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dsheinem wrote:I think that, as with something like FF7, the series has become one of those that it is "cool to hate" on because it was so popular and critically heralded. People blow small issues way out of proportion or find things to nitpick as a way of setting themselves aside from the chorus of people who think the game is great.

This was my second play through of Bioshock and I had the same issues the first time through but gave it another shot because it is so lauded (and cheap). So I'd say I gave the game a fair whack.

I don't count disliking a FPS' gunplay mechanics as a small or nitpick-y issue. I'd say they were pretty crucial and, for me, Bioshock's shooting and player feedback is inferior to quite a few of its contemporaries and even to some games that precede it.

I do not hate Bioshock or Infinite, but I also do not think they are games deserving of such high critical praise. They have beautifully crafted and realised worlds quite unlike most FPS games but I think they also have uninteresting shooting mechanics and limited enemy types. For me they also suffer from being unable to marry issues of objectivism/racism/freewill to more ordinary sci-fi plots and themes.

And Final Fantasy 7 is my favourite Final Fantasy.

dsheinem wrote:I think that, as with something like FF7, the series has become one of those that it is "cool to hate" on because it was so popular and critically heralded. People blow small issues way out of proportion or find things to nitpick as a way of setting themselves aside from the chorus of people who think the game is great.

For what it's worth, as someone who doesn't enjoy many FPS, I find Bioshock to be quite enjoyable, and worthy of praise.

FF7 though, is the worst game I've played the main Final Fantasy series my some margin. 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10 and 12 are all vastly superior and far more itneresting in my opinion. And thats not just because it's 'cool' to hate on it.

1. Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.

I really enjoyed the game. It's been my favorite installment since ALTTP. My only complaint is that two heart pieces are locked behind mini games that are extremely difficult.

1. Hotline Miami (PS3)
2. Boulder Dash XL 3D (3DS)
3. Mirror's Edge (PS3)

This is the last of the games that I carried over from 2013, and I rolled the credits on it last night.

In general, I enjoyed Mirror's Edge. It is an interesting concept, and it has excellent art direction. Its use of antiseptic whites and primary colors is striking, and those colors - combined with the empty shopping centers, abandoned construction sites, and the occassional rat - convey the dystopic setting much better than the game's decidedly mediocre storyline. Moreover, the game has some uniquely thrilling sequences. Navigating Faith across the city's rooftops and overseeing her escape from a building under heavy fire were extremely engaging, and a late game sequence that required Faith to navigate between two sides of a skyscraper under sniper fire was absolutely amazing. Finally, the game has some excellent, quiet "puzzle" sequences that require Faith to utilize all of her parkour skills to navigate a series of complex obstacles.

Unlike isiolia - who wrote an excellent critique of the game a few pages back - I though that the game conveyed physical space (and the effects of impact) very well. I occassionally threw Faith off a building by accident, but I felt that the controls were generally responsive and most of my deaths in the game were attributable to me approaching an obstacle incorrectly. That said, I agree completely that the game's combat mechanics are terrible, and - even worse - the game requires you to use them to advance at certain points. Faith is both consistently and overwhelmingly outgunned, and she is at her best (and the game is at its most thrilling) when she flees rather than fights. Accordingly, the combat felt forced, and it broke the game's tempo at several critical points.

Although the middle of the game drag a bit - and although its storyline is both refreshingly feminist and achingly dull - the game is relatively short and never completely wears out its welcome. As a result, I recommend Mirror's Edge to anyone looking for a unique first-person experience. If you are capable of looking past some of its flaws, you will likely find an exciting and challenging platforming experience unlike anything else.

Guess it is time to get a few on the board. I hope to play more favorites/retro games this year (sort of like how Luke did last year). I say that every year, though, so we'll see.

Anyway, here's the first few:

Games Beaten 2014
Primal Rage - 32X *new*
Golden Axe - Genesis *new*
To the Moon: Holiday Special - PC *new*

Total: 3


Games Beaten: 2013 2012 2011 2010

dsheinem wrote:Guess it is time to get a few on the board. I hope to play more favorites/retro games this year (sort of like how Luke did last year). I say that every year, though, so we'll see.

Anyway, here's the first few:

Games Beaten 2014
1. Primal Rage - 32X *new*
2. Golden Axe - Genesis *new*
3. To the Moon: Holiday Special - PC *new*

Total: 3


Games Beaten: 2013 2012 2011 2010

primal rage? that's savage.

Violent By Design wrote:

dsheinem wrote:Guess it is time to get a few on the board. I hope to play more favorites/retro games this year (sort of like how Luke did last year). I say that every year, though, so we'll see.

Anyway, here's the first few:

Games Beaten 2014
1. Primal Rage - 32X *new*
2. Golden Axe - Genesis *new*
3. To the Moon: Holiday Special - PC *new*

Total: 3


Games Beaten: 2013 2012 2011 2010

primal rage? that's savage.

The game generally sucks but has a "so bad it is good" appeal for me. The mere idea of a dino fighting game got me all worked up back in '94, and I'd have bitten on it then regardless of the quality.

dsheinem wrote:

Violent By Design wrote:

dsheinem wrote:Guess it is time to get a few on the board. I hope to play more favorites/retro games this year (sort of like how Luke did last year). I say that every year, though, so we'll see.

Anyway, here's the first few:

Games Beaten 2014
1. Primal Rage - 32X *new*
2. Golden Axe - Genesis *new*
3. To the Moon: Holiday Special - PC *new*

Total: 3


Games Beaten: 2013 2012 2011 2010

primal rage? that's savage.

The game generally sucks but has a "so bad it is good" appeal for me. The mere idea of a dino fighting game got me all worked up back in '94, and I'd have bitten on it then regardless of the quality.

Primal Rage was fun...when I was 10. Nowadays I go back to it and realize the only reason it interested me was because it had dinosaurs.

But have you tried the dinosaur fighting game Warpath: Jurassic Park, Ds?

Once I finish Ninja Gaiden (xbox) I plan on playing a few games on different platforms like Golden Axe on DOS, Genesis, Sega CD, and GBA. I'll probably do the same with the Sonic series, just to see which version I prefer.

I'll also have some carry over games from 2013.

But for now, NG is kicking my tail.

My plan is to work on christmas and birthday presents alongside together retro games before getting stuck into some older stuff during the quieter months of the year in terms of new releases.

I'm also hoping to get some old-school stuff on my summer games list again.