Despite many intentions to the contrary all I have managed to find time to play this week is some more Mass Effect 3 online. The main reason I can make time for that is because it’s a chance to chat to, insult, goad and chastise some real life friends. I shall probably play some more this weekend with Operation Vigilance taking place. At least I had the time to play something this week, unlike Blair and Alex with whom I share an opinion on easy mode in games.
For Kris it’s been football all the way with New Star Soccer on his iPhone and FIFA 12 on console. They may prove to be an expensive couple of games as not only is “playing FIFA 12 more is driving me towards buying a new TV” but “playing New Star Soccer makes me want a new phone as my iPhone 3G crashes out after every match”. The console makers have always known the games drive hardware sales though I guess that’s not quite what they meant.
Tuffcub has served himself up with a veritable smörgåsbord of gaming and managed to slip in a couple of reminders for us of the fact he’s just back from a couple of weeks in Waikiki:
Angry Birds, Grindr, Little Deviants, Mortal Kombat and Wipeout via Ad Hoc mode with hubby whilst away.
Starhawk, InFamous 2, Rock Of Ages, Space Shooter For Two Bucks, Killzone 3, Spec Ops: The Line, Final Fantasy XIII-2, Doctor Who, Back To The Future and Sam & Max after waking at 2am due to jet lag now I’m back in the UK .
I will be diving into Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron tonight as well.
To keep the crowds amused Peter’s been spending time as a small monkey on comedy motorcycle. He’s also been playing Joe Danger: The Movie. He likens the game to “a boxful of all the bits they couldn’t squeeze into the original”. The elements from the original Joe Danger return but are mixed in with new vehicles and new ideas without tarnishing the game’s brilliant shine.
There’s also been a lot of FIFA 12 being played, though Peter’s matches are afflicted with an odd bug that means they suffer from “an eerie lack of” commentary:
It probably shouldn’t be as weird as it is, given that I grew up playing football games without commentary, but it is. In fact, I remember when the CD-ROM version of Sensible Soccer had Jonathan Pierce commentating and I thought it was witchcraft. But now it’s really odd to play without it.
Dan meanwhile is having conflicted feelings about Sound Shapes. “When it’s good the game is utterly marvellous, but I often find myself getting annoyed with the odd bit of weak platforming design.” The “brilliant” Retro/Grade has also been getting some rhythm-based action.
“Less brilliant”, says Dan, is Frobisher Says, which managed to piss him off “within 20 seconds by asking me to point the vita at something green. By the time I found something the poxy vita camera wouldn’t recognise it.”
That’s a game that would benefit immensely from the simple addition of an option to disable the camera-based challenges. The one time I’ve tried using it as a party game round a friend’s one evening to let them all see how great the PS Vita was we had to give up as the “smile at the camera” challenge was impossible as the camera’s so crap in low-light conditions. The PS Vita’s cameras need to be given much better low-light performance when Sony refresh the hardware.
Obsessively trying to complete the Gears of War trilogy is keeping Aran busy. He found Gears 2 to be overly long though he’s finding Gears 3 “very enjoyable so far”. He’s dabbled “a bit” in the multiplayer and admits he’s “not very good”. If you haven’t honed your diving rolls with a shotgun to a fine art or are uncannily accurate with a Torque Bow I can highly recommend Horde 2.0 with a bunch of friends.
On his PS3 Jim is busy “pumping hours into” Sleeping Dogs which he calls a “great game” though it suffers from the same malady as many GTA-style sandbox games in that “fatigue is beginning to set in. There still plenty to explore in Hong Kong though the melee combat is starting to get just a little bit repetitive.”
On PC I’ve given Slender a quick whirl whilst dedicated a prescribed amount of time to Wrath of Heroes. I’m not playing as much as I used to and if I don’t pick up the slack, I’m soon going to find myself surrounded by new characters who I’ve yet to play/against. Personally I blame SMITE, Hi Rez Studios’ take on the insanely popular DOTA genre.
I’ll be honest, I’ve never been a fan of mainstream or conventional entries to the genre though SMITE has converted me somewhat. This is mainly due to a simple change in perspective; instead of being presented with a top down view, in SMITE players control their characters directly using the WASD keys whilst in third person. Matches are still a bit too long for my liking, though SMITE’s ever-growing roster of familiar godly faces is something that’s keeping me enticed.
What have you played this week?
Youles
Early this week Greg ;)
I’ve been collecting feathers in Assassin Creed 2 – I decided to do this before playing the last few sequences, as I’d rather the last thing I did in the game wasn’t gathering collectables since they can leave you a bit annoyed with a game!
On Vita I’ve played a little Mutant Blobs Attack and Zen Pinball 2 – I love the PvZ table! I also started Ico HD via Remote Play. It suffered from a little lag which could be frustrating at certain jumping and combat points – will have to see how it goes.
I also got my two Sound Shapes Platinums – unlike some I rather enjoyed Death Mode, it’s not too bad once you get a pattern or rhythm going.
Greg Aldridge
Actually, it was almost kind of late. :-) I normally write it Thursday night, but had to write it before starting work today this week. It’s timing depends on the day’s other content.
That’s a good thought about finishing off collecting feathers before completing AC2, I’ll have to remember that if I ever manage to get back to the game. Collectibles do annoy me but I gotta catch ’em all.
Youles
Oh I see, it’s a bit quite on the news front this morning then? ;)
Yeah, I tend to do collectables just before the end of a game, rather than after (if I’m going for the Platinum). Otherwise the game either leaves a nasty taste in my mouth, or I risk losing the motivation altogether going back to it. Considering the various groups of collectables in AC2, I’ve enjoyed the game so much that the feather haven’t bothered me. I should have all the Venice feathers sorted this weekend thankfully, then the Platinum shortly afterwards :)
yiddo
ACII is such a great game – I think it’s my all time favourite. It has been a long time since I got the plat, but if I recall you get a weapon for getting all the feathers?
Youles
It is a fantastic game – I’ve played lots of games since it’s release and despite it’s age it is still better than a lot of newer games. I would have liked a little bit more emphasis on the assassinations and perhaps then being a bit harder and more stealthier – but on balances the game has everything! Venice and it’s buildings look incredible!
For 50 feathers your unlock a Hammer weapon that you still have to purchase, and for 100 you get a different cape/cloak. Any idea how (or if) you can change your cape/cloak?
yiddo
You can change your cape/outfit by going into your inventory and selecting ‘outfits’. All your capes and unlocked outfits should be there if I remember right.
ACIII for me is the game of this year if i’m being honest, it’s going to be so damn good. Blending together everything that is great about every AC to date, whilst adding new things, changing a few things up and being set in a different period of history.
Youles
Oh thanks – seems an odd place since everything else is laid out in your stronghold, but explains why I missed it, ta! :)
Same, I’m looking forward to AC3 and Hitman (the latter mainly because I haven’t played any of the previous games so it’s like a new IP to me). I hope I like the AC3 multiplayer as I think I’ll want to Platinum it!
yiddo
If ACIII’s MP trophies are similar to ACR’s you should be fine. It’s ACB that was the problem, getting to top rank was a mega grind (Though I still loved the MP, it just took too long).
Youles
We’ll have to organise some TSA Meets! ;) Fingers crossed they aren’t too grindy!
yiddo
Well I have whored the hell out of Revelations MP, so you can certainly count me in for any ACIII meets should they occur!
Forrest_01
Sleeping Dogs (which i have to ay NEVER got boring or repetetive for me), a bit of Dirt Showdown at the meet on Tuesday & a bit of Tony Hawk (again, at the meet) & Twisted Metal last night.
Mostly Sleeping Dogs though. :)
freezebug2
I fully concur with your opening sentence ;)
R1MJAW
I played the same as Forrest … except Twisted Metal.
I’m close to the Sleeping Dogs platinum, just need to finish off some gold stats.
I too concur that it has never felt boring or repetitive, in fact I wish there was more of it.
R1MJAW
Quick update … I now have my Sleeping Dogs platinum.
freezebug2
Nice going R1M, the list gets longer ;)
R1MJAW
Cheers freeze, it does indeed, this was platinum number 67 (26 so far this year I think).
Dan Lee
The first level in the Beck album (Sound Shapes) is perhaps my gaming highlight of 2012 so far.
Joshua Hood
Absolutely with you on that one.
McProley
yeah, its cracking. The whole album was my favourite out of all of them
wolf-OF-chaos
Just started binary domain. I’m only up to chapter 3 but it’s quite a good game. As someone mentioned earlier, it’s what terminator salvation should have been.
wolf-OF-chaos
Looking back through previous posts it was Forrest that said this and after playing it myself, i agree.
Forrest_01
Haha – It was indeed! Nice to know people do actually read my comments! :D
element666
This week I got my THPS HD platinum,twice in fact as my gr struggled with a couple of the harder trophies lol.I have gone back to everybodys golf on vita, which I’m still awful at.and I got the marvel tables on Zen pinball 2 for the vita for free,as I’d brought them for the PS3 ages ago.I thought that was quite good!
I’ve also been finishing off Lego Harry potter 5-7.
Youles
I suck at Everybody’s Golf too – I’ll be doing ok then I hit one shot O.B. then it often gets repeated and goes downhill fast, lol!
Youles
As in, my score goes downhill fast, not the ball!
element666
Lol,yeah its the same for me I’m on the gold matches now,Ive put it on easy mode but I still can’t do it :)
McProley
I’m on the silvers and struggling. You guys and you easy modes, i still cantr even unlock it
Youles
I don’t even play golf though – you should be good at it, lol! :p
McProley
You didnt see me play yesterday though. It was like i’d never played in my life. I wish there was an easy mode for real life golf :)
LTG Davey
Not a huge amount of variety this week really.
Basically I traded my copy of Darksiders2 towards a copy of Sleeping Dogs and it hasn’t left my disk tray since. Cracking combat, an enjoyable storyline and plenty of extras to keep me entertained. Played it far too much over the weekend (11 hours in two days!) so I’ve slowed the pace down a bit and currently have about 16hrs on the clock so far.
Mark of the Ninja comes out today so I’ll be picking that up using the 1200ms points I’ve had put aside for months :-)
Forrest_01
Sleeping Dogs really does suck you in & doesn’t let go – Its rare for me not to change games up regularly, but Sleeping Dogs has rarely left the console since i got it.
Awesome game & one of my absolute faves this gen.
LTG Davey
:D too true. Love all the little touches they’ve added too, like people pulling out umbrellas or folding their newspapers in half whenever it starts raining. Or Ambulances turning up after a pedestrian gets injured. Really adds to the atmosphere. And lets not forget “pork bun” man, he rocks!
Was particularly impressed when I tried to exit a vehicle with cars parked either side of me. Rather than awkwardly morphing out of the car, Wei kicked out the windscreen and then casually climbed out. Loved that haha :D
Forrest_01
“Why you not have pork bun in your hand??”
Erm, because you haven’t sold it to me yet maybe? :D
But yeah, i was impressed by some of the little touches too – The ones you mentioned especially, plus the guy in the market doing a damn good phonejacker impression of “wanna buy dvd?” :D
Tuffcub
*chuckles*
Alex C
Grindr?
:/
Greg Aldridge
I was rushing this morning and obviously didn’t check your reply as carefully as I should have…
Tuffcub
OBvious I mean PS3 FPS ‘The Grinder.’
Mundham
A different week for me. Bored with Skyrim (and it’s lack of DLC for PS3….) I am attempting to Platinum Red Dead Redemption. I’ve never bothered about trophies before, but I’m enjoying this game so much I’ve set myself that goal. I am also thoroughly enjoying the SP campaign of Goldeneye, and the MP is a blast (although a bit bug-ridden). Sound Shapes is getting some love too, I may even be inspired to create a level at some point…
Forrest_01
Red Dead is a very worthy plat to have – Great game & a challenging but not excessively difficult plat.
I was just glad i managed to get through the gambling, as whilst it was done well from what i can tell, i don’t gamble in real life & so it was all a bit foreign to me.
yiddo
I’m no expert trophy hunter (only got 3 plats) but I found the RDR plat to be fairly easy. Don’t know if it’s because I enjoyed the game so damn much that I blazed through all the challenges, but yes I agree that it is a worthy plat – as it is a true classic.
Origami Killer
Dark Souls for me. Making good progress. Made my way to Anor Londo and have also killed that damn butterfly. Died countless times, all my fault though, just have to have patience with the game.
Also played a bit of THPS HD, really hate Venice beach and struggling to get the objectives.
fs
I need to get myself back on it. It’s one of those games thats so hard it sort of scares you in a way. I completed Demon’s Souls and then went onto Dark, I went through a few stages but got stuck on the Gargoyle boss, well bosses. I think that boss is actually pretty tame compared to some of the MoFos I fought in DS, but just couldn’t seem to do it and gave up after a few hours! Haven’t returned since :O
Origami Killer
The twin gargoyles :P I got stuck shortly after that and left the game for months. After completing and platting Demons Souls I can honestly say Dark Souls is so much harder :/ With that boss your stuck on use Gold Pine resin on your weapon, should become a bit easier then :)
The Lone Steven
Two words. Lighting Soliare. Nuff said. Oh and the Drake sword makes helps a lot. To summon Solaire you just need to speak to him and be human so that you can summon him. Tis a rountine fight with that. Hell, i defeated them within 2 minutes with Solaire and the Drake sword. :O I’m in Anor Londo. And guess what boss is now just an enemy? The gargoyle and he is a lot tougher this time around. :O T-T
Origami Killer
I got them both first time, luckily the game shoots its self in the foot sometimes. Both gargoyles got stuck in a doorway so it was an easy kill twice.
The Lone Steven
Yeah, i don’t actually have any form of decent ranged skills due to me building a tank build. I know my Zeinhander+5 will kill the fecker if i can floor him with it.
Origami Killer
You could probably kill it a couple of hits with that then, but they really are a bastard up close and a couple of hits is hard to get on him :P Gotta love the game
fs
I’m sure I can use this discussion to my advantage, may give them a go. It’s kind of confusing that its harder, I thought Demon’s Souls actually sort of detracted players because it was so hard, I like hard games though. Dark Souls has sold better than Demon’s Souls though.. which is the point of my confusion.
The Lone Steven
Bit of a tough task as i’m using the ultra Greatsword Zienhander+5. It is a slow hitter. :-/ May just head back to Sen’s and focus on finding some lighting ember so that i can ascend it to a lighting sword.
fs
I have to say, Soliaire of Astora or ‘Solitaire of Astora’ as I call him, was a big help. I literally killed the gargoyle’s in two minutes. I have a question for Origami Killer if you read it, any idea how to get the drake sword after the dragons gone? I remember firing at him a lot and him flying away, now hes gone and I can’t destroy his tail in order to get the sword. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you both for your tips, they helped me greatly.
McProley
I platted Darksider 1 at the beginning of the week as I decided it was nice to have a set after Darksider 2 last week. Some Battlefield 3 MP with the Armoured Kill DLC and some Dust 514 beta action again. Its quite fun actually. And started Assasins Creed 2 which im very much struggling with the control system as i went into it expecting it to handle like Uncharted. I was very wrong.
On Vita ive been remote playing Retro/Grade and have found the lag pretty non-existent. This still doesnt help the fact Im absoluteky rubbish at the game. Ive also been enjoying Zen Pinball 2 this week and have had a couple of late nights due to the addictiveness of the game :)