[Klonoahedgehog]

I've been level grinding like hell in Conception 2, i need to beat that boss chamber.

[Locke]

Just bought Fifa 12 for a quid off of eBay I heard 13 and 14 were just worse versions of that one any way and as I'm not an active follower of the sport, it doesn't matter to me that it is like three years out of date or whatever. Should keep me happy until September any road, when 15 comes out which is supposed to rework the formula from the ground up. We'll see.

[Dr Kain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Whenever it feels like I'm getting into FFX, I'm assaulted by all out boredom again. I like travelling around, fighting monsters and getting new skills, that is what an RPG is to me but FFX is action light, talking heavy. There is nothing wrong with an RPG focused on its story, world and characters, honestly these days we could do with MORE RPGs like this but it's just so atrociously acted that I find it impossible to care about anything.

Yuna literally sounds like she is reading from a script, complete with pauses where she appears to be catching up with herself while Tidus regularly stumbles around, or audibly forgets his lines and these are our core duo. It just feels cheap, did they do the whole thing in one take without a single rehearsal? Could they not afford better actors? Or at least a better mixer who could work around what they have and try to polish and tighten it? Jesus. How can I care about these characters when they sound exactly like what they are, pre rendered bits of code with people reading lines of dialogue over the top?

And yes I know, it's a ten year old game and holding it to the standards of modern games is not fair, but I'm just a little shell shocked myself I guess at how creaking and ancient this title feels already. Have games really come that far? Or is this just another case of Japan refusing to progress like they always do with their sentai shows?

If that wasn't bad enough, I finally got a taste of Blitzball that the game wont shut up about and who...the hell designed this abomination? I LOVE table top board games, if I had friends I'd be playing them every day, but table top doesn't translate well to a video game when literally the only addition is animation. If I wanted to play a table top...I'd be playing it. We had competent sports games in the early 00s so I physically can't comprehend why they went with a structuring for this game that feels so broken and archaic.

Welcome to the worst FF until XIII.

[Locke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

Welcome to the worst FF until XIII.

I actually really enjoyed Ten when it first came out but I was only a wee laddy at the time, still being bullied through Secondary School (best years of your life? HAH!) which may have altered my perceptions but alternatively the game could have just aged horribly, which I'm more inclined to believe.

Anyway, played a few more hours. From one moment of pure boredom to probably the strongest moment so far, FFX is frustratingly inconsistent, but I guess you should never complain about moments of brilliance? Just wish for more of them...

The attack on the Blitz Stadium was insanely fun but it only got more awesome when Maester Seymour entered the fray, religious overtimes aside, God that was badass. Shame his voice was completely ill fitting...just like everyone else, then.

Likewise the whole twist of "Sin is Jecht" is really stupid, but that is probably the strongest acting we've actually seen in the game so far, dare I say I think Tidus may have almost felt an emotion in a conversation that almost sounded natural?!

As an aside, how do you even win in Blitzball? I swear I haven't been able to land more than a handful of successful plays, and not a single goal, even when the stats are in my favour. It's so infuriating because even on manual the game is playing itself, and poorly. I think I could play it better, if it let me play...

[Locke]

More Tomb Raider 13.

I know this game was basically a slasher film in game form but I wasn't expecting it to get THIS dark, Jesus. There are a few other developments I'm not so hot on, namely how Lara is only getting punished more but somehow seems to be taking less damage which really detracts from the stakes. That first wound was horrible and all, but considering you've fallen down like four mountains since, it seems weird that is the only wound you see as worth nursing.

And yes I know there'd be no game if you could break your limbs or whatever but it tries to make you terrified, then takes all the terror away with its immortal, ungodly destructive protagonist who is supposed to be this "poor and fragile" girl. This Lara is more badass than other version and this is meant to be her damn origin story.

I mean my GOD. Fire arrows, upgradable weapons, shotguns. I don't so much clear rooms, as orchestrate operatic carnage. It's ridiculous, completely ill fitting with the narrative but absolutely GLORIOUS to play.

[Dr Kain]

Yeah, that was my main beef with the game, Lara has character shields turned up to the max.

[Klonoahedgehog]

I started Diabolical box, i forgot this game had the longest prologue in the series.

[GoseiWonder]

Pac-Man World 2 is one of the greatest games ever.

WHO ELSE AGREES WITH ME?!

[Locke]

Just "finished" the Shanty Town level in Tomb Raider and God I feel like such a broken record but this game is so great. "I grew up Glasga'!", shooting dynamite out of the air to kill your enemies, travelling through the decaying landscape towards the place, Roth covering you like an avenging angel with his sniper rifle, the set piece chase sequences just unf, this game is great.

[Locke]

More FFX.

Blitzball is so unfathomably broken that it's impossible to put down, even when the frustration is inducing migraines. With stats that make no logistical sense, a ridiculously convoluted game system that is only ever half explained and a mechanic that means the game always tips in the CPUs favour it's like a slot machine where you know you're always going to lose but you just don't want to believe it yourself. Letting in one goal every hour to give you a false sense of hope.

In terms of the core game, spent an hour travelling through the wild fighting monsters, gaining new abilities and equipment. This to me is what an RPG should be and I'm disappointed these moments have so far been so few but they are always entertaining when they do happen. Shockingly for all his hype Auron kinda sucks but Wakka is surprisingly useful when placed alongside Lulu and their flirtatious banter is fun.