4 those who see(k) the art in games
Reviews
Zero Punctuation: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky
0Hope there’s an easy eaaaaaaaaaasyy mode and that they’ll finally release a bugfree console version: i like that in consoles, or used to before they too have started having inet: at the core of it there’s just a one chance to make a good game. I mean sure, I’m happy by the time I played it Gothic 2 had a bigger version number… but it’s kinda nice to know that the version you have is FINAL.
Zero Punctuation: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
0Could this be another sign to the beginning of the end of the media love for Wii that i was forecasting? I played the ps2 version and was similarly shocked at the differences: like he said i wouldn’t have minded lower graphics… but complete different level design and what to me seeming missing story elements… of course it’s not like i was expecting it to be all that the ps3/360 versions are: not paying the price to deserve them yet. That does bring the interesting question of weather or not on a lower end machine it would be better to keep the same game or tune it to another channel… both points i think could be successfully argued… theoretically i can imagine a situation where the ps2 version might have had better artists onboard even with the lower hardware… but this certainly doesn’t seem to have been the case, and indeed it wouldn’t have made a great deal of economic sense.
Zero Punctuation: XBLA Double Bill
0Nostalgia is a funny thing indeed. My experience was similar with just about all games i first played the sequel to, including Fallout 2 & Kotor 2: i liked them more. One could argue that they are more refined… but maybe it’s just nostalgia working the other way around :P
Rock Band 2 [gt review]
0Music games don’t really rock my world but since music does play a lead role in my life I do have to post this one if for no other reason than to make non-gamers go "WOooow!" at the power of games: you know something big is up when that many big artists join in and it becomes a strong delivery medium.
Zero Punctuation: Too Human
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Well, I don’t usually agree with his language… but in this case it’s nice to have somebody attacking a game that seems to be about killing a kazillion billion monsters. In principle I like designers who do a game for design’s sake, but i wouldn’t call it that when the main game mechanic is killing hordes of enemies… i’d call that frustratingly "standard". That said i’m curious about the story and i did see some good artwork so… maybe someday…
untill then: wooow, this movie after the show totally got to me. It’s like my dream that i’ve only seen in a few books like Herbert’s Pandora trilogy: the story is more important than characters… and each time you think this is the hero and …
PS: i myself believe in constructive criticism, but i msut say Yahtzee has a wide culture both in gaming and in general and a very funny way of expressing throuh paralels :P That’s the trouble with smart people: they can even do evil things and get away with looking cool :P
Zero Punctuation: Soul Calibur IV
0He he, liked the comment about the blunt swords :)) I’m mixed about not getting fighting games: on one side i totally don’t but i did have some enjoyment with them, but yes, i don’t see them as full games. They’re great for playing with a friend, but i have yet to see one fighting game which built on top of those mechanics a story taht made me feel immersed…
Quakecon 2008 John Carmack Keynote
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Always did like his keynotes because he seems to have a somewhat detached position and can give a somewhat objective view of a technical insider without (so much) marketing spin. The vid is 12 part and this is just part 8.
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Too Human – 1up review
0There goes another potential rpg…can’t say i didn’t see it coming though: a lot of mentions of combat, no mentions of exploration, choices, branching… never saw a dialogue system… but then again I am quite against hack&slashy stuff… I must say I’ve been waiting for many years for games to move past the "kill 1000 enemies" mentality… but it doesn’t seem like we’re nearly there yet… but i choose to continue to hope & select :P
PixelJunk Eden – GT review
0I thought i might be attracted by this one… turns i still don’t really get the appeal of simple games…
Civilization Revolution Review (GameTrailers.com)
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I am really quite happy it got a good review. I had fears about this one. However, as a person who’s played through just about every Civ game i’m afraid this looks way too familiar: way too similar technologies, strategies… in short, why would i play the same game YET again? I may do so someday… but i don’t see anything new. Even if it had just brought some new techs like Alpha Centauri (brilliant story!) did…
Also, since it should appeal to the more serious history oriented crowds i don’t think the sims made up languages are such a great idea. The alternative of more serious treatment with an wikipedia type feel would have been nice, but then again you are going to upset history when some ancient culture reaches world domination in space :P