The Games I Need To Play – Summer 2010

So as you’ve probably realised, I haven’t been blogging lately. I started my job on Wednesday. My full time job, to be precise, meaning I haven’t really had the time to do anything of late. Still, I’ve reached the point now where I’m going to be able to blog more frequently for the first time in months. Understandably, this isn’t the perfect, daily updates of yore but hey I do the best with what I’m given.

Today, I’m going to tell you the games I’m desperate to play, and probably will be playing when I get my first paycheck. Mainly these are games that have been released, with the exception of one:

I haven’t mentioned yet just how much I need to play Red Dead Redemption. Although it never even warranted so much as a single post during it’s development, I couldn’t help be caught up in the hype surrounding it’s release. It wasn’t the bland linear western shoot-em-up I expected. Instead, it’s a fully released free roaming western epic, in the same leagues as one of my all time favourites, Gun. What is it about the wild west that makes game developers shine?

Oh come of it. I know it’s been out for ages, and I know everyone knows who the killer is blah, blah, blah. Tell me something I don’t know. I’m a sucker for games with an incredible narrative, so leave me to play it in peace will you? Please? Yea. Shut the door on the way out while your at it. Your bitterness has made me cold.

If you’re a frequent visitor you’ll probably know how much I enjoyed Crackdown. A God-damn lot is the answer you’re looking for, and the sequel looks to be even better. This little beauty will be finding it’s way into my Xbox the day it comes out.

To reiterate, I’m a sucker for narrative driven games. Alan Wake certainly looks to be one of the better ones as well. Great atmosphere, great setting for an immersive plot. Yea, looks like my kind of game.

 

If there’s anything you think I’m missing out, new or old, make sure you let me know in the comments below!

Heavy Rain

Ages ago , I played the Heavy Rain demo. My first impressions were ones of… shock! Joy! Controlling an overweight, asthmatic police officer as he enters the apartment of a prostitute is, after all, something I can’t say I’ve ever done in a videogame before. Instantly, I loved the controls, the QuickTime events and of course, as I’m a sucker for insanely juicy narratives, loved the opening of the story. This first section was a joy to play.

However, as soon as I played the introduction to the second character (an FBI agent who’s a cross between a stereotypical “First Day On The Job” policeman and… Robocop) things began to get iffy. See, I was wandering around this field looking for clues, and effectively I was collecting objects in order to progress. Not really the best thing to make me do in the demo of the “Most interactive game ever” is it? Making me collect objects. It was like playing Spyro with QuickTime events.

So yea, that really put me off. I’m still thinking of renting it though. Not buying it, however, as there’s just no replay value in it whatsoever.

Bewbs

Today I witnessed three sets of virtual boobs. All of which, left me feeling dirty all over.

The first was on a video someone sent me of the new PS3 cinematic thriller Heavy Rain. I’ve been fairly interested in it, so I was glad that there was new footage out there that I haven’t seen. Turns out it was of the main character showering. How fun. On another note, you have to wave your controller up and down to dry her off. I’m feeling a bit put off by this game now…

The second was Mass Effect 2, in which the woman above pounced Captain Shepherd in what looked like an engine room. It was embedded within an article on CVG about Fox News’s reaction to the sex scenes within the first Mass Effect. I watched it thinking it was about the outrage. I was mistaken.Thing is, all I could think about was how the hell did she get her suit off in the first place? I mean… It’s metal isn’t it? If it isn’t then what the hell does she reflect bullets with?

 

Third was this thing on Conkers Bad Fur Day. I think I’ve been put off games all together now.

A Productive Day

Oh yea! I finished an RPG today, can you believe it?

 

I really, REALLY enjoyed (Pauses for breath) Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness. It was a fantastic blend of humor, fresh game play and some truly fantastic artwork. In fact, I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a game this much in a long time. Bravo, Penny Arcade boys. Bravo.

 

In other news, Peggle has been confirmed for the PSN with trophies (something that made me beam with joy) and Quake Live is as epic as… well Epic. Speaking of Epic, they should really jump on the bandwagon and make a free to play browser based Unreal Tournament. I mean, that would rock.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness Episode One

Bought this, this morning. To be honest, I kinda regretted it straight after because I hadn’t read… GOOD reviews for it. Just average ones. Still, it was already downloading so I sighed, set my PS3 to shut down after download and off I went to college.

 

I got home around 8, wandered down the local Tesco with a mate and got back around 9. I booted it up, sighed, and began playing.

 

Let me tell you, I love Penny Arcade. The web comic is funny as hell, and never fails to deliver off the wall yet true to life wit and humor. It’s a must read. No doubt my obsession with the web comic was one of the factors that led me to buying this game. So why was I so cynical about my purchase? Well firstly it’s an RPG and I don’t really do RPG’s… Also, it’s episodic. Meaning that no matter how long they claim it is, It just wont be.

 

As usual though, I ate my own words (for the record, they taste rather rich like fruitcake, and as you well know, fruitcake is the preffered choice of desert for a liar). I love this game. It’s around 6-8 hours long (or so I’ve heard), has a rather fresh combat system (it’s just the usual turn based, but it’s not as strict as Final Fantasy) and, best of all it is funny as hell. It really left me wetting myself with laughter. It’s brilliant.

 

The character creation system is pretty impressive as well. Your character appears in the cut scenes, fully animated in 2D. It’s rather clever!