Games Beaten 2013

[prfsnl_gmr]

[ExedExes]

Fun fact: Adventures of Lolo isn't an original game, but a compilation of stages selected from previous (Japan-only) Eggerland titles.

That's right. Lolo 2 is just Adventures of Lolo in Japan, and Lolo 3 is Lolo 2.

Somewhat related - but anyone know what versions of Gauntlet (or Gauntlet II for that matter) actually have endings? I think the arcade versions just loop - and thus I'd expect the direct arcade ports, like those found on the Midway compilations, to do the same.

I've got both of them on the NES.

The first Gauntlet does have an ending, at room 100. But before getting into room 100, you need to have collected each of the 8 clues found in the clue rooms that form a combination, which is unique to each password that the game gives you (basically means you can't exchange clues to anyone unless you have the password that contains them). If you enter any part of the combination wrong, you enter the room, but you instantly die. Plus, any passwords you get in the fifth world always start you back in room 79, the first room of the fifth world. Such a devious design!

Gauntlet II loops as far as I know.

[Gamerforlife]

Sleeping Dogs

This is pretty good game all round and though it's pretty far from GTA's level of polish, it has a lot of unique things going for it, problems aside.

First up the driving is poor; cars feel both heavy and twitchy to drive and while you can do wheelies on bikes almost indefinitely, god help you if you try to turn sharply into a corner. Secondly, the firearms both look and feel as if they have come from another game, with big chunky assets that mesh badly with the precise verisimilitude of the game world.

Finally, though I liked the Infernal Affairs/any John Woo Hong Kong thriller type plot, it was all resolved in a really weak and unsatisfying way and is the first time since Knights of the Old Republic 2 I had to replay the end to make sure I hadn't accidentally skipped over or glitched past some important cut-scene. I hadn't, it just is that lame.

What did I like then? Well for one, the setting. Hong Kong is such a great choice for a game like this, a sincere blend of old and new and like all good sandbox games is a character of its own.

I also thought the melee combat was great, really visceral and kinetic and far exceeds anything else in this genre (as long as you don't count Arkham City). I liked how most missions would be about hand to hand combat and not just blasting goons and wracking up a body count as high as Harold Shipman.

I also have to congratulate the team behind the game for not falling into GTA's trap of unsubtle mockery and actually approach Hong Kong and its denizens as real and noble.

It shows a place that is caught between two worlds.The older triad members all were suits and talk of honor and loyalty, while the younger wear wife-beaters, gold chains and steroids and talk of money and respect. You have an ancient buddhist temple with a visitor centre. You have the coolest club in the city with decidedly uncool private karoke machines. A ruthless gang leader gets the creeps when you un-feng shui his house.

None of this is explicitly stated, you notice it yourself on your travels.

Definitely recommended then if you have an interest in the genre or just want to have a virtual holiday to Hong Kong. Just don't expect the level of polish and excess you'd find in a GTA game.

Also, I spent maybe an hour trying to find where Ryo gets off the boat in Shenmue 2 which means I am obligated to repost this video.

As a huge fan of combat in Arkham City, I do like the little differences in Sleeping Dogs. There's no combo system to worry about, so you can fight at your own pace and be more defensive. It gives combat a very different feel from the OFFENSE OFFENSE OFFENSE style of the Batman games. Also, much as I love combat in the Batman games, they make the same mistake as a lot of combat games do and ignore the environment. Sleeping Dogs on the other hand ENCOURAGES you to use your environment to your advantage, which gives combat an almost Jackie Chan feel, except that Sleeping Dogs' use of the environment is far more bloody and violent.

Sleeping Dogs and Arkham City make me very happy because they present a slightly more realistic take on combat. I had gotten tired of the hyper exaggerated, anime style combat that games like Bayonetta, God of War and Devil May Cry made popular. I would like to see more games follow the same school of combat as Sleeping Dogs, Arkham City, Deadpool, etc.

And I do think we need more games using Hong Kong as a setting. Have you tried any of the DLC? I heard they recently released a new Drunken Master style combat DLC.

[Stark]

Also, much as I love combat in the Batman games, they make the same mistake as a lot of combat games do and ignore the environment. Sleeping Dogs on the other hand ENCOURAGES you to use your environment to your advantage, which gives combat an almost Jackie Chan feel, except that Sleeping Dogs' use of the environment is far more bloody and violent.

This ^ is a very neat thing that Ryse: Son of Rome does.

[Gamerforlife]

Also, much as I love combat in the Batman games, they make the same mistake as a lot of combat games do and ignore the environment. Sleeping Dogs on the other hand ENCOURAGES you to use your environment to your advantage, which gives combat an almost Jackie Chan feel, except that Sleeping Dogs' use of the environment is far more bloody and violent.

This ^ is a very neat thing that Ryse: Son of Rome does.

Wish I had a next gen system, but the Wii U is the only thing that fits my budget at the moment...not that that's really even next gen. I might grab a Wii U just for Rayman Legends and Wonderful 101

Is Ryse Xbox One or PS4?

[Stark]

Also, much as I love combat in the Batman games, they make the same mistake as a lot of combat games do and ignore the environment. Sleeping Dogs on the other hand ENCOURAGES you to use your environment to your advantage, which gives combat an almost Jackie Chan feel, except that Sleeping Dogs' use of the environment is far more bloody and violent.

This ^ is a very neat thing that Ryse: Son of Rome does.

Wish I had a next gen system, but the Wii U is the only thing that fits my budget at the moment...not that that's really even next gen. I might grab a Wii U just for Rayman Legends and Wonderful 101

Is Ryse Xbox One or PS4?

Xbox One.

WiiU is a good buy currently. Super Mario 3D World, Wind Waker HD, Pikmin 3, New Super Mario Bros Wii U, Lego City Undercover, and of course those you mentioned.

[CFFJR]

That's funny, because I've been playing Sleeping Dogs as well the past couple of days. I've beaten it and I'm now working on 100% completion and the DLCs.

I love the hell out of the game. Everything about it is fantastic.

[Violent By Design]

Arkham City having realistic combat? Now I've heard everything.

[BurningDoom]

Arkham City having realistic combat? Now I've heard everything.

I think he meant more that it looked like it could actually happen (if you were as good as Batman), rather than a giant sword swing or something similar taking out 20 guys in 1 swing.

[Violent By Design]

Arkham City having realistic combat? Now I've heard everything.

I think he meant more that it looked like it could actually happen (if you were as good as Batman), rather than a giant sword swing or something similar taking out 20 guys in 1 swing.

Are we thinking of the same game? Batman literally warps from one side of the map to another to hit another guy. He basically wave dashes in that game 24/7. It's about as arcadey as any beat em up out there.