Comments on: Inq. of the Week: New Games? http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/ The Journal of Gamer Culture Thu, 24 May 2012 21:26:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tonester http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/#comment-64047 Tonester Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:21:59 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2392#comment-64047 I would seriously consider jumping off a tall building if that were true :) I would seriously consider jumping off a tall building if that were true :)

]]> By: Bartoneus http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/#comment-64046 Bartoneus Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:23:31 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2392#comment-64046 Awww, you're just angry because combine Fallout 3 with Too Human and the game you've been working on is already done. :P Awww, you’re just angry because combine Fallout 3 with Too Human and the game you’ve been working on is already done. :P

]]> By: Tonester http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/#comment-64045 Tonester Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:12:25 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2392#comment-64045 15 hours into Fallout3. Very unimpressed. Definitely Oblivion with Guns. Same dialogue system. Same map/travel system. Same horrible combat system. Same skill/leveling system. Same inventory/merchant system. Same terrible and buggy AI system. Worse itemization system. Slightly better stealth system. Very cool, but very under-utilized and under-powered VATS system. None of the points of interest seem hand-crafted. Everything has this very bland randomized feel to it... something else Oblivion suffered from. It seems like you are iterating through the same sequence of events over and over and over again. Very little diversity in encounters. No diversity in enemy tactics. Same settings. Same configurations to dungeons. It is exactly like Oblivion - just replace ruins and temples with subways and sewers. Replace fireballs with flamethrowers. Replace magic missle with laser rifle. Replace invisibility with StealthBoy. Replace buffs with meds. Replace heals with stimpacks. Replace cool awesome uber-powered relics and magical melee weapons with... very bland and non-descript melee weapons that are never magic or special. Replace the ability to craft uniquely magic and creative items with.... the ability to craft up to 7 non-magic items. The VATS system, which is a very poorly-implemented and seemingly desperate attempt to make the game appear as if it had the slightest intent of somehow not being Oblivion is actually a brilliant little piece of technology. The problem with the system is: 1) There aren't enough APs to make it worth while (even with 10 Agility) 2) It is horribly underpowered compared to normal crosshairs at long range 3) It is arguably underpowered to normal crosshairs at all other ranges 4) There are very little mechanics elsewhere in the game that synergize with the VATS system at all. In short, it feels like some cheap afterthought to try and trick gullible gamers that this Oblivion Clone is somehow anything remotely related to Fallout1 or Fallout2's turn-based combat system. It isn't. 15 hours into Fallout3. Very unimpressed.

Definitely Oblivion with Guns.

Same dialogue system.
Same map/travel system.
Same horrible combat system.
Same skill/leveling system.
Same inventory/merchant system.
Same terrible and buggy AI system.
Worse itemization system.
Slightly better stealth system.
Very cool, but very under-utilized and under-powered VATS system.

None of the points of interest seem hand-crafted. Everything has this very bland randomized feel to it… something else Oblivion suffered from. It seems like you are iterating through the same sequence of events over and over and over again. Very little diversity in encounters. No diversity in enemy tactics. Same settings. Same configurations to dungeons.

It is exactly like Oblivion – just replace ruins and temples with subways and sewers. Replace fireballs with flamethrowers. Replace magic missle with laser rifle. Replace invisibility with StealthBoy. Replace buffs with meds. Replace heals with stimpacks. Replace cool awesome uber-powered relics and magical melee weapons with… very bland and non-descript melee weapons that are never magic or special. Replace the ability to craft uniquely magic and creative items with…. the ability to craft up to 7 non-magic items.

The VATS system, which is a very poorly-implemented and seemingly desperate attempt to make the game appear as if it had the slightest intent of somehow not being Oblivion is actually a brilliant little piece of technology. The problem with the system is:

1) There aren’t enough APs to make it worth while (even with 10 Agility)
2) It is horribly underpowered compared to normal crosshairs at long range
3) It is arguably underpowered to normal crosshairs at all other ranges
4) There are very little mechanics elsewhere in the game that synergize with the VATS system at all.

In short, it feels like some cheap afterthought to try and trick gullible gamers that this Oblivion Clone is somehow anything remotely related to Fallout1 or Fallout2′s turn-based combat system.

It isn’t.

]]> By: Inq. of the Week: Presidential Election | Critical Hits http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/#comment-64044 Inq. of the Week: Presidential Election | Critical Hits Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:16:20 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2392#comment-64044 [...] week, we wanted to find out which of the wonderful pile of games that have just come out you’re planning on buying. The big winner, and I have to agree that it’s a must-buy, is Fallout 3 with 65% of the [...] [...] week, we wanted to find out which of the wonderful pile of games that have just come out you’re planning on buying. The big winner, and I have to agree that it’s a must-buy, is Fallout 3 with 65% of the [...]

]]> By: Sean http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/#comment-64043 Sean Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:46:45 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2392#comment-64043 Hey Bart- I'm stuck on that damn tortoise colossus... I have had a few times where I wanted to throw the controller across the room to get that damn colossus underneath that geyser... And then trying to find the spot where I can crawl up on the shell... I felt like committing acts of arson and other crimes!! I'm moving on to The Thing... And Star Ocean... Just received Dead Space: Downfall, the prequel animated movie to the video game Dead Space, and I was very disappointed, as there were several moments that conflicted with the game... Bastards! Hey Bart- I’m stuck on that damn tortoise colossus… I have had a few times where I wanted to throw the controller across the room to get that damn colossus underneath that geyser… And then trying to find the spot where I can crawl up on the shell… I felt like committing acts of arson and other crimes!!

I’m moving on to The Thing… And Star Ocean…

Just received Dead Space: Downfall, the prequel animated movie to the video game Dead Space, and I was very disappointed, as there were several moments that conflicted with the game… Bastards!

]]> By: Bartoneus http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/#comment-64042 Bartoneus Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:08:40 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2392#comment-64042 Sean: Shadow of the Colossus is still one of my favorite games, as is it's predecessor Ico, despite both of them having some mildly pain in the ass elements. I definitely say stick through it, the game is excellent! Sean: Shadow of the Colossus is still one of my favorite games, as is it’s predecessor Ico, despite both of them having some mildly pain in the ass elements. I definitely say stick through it, the game is excellent!

]]> By: Sean http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/#comment-64041 Sean Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:49:14 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2392#comment-64041 Just got Shadow of the Colossus for PS2... Interesting idea that I'm considering incorporating into a D&D setting, but god is that game a pain in the arse! Just got Shadow of the Colossus for PS2… Interesting idea that I’m considering incorporating into a D&D setting, but god is that game a pain in the arse!

]]> By: darthvid http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/#comment-64040 darthvid Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:20:39 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2392#comment-64040 - World of Goo (very likely) - Penny Arcade's Rainslick Episode 2 (most certainly) - World of Goo (very likely)
- Penny Arcade’s Rainslick Episode 2 (most certainly)

]]> By: Vampir http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/#comment-64039 Vampir Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:00:30 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2392#comment-64039 I'd vote for None if there were such an option... my friend though can't shut up about Dead Space... Twinkle, twinkle little star... I’d vote for None if there were such an option… my friend though can’t shut up about Dead Space…

Twinkle, twinkle little star…

]]> By: Sean http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/#comment-64038 Sean Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:05:55 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2392#comment-64038 I played Dead Space, and it is indeed the fashizzle. I played Dead Space, and it is indeed the fashizzle.

]]> By: Prince of Cats http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/#comment-64037 Prince of Cats Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:05:14 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2392#comment-64037 When the PC version of Fable 2 comes out, it will be mine. Until then, I will just have to make do with the copy in the break-room at work. When the PC version of Fable 2 comes out, it will be mine. Until then, I will just have to make do with the copy in the break-room at work.

]]> By: joshx0rfz http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/#comment-64036 joshx0rfz Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:57:25 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2392#comment-64036 I won't be buying LBP, but I'm going to be playing it (yay psychology of videogames TA position). Left 4 Dead - Valve's coop zombie survival game Far Cry 2 Gears of War 2 Mostly Left 4 Dead as it is the one with the most interesting multiplayer component. The rest I'm only interested in the single player aspect. Gears of War 2 multiplayer will probably be just like the original GoW MP which generally sucked. I'm still worried Fallout 3 is going to be post apocalyptic Elder Scrolls. I really got bored with Morrowind/Oblivion very quickly. <abbr><em>joshx0rfz´s last post: <a href="http://www.critical-hits.com/2008/10/20/inq-of-the-week-favorite-undead/" rel="nofollow">Inq. of the Week: Favorite Undead?</a></em></abbr> I won’t be buying LBP, but I’m going to be playing it (yay psychology of videogames TA position).

Left 4 Dead – Valve’s coop zombie survival game
Far Cry 2
Gears of War 2

Mostly Left 4 Dead as it is the one with the most interesting multiplayer component. The rest I’m only interested in the single player aspect.

Gears of War 2 multiplayer will probably be just like the original GoW MP which generally sucked.

I’m still worried Fallout 3 is going to be post apocalyptic Elder Scrolls. I really got bored with Morrowind/Oblivion very quickly.

joshx0rfz´s last post: Inq. of the Week: Favorite Undead?

]]> By: Tommi http://critical-hits.com/2008/10/27/inq-of-the-week-new-games/#comment-64035 Tommi Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:46:31 +0000 http://www.critical-hits.com/?p=2392#comment-64035 None. New games are overrated. <abbr><em>Tommi´s last post: <a href="http://thanuir.wordpress.com/2008/10/27/strategic-rules/" rel="nofollow">Strategic rules</a></em></abbr> None. New games are overrated.

Tommi´s last post: Strategic rules

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