The Arcade Random Thoughts Thread

[SethMode]

The game itself looks gorgeous, but I don't know if I'd really be able to immerse myself with how weird and cutesy the characters are.

Speaking of immersion though....I am completely engulfed in The Witcher 2, and even with barely a grasp on the politics of everything the story and writing has really drawn me in like games barely ever do, right down to the dialogue and voice-acting. I thought the combat would be more challenging on normal difficulty, but if/when I inevitably play through again I'll bump it up.

The writing really makes up for it. It feels more like an old Disney cartoon than a creepy furry game or something.

Glad to hear you're enjoying W2, it really is fantastic.

To answer the question you asked me on my visitor page thing: no, you do not need to grind in Lost Odyssey. I did my fair share, but the game is constructed to almost discourage grinding. You will get to the point where you are getting shit experience points from the same enemy as you gain levels. Basically, I think the intent was that by the time you reach the end of a dungeon you'll be at the proper level just from the random encounters you went through. That being said, as I mentioned, I still grinded (ground?) a fair amount, particularly after I got new party members.

How far are you in both? I'd love to talk about either. LO is a bit far in my rearview, but I played W2 3 times so I can talk about differences, interesting parts, failings, positives, etc...for it a ton.

[A Tasty Burgerr]

I decided to put Lost Odyssey on the back burner for a while, maybe permanently considering how much time I'd have to sink into it that I won't have. I had fun with the combat and I liked the leveling system but the non-combat portions of the game just aren't very streamlined or up to the same quality overall.


I'm on what I'm guessing is the 2nd part of Chapter 2 in W2. I think I'm level 20, maybe like 15-20 hours in.

I'm assuming the first big divide is choosing Roche over Iorveth in Flotsam, I went with Roche honestly just because I would have rather wanted to go with Iorveth but wanted a good reason to play it again. I finished all of the side stuff in the military camp and went through the mist to do shit on the other side. I am really loving almost everything, this along with New Vegas and maybe Deus Ex: HR are the only games I've played with hugely impactful and morally ambiguous decisions, maybe even more-so with this since I don't really feel like there's necessarily an optimal outcome to decisions; just either different successful ones or fucking up and failing.

Like I said though since I started Chapter 2 almost all of the challenge from combat is gone, I don't think I've died since the Letho fight. I dunno if I just have really good gear for where I am in the game or what, but pretty much everything is taken down in just a couple hits. Does the difficulty curve pick back up later on? If not I know I can always put it on hard, I just don't want to have to puss out and turn it back down if it starts getting too tough.

[Swarley]

EA Labels President has Seen PS4, Next Xbox

Sony and Microsoft may not be prepared to talk about their next-gen consoles, but that doesn't mean other industry figures feel the same.

At his keynote address during Gamescom's opening ceremony, EA's president of labels Frank Gibeau teased that he has already seen both the PS4 and Xbox 720.

"I've seen both of them," he said in an address highlighting the industry's future...

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/16/ea-labels-president-ive-seen-ps4-and-xbox-720

[padman59]

I hope the major publishers have seen them if both Sony and Microsoft are aiming for a Holiday 2013 launch for their consoles. Otherwise, there won't be much in the way of launch titles.

[Swarley]

I hope the major publishers have seen them if both Sony and Microsoft are aiming for a Holiday 2013 launch for their consoles. Otherwise, there won't be much in the way of launch titles.

Very true. Although I see him saying this as kind of a shot at Microsoft and Sony and their stance on "Oh, nothing's really there yet. We're committed to the current-gen consoles for the foreseeable future."

[IamMedellin]

Medellin Finishes inFamous 2

Once again It's ya boi The inFamous I am Medellin, 2069's favorite Trigger happy Merc, n Grif's J00 Broad's favorite Power Hitta..

We re-join The Demon-Ized Thunder God himself, Cole at the End of this Epic "Odyssey"

 

Now we last left Cole, strugglin with this paradox given to him...n ya boi Cole does the only thing that he could[ cuz at that point its damn Near impossible to change ya Karma] n Joined the Beast n the Asian Ice princess…
Harsh words were said n he said goodbye to his fav. Voodoo queen, No Matter Cuz The beast took on his role as New Orleans’ Very Own Galactus and Proceeded to Fuck shit up with ya boi Cole riding shotgun like a Demonized Silver Surfer…



After…ugh…yo I cant finish this…I was not feeling the ending At All. Cole’s out there to kill his main chick and his Best friend all to raise the Next generation of Mutants…err conduits. After what The Beast did to him baq at empire he just lets it all slide?

Cmon son….even if He is inFamous, Cole’s not a Punk…and after seeing the Beast show that weakness at the End Cole should’ve just ripped his fukin Heart out…especially after all that he gave up for this….

I also cant stand that I have to completely reverse my karma for a shot at the other ending, everything Cole did up to this point good or bad was driven towards Killing the Beast, Not feeling the Ending at all. Excellent Game, enjoyed the hell out of it, but the plot just falls apart at the end…

[Swarley]

Has anyone played Castlevania: Lords of Shadow? I've watched a couple of streams of it being played and it looks like it could be fun. So who here has played it and what did you think?

[Twigg4075]

Has anyone played Castlevania: Lords of Shadow? I've watched a couple of streams of it being played and it looks like it could be fun. So who here has played it and what did you think?

I got it for $20 way back when but still haven't played it. I know Buzzman did and really liked it. If you can find his review thread it should be in there. I do remember him saying the game is crazy long.

If you get it make sure you get the PS3 version. It's on one disc and the 360 version is on two or three, I can't remember which. As per the usual Castlevania structure, there is a lot of back tracking from getting new power ups and abilities that give you access to ares you couldn't get to before, which requires a fair amount of back tracking and thus disc swapping on 360.

[Buzzman]

Has anyone played Castlevania: Lords of Shadow? I've watched a couple of streams of it being played and it looks like it could be fun. So who here has played it and what did you think?

http://www.virtualsportsnetwork.com/forum/showthread.php?29206-Gaming-with-Buzzman&p=1358759#post1358759

I think the sequel could be badass and the first is a beautiful "first attempt" to bring back the Castlevania name. I love the trailer. Watching it makes me want to replay the game.

[Buzzman]

I think i'll bring back my game reviews. I've actually played through a decent amount of titles. I stopped because Kmart shut down and I went into hibernation mode for a bit but I've played through like 15 games the last few months so I actually have some that i could review.

[Twigg4075]

This has been bugging me for a while but I think I may have nailed it down. There was something eerily similar about the opening theme music in Arkham City. Let me know what you guys think.

The part I'm talking about starts at the two minute mark...

Now listen to the Killzone 3 theme at the 1:25 mark...

[jms493]

it is a bit of a stretch twigg.....close but i would never put that together.

[LOOMiS]

Has anyone played Castlevania: Lords of Shadow? I've watched a couple of streams of it being played and it looks like it could be fun. So who here has played it and what did you think?

I played thru it a few weeks ago.

I would rate it about 8.5 to 9.0 overall. Very fun game, hard to stop playing.

It plays a little more like a God of War game than previous incarnations of the Castlevania series. (which of course is not a bad thing, but hardcore Castlevania fans might have an issue with that)

It took me about 25 hours to beat the game. That is without going back thru at all to get previously missed or inaccessible items. I am sure I could have spent another 10 hours trying to get every item and weapon upgrade. (I rented it from the library, and had to return it, or I might have tried to get everything)

I would highly recommend this game. I played the PS3 version.

Lords of Shadow 2 is an absolute must buy (or Library check out) for me.

[A Tasty Burgerr]

This has been bugging me for a while but I think I may have nailed it down. There was something eerily similar about the opening theme music in Arkham City. Let me know what you guys think.

The part I'm talking about starts at the two minute mark...

Now listen to the Killzone 3 theme at the 1:25 mark...

I got the same feeling about it, I haven't played Killzone 3 though. I was thinking maybe part of the Uncharted 2 menu music, but I could be mistaken.

[Swarley]