What was the last game you finished?

[Bodmin]

fuckin' A he was, I TKO'ed him in the second round

man it was a long time coming but its still sweet

[Luke]

fuckin' A he was, I TKO'ed him in the second round

You TKO'ed him? That is amazing.

I've only won by decision.

[wip3outguy7]

1cc'd Ghost in the Shell for the PS1 (not that difficult) on hard mode.

[AlienBanshee]

About 10 years late but I just finished the original Shenmue for the first time earlier today! I've got the sequel (Xbox version) all ready to go. Hey, if I wait another decade to play that one maybe 3 will be out, right...right?

[itsmattxp]

About 10 years late but I just finished the original Shenmue for the first time earlier today! I've got the sequel (Xbox version) all ready to go. Hey, if I wait another decade to play that one maybe 3 will be out, right...right?

I just started Shenmue yesterday, for some reason I find it really boring and the controls seem a bit clunky. Do I have to invest a substantial amount of time into this game before it gets any good? Just seems like its really slow, all talking, weird controls, and I hate having to go back to the bed to progress the story.

[Limewater]

I just started Shenmue yesterday, for some reason I find it really boring and the controls seem a bit clunky. Do I have to invest a substantial amount of time into this game before it gets any good? Just seems like its really slow, all talking, weird controls, and I hate having to go back to the bed to progress the story.

I don't think your experience is that unusual. The game is really slow, and it stays slow through most of the experience. Most of the game DOES consist of going around talking to people. If you aren't into exploring and experiencing everything around town, you probably won't enjoy it. The idea of the game is to experience the day-to-day life of a teenager in a small town in Japan who is attempting to track down the murder of his father, sleeps nine hours a night, never showers or poops, and only ever eats things he buys at a convenience shop.

[jfe2]

Contra on XBLA. sevin0sevin and I tried to play through co-op last night but we kept getting stopped right before the first alien mini boss on the last stage. I tried it today with the Konami Code and ended up using all thirty lives on my first credit, and none on my second, but I did end up beating it. It's a bit shorter than the NES version, as its an arcade port, but it was equally fun!

[itsmattxp]

I just started Shenmue yesterday, for some reason I find it really boring and the controls seem a bit clunky. Do I have to invest a substantial amount of time into this game before it gets any good? Just seems like its really slow, all talking, weird controls, and I hate having to go back to the bed to progress the story.

I don't think your experience is that unusual. The game is really slow, and it stays slow through most of the experience. Most of the game DOES consist of going around talking to people. If you aren't into exploring and experiencing everything around town, you probably won't enjoy it. The idea of the game is to experience the day-to-day life of a teenager in a small town in Japan who is attempting to track down the murder of his father, sleeps nine hours a night, never showers or poops, and only ever eats things he buys at a convenience shop.

Thanks for the heads up. Now I know that I won't even bother with the game any longer since it pains me to even play the game.

[AlienBanshee]

I just started Shenmue yesterday, for some reason I find it really boring and the controls seem a bit clunky. Do I have to invest a substantial amount of time into this game before it gets any good? Just seems like its really slow, all talking, weird controls, and I hate having to go back to the bed to progress the story.

I don't think your experience is that unusual. The game is really slow, and it stays slow through most of the experience. Most of the game DOES consist of going around talking to people. If you aren't into exploring and experiencing everything around town, you probably won't enjoy it. The idea of the game is to experience the day-to-day life of a teenager in a small town in Japan who is attempting to track down the murder of his father, sleeps nine hours a night, never showers or poops, and only ever eats things he buys at a convenience shop.

Thanks for the heads up. Now I know that I won't even bother with the game any longer since it pains me to even play the game.

Yeah, it doesn't sound like this game is for you. It is slow paced for about the first 85% of the game; the last couple of days really ramp up the action though. I'm the type who can lose my self for hours in a world like Shenmue's, exploring every nook and cranny while talking with anyone I run into. Some of the characters in the game are among the coolest (read: corniest in a funny way) I have ever come across, like Tom and Goro. That said, there are a number of aspects of the game I found annoying, mainly the controls and the fact you can't skip cut-scenes you've already witnessed. Still, I really enjoyed the experience and started on the second game today. So far, it is a lot better as far as the pacing goes...

[vash23n]

Just finished Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages. These games were pretty dang good. I have always heard that Zelda games on portable systems are shorter and easier - makes sense. By linking two games together, you end up with a pretty long game with enough variation to keep it interesting, but enough in common to allow the player to become pretty invested in the characters and story. Since I am new to portable Zelda games and since I started with Minish Cap and am working my way backwards in releases, I was suprised to see how much the Oracle games bridged the gap between old and new. Considering most of the anti-Zelda arguments I hear are between those who prefer the new and those who prefer the old, I feel the Oracle games are the answer to everyone. Plenty of throwbacks to LOZ, especially with the overhead view and the dungeons. The overworld is a bit updated to have separate areas for cities/villages, but there are still classics like the graveyard. The Oracle games also maintain some of the additions introduced in Ocarina of Time - including weapons and characters (there is even an underwater Zora area and a dungeon inside Jabu Jabu's Belly). There is plenty of action, but still plenty of puzzles. There are also side quests that are optional, but helpful - such as going for the sword upgrade or collecting Gasha seeds and rings.

The bosses, as I had heard beforehand, were some of the most challenging I have faced in a while. When I say challenging, I mean not easily defeated, but not hard enough to make you want to quit. The end boss in both games strayed a little into the latter realm. The worst, however, was Twinrova, who you face if you play the password linked game. It may sound like I am exaggerating when I say I had to hit her about 4000 times to beat her, and I am, but not by much. After a while, however, I had hit her so much that it became so easy. From this point on, it was just an annoyance and after every hit I swore it had to be the end. She isn't even the last boss! After you beat her - which takes a ton of hearts for the sole reason that you start to zone out and find yourself accidentally falling in lava - you still have to face Ganon. Ganon was the perfect boss. Very challenging, the most challenging in the game, but just when you figure out how to beat him, just when you get in that rhythm, you let loose on him with a few more perfect shots and you can feel the tides turning in the battle. Soon enough it is over and you feel very satisfied, but not annoyed - surprising since, if playing the password linked game, there are 3 end bosses with a couple stages to each. Not sure if that makes sense.

Play the games!