What are you playing?

[jwinslow]

The Simpsons Game.

Neat graphics (cartoon, pretty true to show) and some humor, but the camera system is awful at times. Pretty mediocre through the first few scenes.

Will probably send it back to gamefly within a day or two. Wife and I not really enjoying it.

[jwinslow]

Mercenaries 2, some issues with the graphics, aiming, physics models, and others... but it doesn't matter. This is one of those games which captures the fun of video games, mindless, escapist & explosive. Had a lot of fun with it the first two days. I think it's a great rental, with limited replay value.

p.s. Ended up keeping Simpsons a bit longer, and there were some fun references. Still not a great game, camera angles ruin the fun. Did get a lot better after the first few days.

[THEWOOD]

Originally Posted by Piney

Besides NCAA09 I have been playing alot of the Civilization Revolutions Demo. (only console game I can play 1 handed while rocking my newborn in the other) Debating about buying the full game, anyone have it?

Great game, bought it when it was first released. Very addicting at first. Also games can take up to 4 hours. Very fun though.

[BuckeyeMac]

FIFA 09 Demo comes out tomorrow, so I'll definitely be playing that for a while.

[jmorbitz]

Currently, my Xbox 360 visual output is [censored]ED ($99 to fix) so I broke out my old SEGA Genesis and EA Sports College Football USA '97 ('96 rosters, with Tommy Frazier on the cover). I started a new season, with tOSU of course, and was intrigued that there is an option that allows you to choose Play-offs or Bowls to end the season. I chose play-offs after finishing number 2 in the season (somehow got jumped by UTenn in the last week although we both won) I'm in the second round of the play-offs against Auburn. I went down 14-0 after throwing a pick and issing numerous tackles, but I've brought it back within three, (17-14 AU) at the start of the second half, and I'm receiving.

I'll edit once I win.

Final score 36-24 me, bitches. In round one I beat Alabama 41-16.

I'm in the semi's playing #5 Florida.

In the other Semi-Final is #1 UTenn v. #3 scUM

I hope the computerized scUM team wins so I can beat them twice in one season (28-14 in Week 3, the scheduling is weird) and this time for the NC.

[OCBuckWife]

Originally Posted by jmorbitz

Currently, my Xbox 360 visual output is [censored]ED ($99 to fix) so I broke out my old SEGA Genesis and EA Sports College Football USA '97 ('96 rosters). I started a new season, with tOSU of course, and was intrigued that there is an option that allows you to choose Play-offs or Bowls to end the season. I chose play-offs after finishing number 2 in the season (somehow got jumped by UTenn in the last week although we both won) I'm in the second round of the play-offs against Auburn. I went down 14-0 after throwing a pick and issing numerous tackles, but I've brought it back within three, (17-14 AU) at the start of the second half, and I'm receiving.

I'll edit once I win.

OCBF is rockin it to his brand new WII Rockband. Yay for me.

[jmorbitz]

Originally Posted by OCBuckWife

OCBF is rockin it to his brand new WII Rockband. Yay for me.

Hell Yeah. Jam out with your clam out!

[purple]

Right now I'm working through the end of Kindgom Hearts 2 for PS2. Been looking at a PS3 but I figure if I can finish the unfinished games I can trade them all in against the cost of the new console.

[3074326]

The only way to make me happy after the game tonight was to kill a whole bunch of people on Call of Duty 4. So I did. I killed a whole bunch of [censored]ing people and I feel much better.

I've been playing that game a lot lately.. that and Madden 09.

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

Rock Band 2

The snow ball effect of huge games is just now starting, I'll never get caught up with all of them.

[jwinslow]

Mercenaries 2, while fun for it's explosive destruction, gets pretty lame after awhile. Too bad too, as better programming could have made for a great game. This review pretty much nails it

Imagine a game with a huge, open world filled with dozens of unique vehicles and attacks that let you cause destruction whenever and wherever you choose. Now, toss in game-crippling bugs, brain-dead AI, unsatisfying gunplay, a lousy story, and repetitive missions. That's Mercenaries 2: World in Flames. Mindlessly causing chaos can be enjoyable in short bursts, and online co-op play spices things up a bit, but beyond those all-too infrequent bits of fun, Mercenaries 2 is a dud.

There are certainly moments when it's fun to blow stuff up. You play as one of three mercenaries--all of whom have very similar storylines. The game follows your absurd quest for vengeance on a man who hired you to do a job and didn't pay. Mercs 2's story is bad (as is the voice acting), but it's ultimately inconsequential and all of the cutscenes can safely be skipped. The first few missions are designed to get you accustomed to the game's third-person-shooting action. In the span of 30 minutes you'll shoot several different weapons, use grenades and C4, and drive cars, boats, and jeeps as you secure what will eventually become your home base. After that, the first few contracts you take on are fun, but that's mostly because the gameplay mechanics are new and the thrill of destruction is still fresh.

It's after the first hour or so that you'll start to notice something's amiss. For a game that's all about guns, actually firing one isn't terribly satisfying. Weapons feel weak, it's difficult to hit moving targets, and the damage they cause is inconsistent. In fact, it's easier to hijack a tank or grapple onto a flying helicopter than it is to destroy one. Heavier weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades are great and can destroy almost anything they hit, but the amount of ammunition (which, for some reason, you have to hit a button to pick up) is so limited that you won't be able to use them often. Plus, it's tedious to have to go in a shop, purchase a weapon, go outside, call for the weapon, and then wait to pick it up. Why can't you just walk into a store and buy a gun?

The game's version of Venezuela is enormous, but while technically impressive, its size is mostly a detriment. There's not a whole lot to do, so you'll be tempted to make your own fun by blowing up buildings and cars and terrorizing towns in a tank. While this might be enticing (and fun for a few hours), it's a bad idea if you're trying to actually make it to the end of the game. Not only are you penalized for harming civilians, but one stray bullet can anger an entire faction. Factions are your main source of income and can be essential to mission progress, but when a faction is angry with you they'll quit offering you work and shoot you on sight. The large world also means that unless you're in a position to use the instant transport option, it takes forever to get from one place to the next. Roads wind aimlessly around the terrain; the GPS often gives bad directions; random friendly soldiers will blow up your cars; and helicopters are frequently shot out of the sky by missiles that rarely miss. To make matters worse, when you're killed after hitting a checkpoint you typically have to go back to your home base or the outpost where you got the mission and then travel all the way back to your target.

...

Will be picking up Star Wars The Force Unleashed tomorrow (rental).

[jmorbitz]

Can't wait to play Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. That game looks awesome.

Lately though, my friends and I have been tearing it up on Tiger Woods '09. And it's a great game.
Golf is fun whether it's real or Xbox 360. It's competitive but at the same time, your cheering everyone else on, like the SEC.

If anyone has played TWoods '08, '09 is almost exactly the same, but a little better. Great game play, good response, and the swing stick with the left joystick is awesome. Cool options with career players. The astronaut suit gives full everything and funny hats help stats. Slight learning curve, but once mastered the game is incredible.

Bottom line, if as a player you enjoy sports games, play this game.

[jwinslow]

Star Wars: Force Unleashed - solid thus far, only a few chapters in. The free physics system and force power overlap offers some sweet action. Problem is, the wide open physics and grabbing options is too open, and the targeting system can be tough to control at times (who to grab, attack, etc). Maybe my expectations were just too high, but it lost some of it's allure after awhile. LOTS of glitches, froze twice, and stutters a lot. Stringing together screen-prompted single button clicks to kill bosses is incredibly lame... especially with such long breaks inbetween. Ruin otherwise sweet finishes to the boss battles. Pretty strong AI, different than most games. The back story is interesting thus far.

A game like this has the potential to be up in the 9 ballpark, with all the storyline and feature possibilities. Instead, this game is rated from 6.5-7.5 by almost all gaming sites. Too bad.

This is a good video review that sums up my experience as well:
http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/action/s...video-review-1

PES Pro Soccer 08 - Why do we put up with endless games who have fancy graphics and features, but can't do the core elements correctly, like switching players (or running, in EA football). Ruins an otherwise solid soccer game. Sent it back after a few days.

Flatout - Weak ripoff of burnout series, and not nearly as fun. I did enjoy some of the stunt games, but would not play them again. Sending it back after about 1 hr of playing.

[BuckeyeMac]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

PES Pro Soccer 08 - Why do we put up with endless games who have fancy graphics and features, but can't do the core elements correctly, like switching players (or running, in EA football). Ruins an otherwise solid soccer game. Sent it back after a few days.

If you want to play a good soccer/futbol game FIFA 09 comes out in a few weeks. Download the demo on marketplace. It's amazing

[jwinslow]

If you want to play a good soccer/futbol game FIFA 09 comes out in a few weeks. Download the demo on marketplace. It's amazing

I liked some parts of PES 08 better than Fifa 08, but the switching was painfully spastic, ruining the game.

Big fan of Gamefly's vast inventory and pricing, I just need newer titles quicker. I love rental plans for playing a half dozen brand new games a month, without losing $60 a pop ($20 a month). For that, Gamefly is not just a bad option for that, it's not an option at all. I've even left my 2nd game slot with only new releases on 'low' availability, and they never shipped. Plus it takes like 5 business days to turnaround between games (send it back, they receive, new one ships). They're offering a free month trial right now (offer expires first week of october). When you go to cancel, they'll offer you 1 month at $15 to stay on, giving you 2 months of 1 game out for $15. It's a great way to play a wide variety of games, especially those you missed the first time around (and are no longer on shelves at local places).