Ben's Week In Review: May 22
VanquishWell damn, I wasn't "raptured." Guess I didn't believe in it enough. ...cool, that means I get to play more L.A. Noire!
Fresh new IPs vs. awesome sequels
I have a ton of respect for Platinum Games and their continued drive to produce refreshing new titles, and I further applaud Sega's accommodation as a publisher. I also agree that there are too many sequels and spin-offs today. However, very much unlike the movie industry, our franchises tend to get better and better with time. Of course, most of that is due to the ever-increasing quality of the technology, so of course we can always do more with every new iteration of a particular series title. On top of which, if we look at the greatest games of all time, basically all of them are sequels or at least spawned sequels that are - arguably, of course - better than the original. Doesn't a game like Vanquish deserve a sequel?
I mean, do we really want to miss out on Uncharted 2 (and Uncharted 3)? What about any purists who would've just said, "eh, leave Uncharted the way it is; it's great so try something else now." The vast majority of the best games every year are sequels or follow-ups or boast familiar names. That being said, if we move too far in one direction, we eventually abandon originality. I guess what I'm trying to say is that we need a good balance...if that's attainable.
...and how hard should our games really be?
There was a time when I was amongst the hardcore gamers who complained about interactive experiences getting too casual; too mainstream...i.e., too easy. But I also wasn't the biggest fan of those controller-snapping games of yesteryear; essentially, arcade games that were never designed to be beaten. Furthermore, as I get older, gaming becomes more and more about relaxation. I still get that good old-fashioned sense of accomplishment upon completing a specific challenge, but I'm just not that interested in killing myself to complete a certain level, or something. This is why I'm a little leery about the new Ridge Racer Unbounded, considering what developer Bugbear had to say about gamers wanting tougher experiences. I don't necessarily disagree, but how far will they take it...?
Again, I'm talking about striking a balance. Some will say games have gotten too easy but I don't necessarily side with that viewpoint. For the most part, I find most games to be well-paced with sufficient challenges; enough to keep me entertained, at any rate. No, I don't really need that hair-tearing difficulty anymore. In reality, I don't think we ever "needed" it. We just got used to it.
Personal gaming update
Obviously, it's all about L.A. Noire, which really is one of my favorite games of the year. People can make a variety of complaints concerning the control and driving but in all honesty, I really don't care enough to complain. But I made all that clear in the review; also be on the lookout for my video commentary, which should go up very soon. I kind of want to savor the rest of this game so I'll take my time; in the meantime, I'll see if I can finish Final Fantasy IV on the PSP and try to get a Puzzle Agent review done (now that the PSN is back).
I had plenty of fun with MotorStorm: Apocalypse, by the way. It's recommended if you're an off-road racing fan. Lastly, be on the lookout for new announcements and new features...
5/21/2011 Ben Dutka
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Comments (76 posts)
Snaaaake
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 9:42:52 PM
Reply
As long as the game offers fresh experience for me.
I'm ok with Bayonetta 2 but I certainly don't mind a new over-the-top action game from Kamiya-sama.
And we gamers don't want harder games, we want challenging games.
Not to the point of frustration but only requires us to start rolling our brain to solve it.
1 up, 0 down
LimitedVertigo
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 9:44:32 PM
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7 up, 1 down
Riku994
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 10:15:15 PM
0 up, 0 down
LimitedVertigo
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 10:51:17 PM
6 up, 0 down
LimitedVertigo
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 10:13:34 AM
Dragon Age is an Action RPG.
2 up, 6 down
Lawless SXE
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 9:54:27 PM
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I like me some difficulty in games, as long as it doesn't stem from cheapness. Too many games fall into this problem, but some manage to nail it. Unbounded would interest me, but that name... I can't handle it.
Personal Update:
Having difficulty finding reasons to start reading in Paradise, even though I really want to.
Playing through inFamous in preparation for the sequel, though will play L.A. Noire between the two. Also getting very slowly through FFIV.
Picking up my new car on Thursday, and I'm excited as all hell for it. Joined the forums earlier in the week, and have also joined TitanReviews as a writer along with a couple of the other members of this site. Don't worry, I wouldn't dream of abandoning PSXE!
Peace.
1 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 9:54:41 PM
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Harder games is what "gamers" want?
I suppose it goes without say that the more dedicated gaming crowd doesn't want to be playing games with training wheels. But isn't that what difficulty settings are for?
I don't know what to think of BugBear yet. I'll reserve judgement, but I'm a little apprehensive. Maybe they got all kinds of mad skills from porting Sega Rally Revo to PSP =p
PGU: This last week has been all about Motorstorm and Sega Rally. I have like 77% trophies in Motorstorm. DOes that make me an 'elite gamer'?
Yes ... yes, it does ... Like a specialist =p (can anyone call the line?)
But I still cannot resume an online session after running a race without getting a server error issue. This problem doesn't happen at all with the "eliminator" game type. Maybe I should write Evolution a concern.
Aside from that, I have all of these great games sitting around waiting to be played.
Demon's Souls, Disc 2 of Lost Odyssey, Fable 2, Batman game, Tomb Raider Underworld (well, maybe not great)
I'm sure there's others. BUt I don't even know if I feel like starting them. All I can think about right now for gaming is Infamous 2. I got my pre-order in and here I wait patiently holding up fingers, tips extended and touching like unto a tent. Waiting, waiting, and waiting. Oh, yes, the Samurai sword shall be mine.
2 up, 0 down
Riku994
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 10:14:36 PM
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0 up, 1 down
LegendaryWolfeh
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 10:23:57 PM
3 up, 0 down
Riku994
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 12:39:41 AM
0 up, 0 down
LittleBigMidget
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 10:25:46 PM
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And am I the only one that thought Vanquish was awful?
7 up, 2 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 12:24:55 AM
4 up, 0 down
karneli lll
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 12:36:15 AM
0 up, 4 down
Highlander
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 1:13:19 AM
4 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 3:41:38 AM
Vanquish never was "awful", as in < 5 of 10. I can understand those who think Vanquish was a bit "too much" cause I am one of those, but the quality of Vanquish caught me by surprise. It's smooth, responsive, original, challenging, it's a darn good action game.
It may not be your cup of tea, but that does not automatically mean it deserves to be labelled "awful".
I'd love a sequel by the way, *if* they include campaign coop play. :)
Last edited by Beamboom on 5/22/2011 3:46:01 AM
4 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 5:55:43 PM
I really do prefer the faster paced cover and fire play of Vanquish over Gears.
Really, if it wasn't for Gears's awesome art design and generally real impressive looking presentation, I'd probably have little to no interest in the series.
1 up, 0 down
Claire C
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 11:09:28 PM
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I'm playing a few things. =D
On chapter 8 of Final Fantasy XIII. I love the battle system, I really like most the characters (Snow is annoying and Vanille is actually awesome), I like the story, and I miss the exploration.
Stopped FFXIII to play L.A. Noire and I'm only halfway through. I love it. If I had one complaint it would be that I wish Cole's personal life was explored more and that the story wasn't limited only to what's involved with solving cases (minus the flashbacks).
Also in-between those is Chrono Trigger on DS. Never played it before. I'm not too far in, but I smiled from ear to ear during the 'trial' segement early on where the chancellor used your previous actions against you.
Claire,
=^.^=
Last edited by Claire C on 5/21/2011 11:12:27 PM
5 up, 0 down
LimitedVertigo
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 10:14:28 AM
1 up, 0 down
Claire C
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 12:56:26 PM
1 up, 0 down
BIGRED15
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 11:22:57 PM
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Eventually you'll have dark souls and mass effect 3 to delve into. Those sound like they'd be well worth the wait
Harder games? interesting topic because I know what you mean. The difficulty of games have started to dwindle. The pace has almost overtaken difficulty so eventually it'll become harder and harder to find hard games. Imo, one of the toughest games ive played in the last year is Gran Turismo 5. I tend to need a lot more focus when playing that versus playing something like crysis
0 up, 0 down
LimitedVertigo
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 11:43:42 PM
Regardless I will try Dark Souls on consoles and will once again enjoy MassEffect3 on the PC side like I did the first 2 since it's rather buggy on consoles and I prefer the controls on the PC.
0 up, 3 down
Beamboom
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 3:49:45 AM
It's still a rpg indeed. Micromanagement may be a requirement for you, but to call everything else "not a rpg" is unfair to them, really.
1 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 6:46:57 AM
Last edited by Beamboom on 5/22/2011 6:48:31 AM
0 up, 0 down
LimitedVertigo
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 10:19:58 AM
MassEffect is a 3rdperson shooter with RPG elements. "Dumbing down" RPG elements in order to reach a broader crowd tacked onto the gameplay of a shooter does not make an RPG.
360gamer,
Just because I feel a game is falsely labeled does not mean I will enjoy it any less. I've enjoyed both ME games on the PC and I've enjoyed them for what they are. Shooters with rpg elements similar to the recent Fallout games.
If you've noticed others sharing my opinion on here it's most likely they are older gamers (I'm 29) and thus are knowledgeable on what RPGs should be before companies started to dumb them down for the masses.
5 up, 3 down
Beamboom
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 11:04:13 AM
Last edited by Beamboom on 5/22/2011 11:06:13 AM
2 up, 4 down
LimitedVertigo
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 11:22:10 AM
You didn't counter anything I said other than calling me a kid and listing your age. If you think I'm wrong than explain yourself.
2 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 12:20:45 PM
I'm sorry but I just don't like those kind of methods to dominate a discussion. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy My brothers. And you will know My name is the Lord when I lay My vengeance upon thee.
Last edited by Beamboom on 5/22/2011 12:29:23 PM
1 up, 1 down
LimitedVertigo
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 12:41:36 PM
If you honestly think games like FFXIII, Fallout3/NewVegas, or the Mass Effect series can be called RPGS within the same context as FFIV, Chrono Trigger, or the Dragon Quest series you're crazy.
Also when a majority of your post is a quote from Pulp Fiction/The Bible it becomes obvious you're unable to argue with your own words.
Sad.
2 up, 1 down
Beamboom
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 12:47:57 PM
It was obviously not directed towards me but the "all the grown ups think like I do" sort of arguments are just so... Dull. Sorry. Especially when you're not even 30 yourself. See? Age is all about perspective.
So, to your point: I agree that they are dumbed down, and that is indeed sad. But to NOT call it RPGs is just plain and simple WRONG. And no matter how many grown ups who say otherwise, it remains wrong. Call them dumb, worthless, childs play, but they still belong to the rpg genre.
... And I got three entire schools of 12 year olds to prove my point!
(This post is guaranteed without quotes. (C)Beamy 2011)
Last edited by Beamboom on 5/22/2011 12:53:13 PM
1 up, 0 down
LimitedVertigo
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 12:58:21 PM
I never said anything close to "all the grown ups think like I do". You're not even correctly reading what I write, no wonder you're unable to properly argue my points.
When certain gameplay elements start to take over (action/shooter) than games like Fallout3 and Mass Effect no longer are RPGs but rather action/shooter games with RPG elements.
0 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 1:11:23 PM
On topic: When the entire business classify them as rpgs, every review I've read do the same, it's classified as rpgs on this site, well then you have to be pretty darn stubborn to insist otherwise.
A slight touch of humbleness would suit you, really.
(And a majority of your words are too found in the bible - if not in that order. Are you... *ghasp*... Jesus II?)
Last edited by Beamboom on 5/22/2011 1:13:46 PM
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 11:37:42 PM
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Regarding how hard games should be, I think that there is a distinction between games that are hard to master, and games that are simply hard to beat. When a designer wants to make a game hard to beat, they can either carefully build a system that allows the player to learn it, to master it and to win using that skill; or they can allow the AI to cheat. That controller snapping frustration that comes when the game's characters react before your move even begins in a fighting game, or when the laws of physics that your character obeys are suddenly optional for the game, or when it's simply impossible to win, without a million retries and that 1 in a million possibility that the random number generator finally gets 665432 instead of the 999,999 other possible values. Games should be harder, but they should not cheat. Games should have an 'easy' mode for people who simply want to play for relaxation, and harder settings for gamers who want that extra challenge, but no matter how hard the setting, it needs to be possible to beat the game with sufficient skill and effort.
3 up, 0 down
LimitedVertigo
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 11:53:15 PM
1 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 12:25:44 AM
.....not that we didn't have fun trying to deal with it. ;)
4 up, 0 down
kraygen
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 11:41:31 PM
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As for the difficulty of games, I kinda thought that was the point of having a difficulty setting. Allows people who want to relax and enjoy the game for story and gameplay to put it on easy and do just that, enjoy. It also allows the sadists to put the game on uber death mode and rip their hair out trying to slay that final boss.
PGU: Playing a little Ar Tonelico, but also playing through Infamous again, good and bad, to refresh the story in my mind so I'm primed and ready for Infamous 2.
Ar Tonelico is definitely one of those niche games, it's kinda amusing and somewhat disturbing that combat consists of convincing your female teammates to strip their clothes off to become stronger.
I'm not very far into yet, it's not really right up my alley, but it's showing a lot of promise and at it's core it's got a lot of old school rpgness to it.
As for Infamous, well it's just as awesome as I remember and every ability comes in handy for certain things. Getting around is so much fun, especially once you get the hang of the rail grinding and static thrusters, now that's my kind of fast travel.
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 1:10:00 AM
If I remember correctly, Ben reviewed both and Qoga did better, I think that's about right, but on an absolute scale neither are in the same class as White Knight.
0 up, 0 down
kraygen
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 12:47:31 PM
I haven't played Hyperdimension Neptunia yet, it'll come after Ar Tonelico. I think I'll probably enjoy them both, but I'd definitely agree that they are nowhere near White Knight.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 6:32:30 PM
1) Culturally, not every country has the same age of consent.
2) In Japan, the age of consent has historically been quite low by western standards, although I believe that the accepted norm and local legislation in Japan has raised the age of consent to an age more acceptable to western moral guardians.
3) The characters are not human, completely fictional and entirely from 'another world' so to speak. Rather like Kes in Star Trek Voyager their chronological age could be very young in human terms, but that doesn't mean that they are not physically mature by their own culture's standards.
This discussion can veer very quickly into territory that no one wants to tread (well, I'm sure that there are some in this world that would tread there, but I suspect that neither you nor I would.
To give some context here, when I grew up in the UK, the age of 16 was the age of consent and pretty much the age of adulthood. There were a few things that remained until 18 and 21, such as drinking alcohol. Driving didn't start until 17, but at 16, you were considered adult enough to make your own decisions. So much so that at least 3 national daily newspapers, and several regional newspapers carried daily topless pictures on the infamous 'page 3'. The models in these papers were often as young as 16 years old. It got even better when newsprint went color in the 90's... ;)
At the end of the day, if the characters in a game are in their mid-to late teens, it becomes very ambiguous as to whether there is a problem.
And now, I shall prepare for the downvotes since I know that many will have a hair-trigger reaction to such thoughts.
0 up, 0 down
Dreno
Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 11:54:00 PM
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Pgu : STILL playing wkc ( can't get enough ) and I'm only @ 44% on its trophies. Its okay though, cause I never really was much of a trophie whore. Not that there's anything wrong with it of course. But ill keep playing until wkc2 comes out, than ill replay the first one to see what all they changed in it and then continue on to wkc2.
But, other than my pgu, I'm awaiting fr a call from lowes to find out if I passed my drug test. Hopefully ill get job #3 and can leave my 1 day 5 hour a week job at 7-11.
Can't wait for the toys r us dc to open up out here so I can apply for that and can start my college classes.
Oh and happy re-beginning of the world to everyone !
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LimitedVertigo
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 12:02:40 AM
BTW this whole rapture thing is annoying. It's sad to see how many people actually believed in it. Humans can be very stupid. We laugh at our children for believing in Santa but then we grow up and create adult versions.
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 1:11:28 AM
True, and I should know, I threw over 300 hours at that bloody game. I still enjoy it, but you soon begin to realize that to get the Plat, you need to put in about 1000 hours.
1 up, 0 down
MyWorstNightmar
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 4:04:36 PM
Frankly, I think any game's Plat should be attainable with 100 hours of playtime. That shows a devotion to the game, and a gamer should be rewarded for devoting that much time to one game.
If 1000 hours give or take a few hundred (lol) is true, then, that reaks of a developer making a statement about their opinion of how absurd trophies are. My opinion of course, but what other conclusion could one come up with?
I still plan on playing the game, I've been waiting until WKC2 comes out so I can get both games on 1 disc. But hearing that you have to put so many hours into the game really makes me second guess if it is worth the effort. Being a husband, and father of 2 definately makes you look at gaming differently.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 6:36:37 PM
It's definitely 1000 give or take a couple of hundred. Actually I've read several people saying that they platinum'd but it took in the order of 1500 hours. It's really nuts that any game requires that much playtime to platinum. I mean I've mastered all the skills, rebirthed a many times as you can and maxed out the skill points, I leveled up in my adventuring guild rank to level 8 and got my georama to level 7 as needed to get the georama armor items. All that is left is the grind to obtain every possible item drop, and the ingredients necessary to make literally every binding recipe that there is. That grind is what takes the additional 700-1000 hours, and to be honest, it's just not worth it.
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Lord carlos
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 12:03:29 AM
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Its an amazing experience,highly recommend by me your resident sith lord.
PGU:Operation flashpoint red river,Heavy rain & L.A. NOIRE
3 up, 0 down
Dreno
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 1:01:04 AM
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i hear ya on the wkc trophy list, from what ive come to understand, its nuckin futs to get the plat, oh well.
and as for the rapture thing, i was just havin fun with it. besides, if not for this guy camping makin a prediction it would have been someone else. its always gonna be around. now whiether it happens or not,i couldnt tell you.
but damn... was i hoping for a zombie apocolypse....
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 1:12:15 AM
0 up, 0 down
gray_eagle
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 1:45:24 AM
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if they want to make games harder, just add "insane" difficulty
i have'nt played anything new :(
still waiting for my slim to be repaired/replaced.
played medal of honor on my 360, imo, the game suked.
so i've mostly been playing red dead redemption on my 360.
1 up, 1 down
FM23
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 3:30:55 AM
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DIRT 3 review coming? or not?
0 up, 0 down
___________
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 3:41:32 AM
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id prefer sequels to new ips though, at least with sequels u know what to expect.
games dont need to be harder, they need to be better organized and less forgiving.
PoP a perfect example, in the originals if u got hit by a death trap you were exactly that, dead!
these days it takes a slither of health off.
i miss the good old days where games use to put a ton of pressure on ya, like the original GOW that room where u have to kill everything before the timer ends and the floor drops.
not only does it put pressure on you it also makes you learn the attacks and learn whats the fastest most efficient way to kill your enemies.
games of old forced you to learm your abilities, experiment what works best for certain enemies.
most games today dont do that though, most games give you 10 tools but give you no reason to use more then one.
no tactics what so ever, just mash the attack button as fast as you can, does not matter which weapon you use.
cough bayonetta.........
im in a little dilemma with LA Noire.
i went into surgery on friday and now i cant use my right hand at all so im missing out on all the action sequences and all the driving.
almost makes me want to stop playing it because im missing out on half the game!
1 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 4:09:53 AM
Middle section: more or less agree.
As for your dilemma, many reviews (PSXE included) mentioned that the common game aspects of L.A. Noire was at best average. Don't get me wrong, it's better to have the entire experience, but what you're getting is really only the best of it and avoiding the biggest pitfalls. Consider it as though you'd be playing Alpha Protocol without the crippling bugs. :D
Peace.
0 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 4:02:45 AM
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There they distinguished between sequels and *series*. And this can be applied to games too imo. Series, like the Mass Effect triology, is one thing. Then it is planned, prepared and written to be continued (and ended!), as opposed to "oh shit this sold well, we need to tag a new one on".
Personally, on a general note I'd vote for the "new IP" option if I had to choose. I mean, c'mon, just look at the planned releases (excerpt from my to-buy list):
Infamous 2, Fear 3, Saints Row 3, Resistance 3, Darkness 2, Battlefield 3
It looks kinda silly, yes?
Those who vote for sequels tend to say "who would have missed <insert good sequel here>" but to them I answer, "who knows what they would have released had they NOT had to work on a sequel?"!
Last edited by Beamboom on 5/22/2011 4:04:42 AM
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Excelsior1
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 6:03:33 AM
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pgu
it's all about the kz3 multiplayer for me. double xp weekend. i have built up a solid list of talkers(people smart enough to use a headset), and have been going at it. one thing that is weird is that i have lost contact with 7 of my friends on psn. it says their last sign was 31 days ago. 5 of them were fellow clan members in kz3. where'd they all go? i guess password reset problems are a possibility, but you would think they'd figured it out by now. they were pretty hardcore kz3 addicts so it just strikes me as odd they have vanished from psn.
1 up, 2 down
Lawless SXE
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 6:16:10 AM
But man, you've only got 3 new IPs from this generation? Damn I've got... let me count 'em... 18/47.
3 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 7:52:05 AM
2 up, 1 down
Excelsior1
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 9:08:46 AM
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 5/22/2011 9:10:51 AM
3 up, 0 down
PAKINIPS
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 8:22:21 AM
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Tell that to Call of Duty
3 up, 0 down
SolidFantasy
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 8:38:22 AM
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When I'm done and over with this cluster of games I'll purchase Crysis II. I like the idea of a long and slightly sandboxy SP mode.
2 up, 0 down
Teddie9
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 11:02:35 AM
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I do understand some of the issues with driving - especially chase scenes incorporating driving - but there really doesn't seem to be reprecussions for some reckless driving here and there :^P.
Also realize the mechanics themselves can get repetive - but every new case feels fresh thus far. So it's the stories themselves that have me hooked.
I also enjoy some of the banter between partners. Galloway in particular atm.
0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 5:59:15 PM
Maybe it has something to do with all the Motorstorm and Sega Rally i've been playing.
They've rekindled my love for arcade racing.
And Dirt 3 looks like high quality stuff. I also have a thing for off-road racing, too. I really hope my retarded Blockbuster gets the game on Tuesday. If so... CHA.CHING!
1 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 8:13:15 PM
Last edited by Excelsior1 on 5/22/2011 8:21:53 PM
2 up, 1 down
Temjin001
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 9:03:59 PM
See, when I had the Blockbuster Game Pass I went ahead and checked out both version of MK (360 and PS3) and registered both game passes to my name.. hehhe sneaky jedi. So now when I actually get the game for cheap, used, I don't have to worry paying that $10 to do it up online. Woo Hoo!
Looks like I'll need to do the same for Dirt 3 =p
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BIGRED15
Sunday, May 22, 2011 @ 10:46:26 PM
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lol look what I started eh? its clear you are very much interested in traditional style rpgs like FFX or secrets of mana. Anyway, when i think of RPG's i think of a few key gaming elements: Looting. Exploring and fending off random enemy attacks. Use of magic. upgradeable characters, mingling with other characters also good for finding info. In the last few years, i've seen these key elements transferred into other more contemorary style games. Think of borderlands, while it is a shooter, can it not be considered an RPG? It doesn't have the same fantasy stylings, sure, but the core mechanics almost outweigh that IMO. The same can be said about ME. When you think about it, a role playing game, is very broad so it doesn't need to be exclusive to mythical magical atmospheres. Its simply a mechanic, which realistically can be aplied to many a game
@ Beam.
It seems that you don't quite understand limited vertigo's POV so hopefully that above will clear things up, no need to call him out for being naiive for his preference though. Its simply irrational.
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, May 23, 2011 @ 2:41:11 AM
If you start of with a first or third person action game that is heavy in story and then graft into it some RPG elements such as skills and character progression, you have a much more interesting action game, but I don't agree that what you end up with is an RPG.
An RPG is more than that. I don't have the right words to explain right now, it's too late at night and for once I need sleep. To me, what you are saying is rather like saying that a 4-door family car can be turned into an off-roader by adding mud-pluggers. It can't, it's simply a family car with knobbly tires on it. An RPG is designed from the ground up to be what it is. I'm not saying that ME2 or other games with RPG elements grafted into them are bad games or any less because they are not IMHO RPGs. But to someone who has played RPGs for 10+ years, these modern games that re being called RPGs are nothing more than action adventures with a little RPG thrown in to appease the RPG crowd.
1 up, 1 down
Beamboom
Monday, May 23, 2011 @ 9:50:55 AM
I suspect that if Mass Effect and Dragon Age were japanese and had some japanese children tucked into the story this entire discussion would not have taken place. :D
Last edited by Beamboom on 5/23/2011 10:12:53 AM
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Highlander
Monday, May 23, 2011 @ 10:51:29 AM
As to your comment about the games being japenese etc... Not really worth a response, as I suspect you already know.
It's not about whether it's turn based or not. Star Ocean is not turn based, Ar Tonelico Qoga is not turn based, Eternal Sonata is not turn based, and yet all of those clearly qualify as RPGs.
There is simply something different about a role playing game compared to a 3rd party action game with RPG bells and whistles. It's not about whether it comes from Japan either, it's about the game itself.
We've had that wider discussion here many times, and many of us, including myself have pointed out that in a literal way any game that has you, the player, playing the role of the character is by defintion a 'role' playing game, because you play a role as you plat the game. Clearly though, that's an awfully broad definition, and doesn't really match the general definition of the genre of games - RPGs. The games we're talking about in this discussion, Mass Effect and Dragon age clearly do not meet the definition of JRPG for a variety if reasons, but none of those reasons really include turn based combat - for example.
Elder Scrolls would qualify as an RPG, but it's clearly not a JRPG.
To ngive you an idea of how diluted the definition of the genre has become, the following games are considered by Amazon to be RPGs;
Brutal Legend
Uncharted
Marvel Alliance
Grand Theft Auto 4
Hunted: The Demon's Forge
Overlord: Raising Hell
...and many others.
These games are typically described as Action RPGs. But they are *not* RPGs, they're action games. Grnated some of them have RPG like elements that grant them extra depth, but they are not RPGs.
Calling these games RPGs is like calling Grand Theft Auto a racing game because it has driving sections, or calling any shooter with helicopters a flight sim because you can fly in it. I'm so sick of this continual softening of the boundaries between genre as if it's OK to just use a butter knife to blend everything together into one big crappy action game genre. That's the kind of thinking that spawned FFXIII with all of it's concessions to the Action genre. The more you blend the genre, the less distinctive each is. Based on that kind of thinking, we might as well get used to playing first or third person action games. After all, that appears to be where 'everyone' thinks things should go.
</rant>
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DjEezzy
Monday, May 23, 2011 @ 2:21:02 PM
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Lairfan
Monday, May 23, 2011 @ 6:13:01 PM
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As far as sequels and new IPs are concerned, I'd rather have a balance of both. Sequels to great games can continue the greatness whilst adding cool new things, and IPs can make completely new experiences for us to play. So a balance between the two would be beneficial to the industry IMO.
PGU: LA Noire. Nuff said.
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CanadianGuy420
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Saturday, May 21, 2011 @ 9:41:11 PM