start חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--]Yeah, I mean, one thing that was really good in PSIV were the graphics. Have you seen the PS2 "remake" of Phantasy Star II? Nei looks ugly there... I loved the original anime designs.
And generally, this old 2D art is the real deal when it comes to Japanese RPGs. That's why PC Engine is the best thing that happened to mankind since the invention of garlic sausage. [/Q --end חד-קרן·山猫 wrote--] I have. But those remakes were cheap budget productions. If it was given a real budget and some actual talent, rather than paying some outsource house fifty bucks to come up with whatever, it could be gold. I mean, from what I've seen the newest Slayers series managed to retain the style of the old ones (though I haven't actually watched it, so it may be a complete bastardization, thus invalidating my point...but I digress!), so it's possible.
It's just that it's about as likely as revival of, say, Ecco the Dolphin or Streets of Rage. Or, uh, Metro-Cross.