Games you're playing right now, and my freetime's demise

[Lamrock]

The archers and the block. Brings back memories of the demo. God Of War is pretty much the only game in the genre I've played. The first form of Ares is really easy, its the Kratos clones that get me. I'm a muse key and gorgon eye short, so I'm at a slight disadvantage, but I'm sure its far easier than playing on Hard with those two things. Me and/or my family dies once the clones start using the terrible Artemis blade.

EDIT: Beat the Kratos fight. It was a fun, challenging battle, and the game really should have ended now. Now I'm doing the stupid fucking Ares fight with the atrocious Blade of the Gods. Not sure if I'll have the patience to even beat this one. Was this another part of the game they forgot to beta test? They certainly saved the worst for last. This stupid boss fight is really the opposite of what made the rest of the game work and be so fun. Trying to fight Ares with this ridiculously shitty blade is torture. This feels even more like gaming purgatory than the rotating pillars with saw blades.

I've gotten close a few times, which have been thwarted by cheap, unblockable attacks by Ares to turn the tide. This probably only took you a couple tries, but I'm about to break my fucking controller here. How they thought repeating the first fight, but making you use a shittier version of the Blade of Artemis would be fun is beyond me.

EDIT 2: Finished the game. Final Ares battle was stupid, but really not hard once you discover the R1 move. Love all of the features you get for completing the game. Will start GOW 2 tomorrow.

[benji]

Play it on easy. These games are not really designed for the harder modes unless you're the type who wants to suffer. (Or you're good enough to be able to waltz over those modes.) It's more about the spectacle than skill in the end anyway.

They're specifically designed to test you on harder modes, playing the game on easy loses nothing of importance imo.

As I said, every part of the Ares fight was over in seconds for me. But I can see why it could come out stupid. Thankfully you'll never experience it again!

Heh, heh, heh.

II is the better game.

True story. The sole time I took a trek to the Wal-Mart after Bowlin class (SENIOR YEAR LONG STORY) and proceeded to play the entire game with roommate watching within two days.

Cory Barlog is a god. And makes a mean sandwich. WATCH THE BONUS DVD TO SEE SAID HOT SANDWICH AND SYLLABLE ACTION!

[Lamrock]

Did you play it on Easy? I enjoyed the challenge on Medium in the spots that weren't stupid. Aside of the Minotaur, Ares and the fight where you had to kill centaurs within those little rings (oh my god.), I didn't have a problem with the gameplay difficulty. Really, the things you lose on Easy mode are enjoying the combat, meaningful upgrades and an overall feeling of satisfaction. Several times I considered switching the game to Easy when it told me too, but I didn't, and it was worth it.

Love that GoW 2 has a bonus DVD. The supplementary content in the first game was great. Shame David Jaffe didn't have anything to do with the sequel.

[benji]

Did you play it on Easy?

Second time I did.

Shame David Jaffe didn't have anything to do with the sequel.

Not really.

[Lamrock]

David Jaffe created two of my favorite game franchises of all time in Twisted Metal and God of War. He's pretty immature, but he knows what makes a good game. Really digging God of War 2 so far though. The first level was epic. Hated losing my powers though.

[benji]

He's also a lunatic who creates great game designs that others turn into actual classic games. (Twisted Metal -> TM2, God of War -> GoW 2, etc.) I know he was involved in TM2, but nowhere near as much as TM and it was another case of his team pushing him out because he's too insane.

Twisted Metal: Black isn't really that good (really only has two good levels), it's horribly like the first game in too many aspects. I know he was all over Head On, and it's a better game than Black, but nothing will ever compare to 2.

Says the guy who considers Twisted Metal 2 and God of War II a couple of the few "10/10" games.

[Lamrock]

Totally with your on Twisted Metal 2. Its practically an 11/10 game in my book. First game I ever played. I hated Black at first, but it grew on me once I got used to it. I loved having a couple dozen or so online levels. (Me and my mom play it sometimes, and there are eight stages in the TMB rotation, as opposed to four for TM2) I'd consider GoW to be a classic as it really is a masterpiece in design. There were really only two poorly designed parts with 100 great moments.

So far, GOW2 has been excellent, but with a weaker story and less "wow factor" (though it was 2005 when I played the first one). The GoW -> GoW 2 jump is nothing compared to the TM1 -> TM2 jump because TM2 completely revolutionized the gameplay and improved on every other facet of the game. God of War 2 has (incrementally) better graphics, easier gameplay, and the same exact gameplay formula as the first.

I thought Twisted Metal: Head On was pretty bad. Gameplay was off. Best thing about the (PS2 version of the) game was all of the extras.

[|)e8*]

Right now im playing NBA Live 10 on PS3. Really fun considering I played 2k for the last 5 years

[kibaxx7]

So I have some money left and after buying BioShock 2 last week, I'm up to buy Battlefield Bad Company 2. Any thoughts?

[Lamrock]

Thoughts? Buying Bioshock 2 was a waste of money.

A few hours into GoW 2 now. You weren't kidding when you said it was easier. I've only died a couple times (on Theseus and that three-headed dog sub-boss, among a couple freak deaths like falling in lava). The overall lack of difficulty is a little disappointing, but it certainly makes the game more addicting. Clocking far longer sessions in this than I did in the first one.

[Lamrock]

Haven't been able to play much lately, but I finally got to a somewhat stuck point in GoW 2. Right now I can't seem to defeat the invisible boss. (nevermind you just had to hit him against the wall - easy) I find that the game is pretty much easier than the first in every respect. I would disagree with the notion that the design is superior. There haven't been any moments that made me angry like the first one, but they have been replaced by tedious puzzles (like the ones that broke up the monotony in 1, but easier and longer) and times where I didn't know what to do. Often the set pieces blend into the game world, and a couple times I've needed to consult a walkthrough to beat an otherwise easy section.

This is major nitpicking of course. I love the game, its just hard to follow a masterpiece like the first. My brother with a PS3 is getting God of War 3. Can't wait to come over to his house and play it.

[hova-]

Playing Max Payne 1 recently. Just fun. The graphics aint too good but I dont care. The story is superb and the way its told with those comic cutscenes is just phenomenal.

[Oznogrd]

Playing Max Payne 1 recently. Just fun. The graphics aint too good but I dont care. The story is superb and the way its told with those comic cutscenes is just phenomenal.

Agreed but i almost find it a little too difficult. Even on Easy mode im constantly dying.

[Lean]

The few levels toward the end annoyed me to hell. With all those people carrying dual Ingrams.

[shadowgrin]

Speaking of old games that are being played recently, add Far Cry for me. Decided to play it and finish it this time around after being shelved for a long time.

After seeing those mutated monkeys or something, ok the game has some sci-fi element to it. They are hard to kill but I can deal with it, but after seeing those huge mutated soldiers that has rocket launchers for an arm and can leap hugh distances like the fucking Incredible Hulk, you got to be fucking kidding me.

[Lamrock]

About 10 hours in God Of War 2 and getting a bit weary of it. Just finished the Atlas level with the titan and all the (stupid) flying, and now in the castle (of sorts). I've missed a ton of gorgon eyes, but thankfully, Medium in GoW 2 is the equivalent to Easy in GoW 1. Gonna tough it out, but any word on how far along I am?

[el badman]

Speaking of old games that are being played recently, add Far Cry for me. Decided to play it and finish it this time around after being shelved for a long time.

Far Cry was a cool ass game but it certainly was one of the hardest I've ever played, regardless of the difficulty level. I only managed to finish it once a mod to add a quicksave feature was released. It was fucking impossible before that.

EDIT: I just finished STALKER: Call Of Pripyat, which was great. It was a little shorter than I thought and like its two predecessors, the ending felt rushed and weird. But the game had the same great FPS/RPG mechanics, it felt less chaotic and better developed, and most of all it had virtually none of the technical issues that had plagued the first two games. Great shooter overall.
I'll probably give Metro 2033 a shot next, since it was developed by the team in charge of the first STALKER.

[Jeffx]

These games are in my current rotation;

1) NBA 2K10(PS3)
2) Unreal Tournament III(PS3)
3) Tekken 6(PS3)
4) GTA San Andreas(PS2)
5) GTA IV(PS3)
6) GTA III(PS2)
7) GTA Vice City(PS2)
8) GTA LCS(PS2)
9) GTA VCS(PS2)
10) MK Armageddon(PS3)
11) MK Trilogy(PSX)
12) Madden 10(PS2)

In two weeks, my new number one will be GTA:Episodes from Liberty City(PS3) - YES!!!!!!!

[NovU]

Just Cuz II

[el badman]

Just Cuz II

Given the good reviews, I gave the demo a shot (PC), and I couldn't take it more than 5 minutes. Horrible, horrible controls...And way too arcadish for my taste, but I can undertsand why some people would have fun with it.

[BigKaboom2]

I recommend playing it with a 360 controller if you've got one. You lose accuracy obviously but I found the default KB/M layout to be rather unwieldy.

[benji]

You really need to see the whole map, badman.

[el badman]

Yeah I saw that the game was humongous and it seems to have some pretty sights. Maybe I'll give it another shot with a controller instead then...

[Andrew]

Back to NBA Live 06 PC, Fallout 3 is still in the rotation along with Smackdown vs RAW 2010 and a bit of NBA Live 10. Thinking of picking up one of the GTA games again as well.

[The X]

Only game I'm playing at moment is College Hoops 2k8 (a North Colorado Bears Career Legacy)