What We’re Playing – Week 9

Gods, Greed and glitches.

Published 08/03/2010 at 14:00.
By Lee C [Kovacs].

Related stories (more)
What We’re Playing – Week 18 [22]
What We’re Playing – Week 16 [36]
What We’re Playing – Week 15 [21]
What We’re Playing – Week 14 [37]
What We’re Playing – Week 13 [34]

When Blackout Monday struck, followed by near radio silence from Sony about the health of the majority of PS3s deployed in the wild, I feared this week’s WWP would be devoid of PS3 action from the staff here at TheSixthAxis.

Thankfully, it looks like that one day of gaming abeyance has only managed to embolden us to attack our PS3 libraries with newfound gumption and verve. Kinda like the day after Good Friday in Ireland when the pubs reopen and a horde of thirsty locals descend upon them like a wave of nutrient-starved zombies.

Expectedly, this week is pocked with Heavy Rain and some of our old favourites like Killzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2. Unexpectedly, however, it’s also home to one instance of God of War III. Yes, you may start your infernal hate-machines now.

Gastos84:

After a grand total of four uninstalls, I finally managed to get Heavy Rain working long enough to complete it. It is a great game but I’ve found so many flaws with it that it hasn’t been the experience I had hoped for; especially seeing as I correctly predicted the end after just an hour or so of gameplay. I was hoping for a bit more of a twist.

But, like I say, I still found it enjoyable, and will probably start to experiment with stories.

Gamoc:

This week I completed Heavy Rain and was slightly disappointed by the culprit. However, the game is brilliant and you must play it.

Other than that, I played a bit of Return to Castle Wolfenstein on PC, mainly because it’s one of the few games I own and can play since I had to remove half of the PC’s memory to get it working again – along with removing both hard-drives and buying another. Still, I’ve got a PC now, so I’m alright with it – I just need some memory so I can play some newer games. The Just Cause 2 demo is keep me going for now.

The main thing I’ve been doing this week, however, is real life. I’m on an IT Apprenticeship, which means I’ve been bored out of my mind due to it being the ‘induction’ week. However, when I come home, I get to mess about trying to level myself up in Borderlands so I can actually play the Secret Armory of General Knox – Level 35 for me to play? Just 9 levels left to go. If you want to give me a hand levelling on the 360 version of the game, all you have to do is ask …

ColossalBlue:

Any spare time I have had was spent hammering through Final Fantasy XIII to get the review out. I did finally get a chance to put Heavy Rain into my PS3 and play the first few scenes from that. My first impressions were not great. The movement is stilted and wooden, the voice acting is (with a couple of exceptions) terrible and the facial animation during gameplay is awful. The scene where one character is looking for another at the beginning is the most irritating piece of repeating dialogue I’ve ever encountered. All the things that are supposed to stand out about it are very poorly done. That said, I was warming to it the further I got and it seems like the concept and design are going to develop into something truly special, so I hope to be gushing about it in next week’s What We’re Playing.

I also received Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition on Saturday morning so I’ve put that on for a quick blast. I only briefly played the standard version a year ago and I couldn’t warm to the controls so I’m looking forward to allowing myself more time to get to grips with them. The God of War Collection I picked up in the USA remains in its plastic wrapping …

Michael:

Heavy Rain – If the future of gaming is about getting wet, I’m stripping naked and jumping into the nearest swimming pool.

Bioeye:

I’ve been playing Doodle Jump on the iPod Touch for weeks on end in an effort to forget about my man flu, and still can’t get over 40,000. I’m currently at 39,992. I’ve got a friend currently trying to beat my score, but I’m wrestling over the target of 40,000. I’ve developed a hatred of disappearing panels, flying monsters and UFOs.

Lorcan:

I was on the mainland most of this week and had only Pokemon Platinum to keep me company, as usual. Though I had a gift voucher for Tescos so I got Bayonetta as I couldn’t find a copy of Heavy Rain anywhere. When I arrived back home on Saturday morning, I had a lot of fun playing it as my PS3 had arrived home, nice and healthy. Or so I thought until it decided to die on my for the third time since Christmas. This time however, it wasn’t the usual yellow light, but instead something to do with the graphics because, firstly, the image on the game froze, then when I restarted the console it showed me some green squares, and then nothing. Now the controllers don’t even want to connect! Oh my days..

CaptainMurdo:

I returned to one of the older PS3 games I own, Killzone 2, for the King of Killzone competition. The reason I stopped playing Killzone 2 was because it was too slow for me. I hate to say it, but I’m used to Modern Warfare 2′s fast paced, twitchy style of gameplay. Hence why I played Modern Warfare 2 again this week.

My LoveFilm subscription finally kicked in this week as well. The first two games to come through were Darksiders and Dante’s Inferno. Darksiders isn’t what I expected, but also isn’t very good. It’s already on its way back. I’m still to give Dante’s Inferno a proper go though, so more about that next week.

Xbox’s Block Party started this month too, with the first game being Toy Soldiers. It is very good! I bet it would have made a lot of money on the PS3.

Finally, I don’t see what’s so special about Angry Birds.

ColinBarr66:

This week I’ve played Killzone 2 online as usual and enjoyed sitting in the corner while 16 others fought for the King of Killzone title. I started the campaign again having never finished it before, it is brilliant and I’m determined to finally complete this.

I managed to squeeze a few games of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in during the week. I never know when I start playing this how good I will be, I’m either very good and finish with a good amount of points or play terrible and have my head blown off repeatedly by akimbo shotguns…

I’m a few weeks behind on my demos and finally got round to playing the Darksiders demo. It may be ninety minutes long but I only played for fifteen before putting it off, I wasn’t impressed.

Last weekend I finally picked up Gran Turismo on PSP, I’m not the biggest GT fan in the world but I have to say this is pretty good so far. I’ve only played one race in a less than exciting car but have been going through the driver challenges, these are extremely addictive and are perfect for quick blasts.

tom_lord:

This week has been full of me being beaten. To start with I am still trying to get my very first prestige on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. I played several hours with my friends and housemates online, all of which resulted in many negative ratios.

Next up I briefly participated in the latest Uncharted 2 TSA Meet, but after not playing the game since I finished the story several months ago, I was terrible. To cap the losing streak off, I played 3 games of FIFA 10 against our very own Colin B. So, that was 3 straight defeats then.

With my gaming morale at an all time low, and questioning my own gaming prowess, I put in many hours to V8 Superstars Next Challenge, finallthe Platinum Trophy. Normal order restored. You can read my review of the game here.

Nofi:

This week I’ve been playing Battlefield Bad Company 2 and God Of War III. The GoW review will be on the site at 5pm, so I won’t spoil the party and discuss that, but I will say that Battlefield is a great game, and I’ve enjoyed playing through that despite a little personal apathy towards first person shooters at the moment. The graphics are fine, but it’s the audio that impresses the most, building on from the first game’s deft use of various filters and effects to enhance the sound. There’s also a real sense of excitement and danger, with some clever ideas oozing out without disappearing up its own backside like I thought Modern Warfare 2 did all too often.

Kovacs:

Angry Birds is a time-sucking addictive bitch. When I should be reading or playing some PSP games on the bus, I’m actually flicking different types of avian daredevils at helmet-wearing pigs snuggly bulwarked behind stone, wood and glass. I’m getting the strangest of looks from some fellow commuters.

This week I’ve also put some hours into a second playthrough of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. Normally I wouldn’t do this (play a game twice) but with the impending review, I thought it only fair if I experimented with the game’s lauded branching ability to conjure up a different experience each time. Still haven’t got the UFO ending, and I’m starting to now think it doesn’t even exist.

The Just Cause 2 demo was a nice distraction for the thirty minutes you’re allowed vault around Rico’s world before the clock runs out. I found some of the shooting action a little generic and lacklustre, but it has to be said that the grappling hook is a joy to use. I think this is a game that might grow on you the more you come to terms with its myriad of styles and controls. It’s also unashamedly fun, a trait some other studios should look into when creating their open-world environments.

Finally, I spent a hair-pulling few hours with W!Games’ Greed Corp. Let’s just say that its tutorial is borderline shambolic, and the game itself demands multiple and esoteric doctorates to understand just what the hell is going on among your hexagonal landscape. It’s a game that almost demands a rite of passage before its virtues are exposed like a dew-drenched flower from which you may then drink deeply from. Or it’s just frustrating. It’s definitely one or the other.

cc_star:

This week I’ve hardly had time to fire up PS3, PSP or iPhone for a spot of gaming, things are really taking shape with the house renovation and I’ve been preparing for the arrival of a dozen sheep and four pregnant sows. I’ve had a rental copy of inFAMOUS sat under my PS3 for over a week now and I haven’t even summoned up to the motivation to open its envelope yet, as I really hated awful repetitiveness which even surfaced when playing for only half an hour in the demo. I have found time for a spot of FIFA 10, and I’ve started to leave feedback in the official forums some of which I hope will be in the developers minds for FIFA 11. I think I’ll have even less free time in the coming weeks as the animals will be here and there will most likely be half a dozen calves coming as well.

Watchful:

More or less the same set of games as last week. Heavy Rain, Borderlands, Dragon Age: Origins, Peggle and Plants vs. Zombies.

Zuler:

Still been playing Borderlands. Just one level away from 50 and the platinum! Also played Blue Toad Murder Files Episode 3. Quite challenging.

djhsecondnature:

With the knowledge of a 27 hour journey back from New Zealand ahead of me, I purchased a few more games for my iPhone. Curious as to their similarity in name to Doodle Jump, both Doodle Bomb and Doodle Wars were first up. The first is a type of puzzle game, and the latter a variation of a 2D shooter; both of which are rather average but perhaps worth a buy. Critical Wave, is a twin-stick shooter in a similar vein to that of Geometry Wars. Parachute Ninja is a vertical platformer/puzzle title that posses a beautiful art style and was a surprisingly good game. The final iPhone game was a cutely design puzzle game

However, all of these games were then vastly outshone by a game that I’ve been anticipating for years. Waiting for me at home was my Collectors Edition of Heavy Rain. Having already completed it once through and half way through my second run, it is a real masterpiece that can’t be missed.

Tuffcub:

Home – Whizzing about in Salt Shooter is oodles of fun. It’s strictly old skool gaming, the landscape is flat, it has a thumpy techno soundtrack, and the gameplay doesnt have much variation, but what it does have is playabilty. It really shows what you can do in Home and makes things like the EA racer in Home look like an Atari 2600. I’ve also been mooching around in the Home Private Beta, can’t say much but one major problem of ‘orginal Home beta’ has been fixed and there is another massive change which is very welcome.

Killzone 2 – My default game, if in doubt, jam it in the drive and kill kill kill! I’m hoping for a few vehicles for Killzone 3 – it would be handy to have chopper or perhaps a jeep to zip about the larger maps.

Heavy Rain – Loved every second of it, it really is an “interactive drama”. This is reason why I have a PS3 rather than an Xbox – Sony take risks and when they do – Heavy Rain, Flower - they come up with something unique and special. Now that I’ve finished it, it will be a while till I replay so, in terms of value for money at least, it is expensive compared to a shooter you can spend weeks on multiplayer. That said, it’s an experience I will not forget. In years to come when we’re sat in front of our holographic TVs and interacting with Eastenders to discover who killed Dirty Den (for the fourth time) I can sit back and think “You know… I remember where this all started. Heavy Rain.”

Comments

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Squalje | 08/03/2010 14:03
Member
680 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2010

A very Heavy Rain week for the team it seems.

Will it be FF13 for next week’s update?

Speaking of, need to run home now to see if my pre-order has arrived (it was posted on Thurs) :)
- Kovacs | 08/03/2010 16:04
  Team TSA: Writer
  2666 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2009
  
  I expect a few FFXIIIs alright!
  Though I’ll be focusing on finishing Heavy Rain.
SpikeyMikey23 | 08/03/2010 14:09
Member
1489 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009

I started off playing heavy rain, only 6 trophies to go untill my first platinum, then battlefield 2 popped through my door, havent touched the single player yet, just been having too much fun in multiplayer, was planning on playing the single player today but then FFXIII popped through my letter box, so ive had a quick blast at the beginning. Gonna get into it properly later.

Regarding darksiders, i havent played it so cannot pass judgement, but you may want to ask wotta what his view is, as i saw a little advert on vidzone, with wonderwallweb giving it a review score of 9.5.
- Kovacs | 08/03/2010 16:04
  Team TSA: Writer
  2666 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2009
  
  Without ANY spoilers, how many times have you played through Heavy Rain now?
  - SpikeyMikey23 | 08/03/2010 16:11
    Member
    1489 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009
    
    Twice fully, the other trophies I got just by doing individual chapters.
Raging Starfire | 08/03/2010 14:11
Member
3144 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009

Been playing Gran Tursimo 4 in the weekend still superior to some of this generations racing games.
weeks been Infamous
Doddsy | 08/03/2010 16:10
Totally Oscar Mike
1263 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009

Doodle Jump is amazing. I’ve only played on my mate’s iPhones but I managed to get 38,000. To get on his high score though you need 50,000.
- CaptainMurdo | 08/03/2010 16:17
  Team TSA: Writer
  2229 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
  
  I’ve never played it. Is there a Lite version?
  - BioEye | 08/03/2010 16:21
    Team TSA: Writer
    1280 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
    
    Don’t think so. But the main version is only 59p.
  - Kovacs | 08/03/2010 16:32
    Team TSA: Writer
    2666 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2009
    
    There IS a lite version. Get it. And expect to be spending 59p/79c immediately afterwards.
Dexter17 | 08/03/2010 16:15
Member
4699 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009

CaptainMurdo – Angry Birds is a package of 59p goodness!
- Kovacs | 08/03/2010 16:17
  Team TSA: Writer
  2666 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2009
  
  See my comment above. I love it. I probably love it too much, in fact.
- CaptainMurdo | 08/03/2010 16:18
  Team TSA: Writer
  2229 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
  
  I just didn’t enjoy the Lite version. Does it differ much from the Full one?
  - Kovacs | 08/03/2010 16:33
    Team TSA: Writer
    2666 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2009
    
    Lite version is simply a collection of levels from the main game. The full version does offer a lot easier levels to start you off with. Some of the later ones are FIENDISH though.
    Did you hear that? FIENDISH!
  - CaptainMurdo | 08/03/2010 17:44
    Team TSA: Writer
    2229 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
    
    Oh, I like fiendish. Not to keen on FIENDISH thought. Might overcome me.
    I shall prod further into the matter…
SIR-DARK-HAZE | 08/03/2010 16:33
Banned
Comment hidden
- DRCD1 | 08/03/2010 19:58
  Member
  1445 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
  
  Uhhh that trophy is hard. Are you following any guide?
Lorcan | 08/03/2010 16:39
Team TSA: Writer
1517 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008

Aww, loads of iPhone chat on the go there!
It’s tempting me even more to spend money I don’t have on one.
Are they /really/ worth it?
- Kovacs | 08/03/2010 16:59
  Team TSA: Writer
  2666 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2009
  
  With O2 exclusivity ending, now is a great time to get an iPhone. They’re practically giving them away. I’ve only really played Angry Birds on mine. I will look into others though, when I find some time.
  - cc_star | 08/03/2010 18:33
    Team TSA: Writer
    11320 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
    
    Two words Peg-gle.
    everyone knows Peggle is awesome, but it has really found its home on the iPhone
- CaptainMurdo | 08/03/2010 17:45
  Team TSA: Writer
  2229 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
  
  Get one! I’d make babies with mine if I could.
  - Michael | 08/03/2010 18:30
    Team TSA: Development
    2443 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
    
    This.
Colinbarr66 | 08/03/2010 16:44
Member
1399 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009

Tom how could I forget our games on FIFA? Really good games, I’ve not played FIFA in a while and the first time I’ve touched online in months.
tantalus_blank | 08/03/2010 16:58
Member
999 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008

In complete agreement with Kovacs on the Just Cause 2 demo – so many flaws but for some reason it’s just incredibly fun
- Jordaaaan | 08/03/2010 17:58
  Member
  1379 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2010
  
  I got bored after I had to run to a new settlement without any kind of vehicle and I can only manage to get the double claw to work sometimes which can be rather fustrating. I’ll probably warm up to the more industrial areas though.
  - cc_star | 08/03/2010 18:35
    Team TSA: Writer
    11320 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
    
    yeah, I got bored within the allotted 30mins, I enjoyed ‘jacking the chopper though, but I got struck down by a SAM missile almost immediately.
    A rental for me
Jordaaaan | 08/03/2010 17:56
Member
1379 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2010

I’ve got 2 extra days off this week so I NEED to be playing FFXIII for those! Also I still can’t beat Radec on KZ2, I can get ranks in KZO quick enough but kill a couple of RPG Helghan while I’m hiding behind a pillar? No of course not.
- Kovacs | 08/03/2010 23:17
  Team TSA: Writer
  2666 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2009
  
  As soon as the RPG guys appear, run down the balcony and just knife them. Simple. They have NO short-range attacks.