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Just finished replaying the Mass Effect Trilogy in order to see the Extended Cut ending. I have to say that I really enjoyed it. First, the additions made the ending better in my opinion, and second, I took more time in each game to explore some more. I really think that the three games in the trilogy are some of the best games ever. They get better each time I go back to them.

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Praise Be To Helix!

Twilight Princess is holding my attention way better than Rogue Galaxy. TP is pretty good so far, but it's unashamedly constructed using nearly the exact framework of Ocarina of Time, and it borrows numerous concepts and details from A Link to the Past.

I'm a little disappointed in that regard, since Wind Waker was a ballsy game that was a huge (and often successful) departure from Zelda formula, while TP is basically Ocarina of Time with weird trappings and mostly-unnecessary characters in between dungeon crawls. Still, with that said, the world map and dungeons of TP are so strong - I feel they're better than Ocarina of Time's at roughly the same point - that it's winning me over easily.

Still, with that said, at the fourth dungeon in Twilight Princess and less than three hours into Rogue Galaxy, I got distracted. I'm replaying Fire Emblem: Sword of Seals on a GBA emulator and it's fantastic. Last time I heavily used a guide and stuck to specific characters; this time I'm going to try and avoid using a guide (except for basic things like Googling "how do I unlock this hidden chapter?" things) and use different specific characters. I haven't been on a Fire Emblem kick in YEARS. I'm going to enjoy this.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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I did start a new session of FFXII recently, but then I ended up being distracted by an old playthrough of The Witcher I started a couple years ago. And now that I have a new computer, I'll be able to play The Witcher 2, or perhaps Skyrim right after (both bought from the last Steam summer sale). Or I might just go back to FFXII, or even that Disgaea 2 playthrough I've been neglecting for the past several months. We shall see...

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Console RPG Cliches

Quote (laszlow @ 23rd August 2012 18:54)

I'm a little disappointed in that regard, since Wind Waker was a ballsy game that was a huge (and often successful) departure from Zelda formula, while TP is basically Ocarina of Time with weird trappings and mostly-unnecessary characters in between dungeon crawls.

You mean a vast empty ocean, with little to gain from exploring it, and most islands just bits of rock with weak enemies and useless loot?
Other than having a boat to traverse a blue field instead of a horse for a green one, what's the departure from the Zelda formula here?


As for me, The Binding of Isaac =]
A disgustingly cute indie game of randomly generated dungeons and topdown shooter action. The game's a subtle and not-so subtle nod to the original Zelda

Edit: that's not a great explanation but we are on the internet, after all.

This post has been edited by Blinge Odonata on 19th September 2012 11:42

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www.youtube.com/blinje
The victor sacrificed the vanquished to the heavens

Quote (Blinge Odonata @ 19th September 2012 06:28)

Quote (laszlow @ 23rd August 2012 18:54)

I'm a little disappointed in that regard, since Wind Waker was a ballsy game that was a huge (and often successful) departure from Zelda formula, while TP is basically Ocarina of Time with weird trappings and mostly-unnecessary characters in between dungeon crawls.

You mean a vast empty ocean, with little to gain from exploring it, and most islands just bits of rock with weak enemies and useless loot?
Other than having a boat to traverse a blue field instead of a horse for a green one, what's the departure from the Zelda formula here?

It feels outrageously different from Ocarina of Time, while Twilight Princess is basically Ocarina mashed up with some ALttP references. Sure, the ocean and exploration has a lot to do with that, but it's also the most open-ended and player-guided Zelda game since the NES days. Really, though, the big departure is at the visual level, being the only Zelda game without a big, sprawling green Hyrule field and the best vertically-skewing dungeons in a Zelda game that I've played (keep in mind I haven't tried Skyward Sword). Yes, it's a blue field instead of a green field, but I still thought it was refreshing and looked gorgeous. I liked Wind Waker and hope they don't relegate its aesthetic to underwhelming handheld titles like Phantom Hourglass or Spirit Tracks.

...anyhow, I finished Twilight Princess a week or two ago and I'm now trying to finish up an old playthrough of Fire Emblem: Fuuin no Tsurugi. I unlocked all the hidden chapters so I can go for the true ending; I'm not sure, but I think I only have 2 or 3 maps to go. Early MVPs were Lugh and Dieck, late-game MVPs were Lugh and Miledy. Roy is frustratingly below-average until the final few chapters, when he becomes one of the strongest Lords in Fire Emblem history.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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Finished The Witcher, that I did. Not a bad game really, but I don't feel particularly eager to play it again. On the other hand, I'm already in the middle of my second playthrough of The Witcher 2. I think it's a major improvement from the first installment; I went through the Vernon Roche path the first time, and I couldn't wait to experience the Iorveth path.

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Console RPG Cliches

Currently playing Deus Ex Human Revolution, Pokemon Silver and Resident Evil 6 demo. The only thing Deus Ex needs to be a 10/10 game would be a replay mode.

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The Bird of Hermes is my name, Eating my Wings to keep me tame...

Working on Suikoden II. I've beaten every single one in the series except this one and Tactics and all that did not make it to U.S. shores. Don't know why it's taken me so long to go back and finish this one. Of course I had to start over though because the game is over 10 years old.

Also working on Wild Arms. Took a hiatus on it for a while but am back to it and it actually seems like I'm more than halfway through and shouldn't be too difficult to finish.

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Chewbekah ^_^

Currently Playing: Final Fantasy XIV: ARR, Attack of the Firday Monsters, Animal Crossing: A New Leaf, Lego City Undercover, Kingdom Hearts 1.5 Remix

Recently Finished: Fire Emblem: Awakening

Favorite Game: Suikoden III

"Finished" Skyrim just in time for Black Mesa to be released. Thinking I might reinstall Amnesia too seeing as how October's coming up...

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Arts

Farts

Twarts

Quote (laszlow @ 19th September 2012 19:33)

It's also the most open-ended and player-guided Zelda game since the NES days.

and the best vertically-skewing dungeons in a Zelda game that I've played.

I think you're onto something there, care to elaborate a bit? or would that be too much of a departure from the thread ?

as for the vertically skewing dungeons, yeahh I think I remember! the forest-temple equivalent with the huge wind chambers comes to mind..


Also, I'm doing a pacifist/no kills run of Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes.
-playing Blazblue: Calamity Trigger. A quirky and awesome anime arcade fighter ported to ps3. Anyone a fan here?

This post has been edited by Blinge Odonata on 20th September 2012 14:08

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www.youtube.com/blinje
The victor sacrificed the vanquished to the heavens

Finished FE6 last night. Endgame is way better with the secret ending, to the point where I'm not sure I consider my first playthrough "beating" the game.

Beginning in one short hour (1PM EST), I will be playing the **** out of Torchlight 2. I'm wigging out about what class to pick: my favorite ARPG / DiabloClone class archetypes are AoE Tanks and hybrid summoners, and every class in TL2 can do one or both of those. Decisions, decisions....

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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Borderlands 2 is so many smiles in a box. A really big box. Full of guns and hilarious dialogue. I imagine it'll be the only thing I'm playing for a while.

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Okay, but there was a goat!

Borderlands 2 is scientifically the best game ever created. I finished my first playthrough as Commando and will be working on a second playthrough next. Pretty much I will be playing this game for the rest of my life.

I had literally planned on getting Assassins Creed 3 the day it came out - which is about a month from now - and now I'm not even going to bother preordering. It can wait. Borderlands is king.

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Hey, put the cellphone down for a while
In the night there is something wild
Can you hear it breathing?
And hey, put the laptop down for a while
In the night there is something wild
I feel it, it's leaving me

The more I play Torchlight II, the more I'm convinced Torchlight II is better than Diablo II. Throw in developer-sanctioned mod support and I'll be playing this thing for ages. If Runic Games decided to hold off their planned MMO again for a T2 expansion, well that's another day-one buy from this sucka.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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Quote (laszlow @ 2nd October 2012 14:42)

Throw in developer-sanctioned mod support and I'll be playing this thing for ages.

I'm all for modding single-player games, but multi-player? A bit leery 'bout that. What would you want?

Anyhoo, I'm giving Icewind Dale a whirl at the moment. Even if it's built on the same engine as my beloved Balder's Gate series, Icewind Dale just doesn't have the same charming character. Still, it's not too bad, so far.

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Console RPG Cliches

This is a horrible thing to admit for someone who has been part of the Earthbound/Starmen.net community since she was in high school buuuut... I'm just playing through Mother 1/Earthbound Zero for the first time. I've made several abortive attempts to play it over the years but this morning I sat down with my DS and tried to give it a go. It might take me awhile playing it "part time" but I'm sure I'll make it through to the end this time.

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kame, tortue, tortuga, schildkröte, tartaruga, turtle

"Arthur Dent?"
"Yes."
"Arthur Philip Dent?"
"Yes."
"You're a total knee biter."

currently playing silent hill 1-3, Neverwinter Nights Diamond edition, and Pokemon Silver (really need to give this one a rest).

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The Bird of Hermes is my name, Eating my Wings to keep me tame...

Quote (omnislash5209 @ 6th October 2012 23:10)

and Pokemon Silver (really need to give this one a rest).

Never. Once you start Pokemon, you must play it forever!

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Praise Be To Helix!

Finished Black Mesa like literally ten seconds ago.



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Arts

Farts

Twarts

I second the above opinions about Borderlands 2 and it's awe-inspiring wonder, grandeur, and general magnificence. I just beat the optional boss today, though, and now I'm itching for that promised DLC to come out.

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If you've been mod-o-fied,
It's an illusion, and you're in-between.
Don't you be tarot-fied,
It's just alot of nothing, so what can it mean?
~Frank Zappa

Sins exist only for people who are on the Way or approaching the Way

Well... Final Fantasy VI.. wouldyerbelieveit!? it struck me that i've only played it through once..

oh and... Doom =D

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www.youtube.com/blinje
The victor sacrificed the vanquished to the heavens

I'm rotating around between some games because each of them have a portions that are tough to get through because they aren't as interesting as other parts of the game or are just a pain.

Suikoden II - sometimes recruitment drives can be more of a pain than a pleasure so I generally find that I have the patience to do a lot of recruiting in one sitting.

Final Fantasy I - having to grind for gear and magic isn't something I can sit and do a lot of and since it's pretty much necessary at every town and before ever dungeon it's taking it's time.

Saiyuiki: A Journey West - just started this PS1 era SRPG on m PSP and I'm enjoying it so far but SRPGs are another thing I can only take small doses of at a time.

Wild Arms - the game was easier to play for long periods of time in the beginning but being one of the first of the PS1 era RPGs it has some things about it that make it a pain to play at times so again, small doses. I still like the game overall so I trudge through those things.

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Chewbekah ^_^

Currently Playing: Final Fantasy XIV: ARR, Attack of the Firday Monsters, Animal Crossing: A New Leaf, Lego City Undercover, Kingdom Hearts 1.5 Remix

Recently Finished: Fire Emblem: Awakening

Favorite Game: Suikoden III

Played some Gods Eater Burst and Street Fighter X Tekken with El Panachino over the weekend, and both were... weird, but not terribly unique. Gods Eater Burst is an unapologetic Monster Hunter clone made by Namco, with a good variety of loot, monsters, and costumes but not as strong as MH on environments, weapons, loot, challenge, or monsters. GEB has lots of customization, fast and floaty action, and a decent character-driven storyline. The option to use a 4-character party is awesome, the limitations of only 3 guns and 3 melee weapon types is disappointing. The character designs are VERY anime-inspired and I think that GEB borrows heavily in style and action from Tales Of games, also made by Namco. All in all, not bad as a Monster Hunter substitute, but not better. I'll put some more time into it, but I dunno how much.

SFXT is another clear pitch: combine the best of two worlds (Street Fighter's pace, controls, cast, and look and Marvel vs. Capcom's combos, tags, and large cast) and add a bunch of Tekken characters to the mix. The cast is really solid, but the fact that there are 12 DLC characters visibly blacked-out on the character selection screen is an example of paid DLC at its most awful (and most of the time I'm a pro-DLC kind of guy). Combos are fun at times, but they're weirdlly loosey-goosey. You can mash into a target combo easily, and supers are simple motions that are a little *too* similar to other special moves. I accidentally killed myself at least twice by accidentally activating a special last-ditch suicide move when I was trying for a tag super. SFXT looks great and has a nice large cast of characters, but all the extraneous systems and the lack of tight, sensible combos are major minuses.

...but now that I'm back home from my weekend adventures, I'm going back to some Rogue Galaxy on my PS2 and Valkyria Chronicles on my PS3. Should last me until Thanksgiving.

This post has been edited by laszlow on 8th October 2012 20:58

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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I had a copy of FFT bought from Packard's... that broke, so I turned it in and saw Metroid Prime.

If you haven't tried it, and you love Super Metroid, then you need to quickly. The game is really really good.

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Praise Be To Helix!

Quote (Narratorway @ 6th October 2012 20:09)

Finished Black Mesa like literally ten seconds ago.

What did you think of it? The bit that I've played is AWESOME. I'm being really slow at playing it since I have to borrow my dad's computer to run it (yeah, this laptop sucks for gaming).

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kame, tortue, tortuga, schildkröte, tartaruga, turtle

"Arthur Dent?"
"Yes."
"Arthur Philip Dent?"
"Yes."
"You're a total knee biter."

Currently:

Mass Effect 3 (first time)
Fable 3 (second time)
Final Fantasy Dissidia
Monster Hunter Tri
LoZ - Windwaker
Kingdom Hearts
Final Fantasy 7
Terraria

At most its only 2 games per system, and I have certain games I play when I am with my girlfriend. I will probably be continuing the FF series in order (already played up through 6) with my girlfriend, as she is new to the series. After ME3 and Fable 3, I will be moving on to the Assassin's Creed series and gear up for the 3rd game to come out. I play through games quickly, so even 2 weeks from now, all these could be changed, except Terraria and FF Dissidia, I am continously playing through those.

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That was my sin. And this... this... is my punishment.

Quote (Kame @ 9th October 2012 00:32)

What did you think of it? The bit that I've played is AWESOME. I'm being really slow at playing it since I have to borrow my dad's computer to run it (yeah, this laptop sucks for gaming).

Well my original impressions really haven't changed that much. The jump/crouch mechanic is mad-stupid (would've made the game unplayable for me if I hadn't gone into the game files to change it) and the engine is really old and feels it. For anyone not running a mid/high end system, the end game (the last battle especially) is pretty much going to grind your FPS down to a slideshow. It's nigh unplayable, but rumor is they intend to fix it...

Those problems aside, you can tell they put a lot of love into it. All the alterations in the level design and puzzles are for the better (jumping mechanics notwithstanding of course), and I really like how they shortened a few mid-game areas that dragged on for waaaay too long in the original. What's really impressive though is the all the extra dialogue, characters and such. Really fleshes out the world to fit with HL2.

In the end, I'd say it's the definitive version of the game.



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Arts

Farts

Twarts

Replaying Twilight Princess, for the first time since 2007. And I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It's got a totally different feel to it than Skyward Sword (which I also liked) - much darker. Hyrule is also more fun to explore than an open sky with separate maps to skydive into. If I'm not completely sick of Zelda by the time I finish, I may keep going backwards and hit Wind Waker next.

Trying out Rogue Galaxy and it's about as good as I expected. It's like Final Fantasy XII and Skies of Arcadia had a cute little baby, they gave it a bunch of rainbow-colored toys, and then the baby took those toys and started throwing them all over the room. This analogy worked out better in my head.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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Lets see...

FF6
FF4
FF2
Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill 3
Chrono Cross
Sims 3
Soul Caliber 5
Resident Evil 6
Castlevania: SOTN
Ninja Gaiden (NES)
Need for Speed Most Wanted.

and many more

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The Bird of Hermes is my name, Eating my Wings to keep me tame...