Official video game thread

[cmoon]

[Kevin]

Divine Divinity. It's a classic style RPG, such as the old SSI Darksun game, or Baldur's Gate, except you have 1 character. It's almost like Diablo in portions of the interface, except where Diablo Fails, Divine Divinity is a success.

One of the many reasons I enjoy this game include: Interactive quest lines. You can fail some quests, but it doesn't completely fail your objectives. One quest in particular was a little confusing to me, I failed, but apparently I am still able to reconcile my differences later down the road. So that's a nice change of pace.

Reputation system is enjoyable.

The class system isn't limited. Where you have AD&D class systems that are stagnant, i.e. you can only have certain skills, this class system allows you to make a fighter, then buy skills from wizard, or rogue to turn him into a Ranger, or a Paladin, or a Swashbuckler! It's very entertaining.

Drawback: as with baldur's gate, there's a lot of Monster killing to advance in level.

Bonus: Unlike Diablo, you don't have to save/reload while killing 1 specific monster during x time of day to get Weapon AWESOME z. Diablo freakin sucked in that area.

Fun story! But it takes a while to experience it, why? Because of the Monster killing required to level. This extends gameplay, which is good, but it also becomes unrealistic (spending 20 character days just to clear a freakin dungeon).

The Fighter is a bit weak, even with me plugging points into attack and defense, I use a lot of potions, a lot of food, and a lot of time resting just between battles. Also, on Hard mode, certain monsters are killing my fighter in one hit, monsters which are lower level than him. Not sure if this is a bug which has been fixed as I have not yet patched the game.


You can buy Divine Divinity for 8-10 bucks at your local Target store. It's got a picture of some angel reaching to the heavens with a blood soaked sword coming down.

[Ash]

[Tetsuwan]

I been playing Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic 2, Sam and Max hit the Road (by Lucas Arts for Windows 95) on my PSP.

The PSP is a great system if you know how to hack it right. I can play GBA games on it, SNES, NES, Neo Geo, Neo Geo CD, Neo Geo Pocket/color, N64, GBC/GB, MSX, Apple II, (and someone's beginning to work on a Sega Saturn system port), and much more.

For my Wii I've been playing mostly Super Smash Bros Brawl. It's funny, I got my PS3 when it first came out. So it has backward compatibility fo PS2 and PS1 games. Even though I payed more then I would have now (I payed $599.99 no tax no shipping) I consider myself lucky. The funny thing is, at the moment I only own 1 PS3 game, Sega Superstar Tennis (and a whole lot of blu-ray).

I can't wait for the this holiday when Sonic Unleashed comes out. Sonic Unleashed incorporates 3D elements into old style 2D platforming, giving the feeling of the classic Genesis games. The game is made up of 50% 2D platforming and 50% 3D field play. The 3D section plays out like Sonic and the Secret Rings but the controls aren't on rails, so you have control of Sonic at all times. Between levels there are town hubs, just like the original Sonic Adventure. This relates to news Sega recently announced that this game was originally going to be Sonic Adventure 3.

Along with the main platforming levels and 3D level are stages were you control Sonic's alter ego, the Werehog. I presume from this news that fighting combos are available using his alter ego, who is slower than Sonic, and able to punch and kick his enemies. Also it has been announced that he can swing through the elements of the levels (trees, branches, ledges, etc.), which people have compared to Donkey Kong.

Here is an interesting tidbit. The PS3 and Xbox 360 version is being made by Sega of Japan. While the Wii version is being made by Dimps. Dimps is responsible for the Sonic rush series available for the DS. Due to the difference in hardware designs and limitations, the Wii version will have different level designs and other slight game alterations. The Wii version will use both the Wii Nunchuck and Wii Mote. This is different than the game control options for Sonic and the Secret Rings which used just the Wii Mote.

Lastly the game will have no connection to the last couple of titles in the series, such as Sonic 06 (Sonic the Hedgehog for the xbox360/PS3) and Sonic and the Secret Rings.

Also, this October I've pre-order for the PS3 Ghostbusters. This game takes place after the second movie. The game's script is written by Dan Akroid (he wrote the script for and stared as Egon in both Ghostbuster movies). Pretty much all the original actors are coming back to do voice overs. Unfortunately Rick Morranis hasn't been announced as coming back, or Sigouny Weaver, and it doesn't look like they will return. But the original Ghostbuster team (including Bill Murry) are returning.

In the game the Ghostbuster's have decided to expand business. This is due to the over demand for their services. The government also has hired them as a official workers for the government. With this extra money from the government they hire you to test out them out on the ghost runs.

As you can see my slate is long and running into the future. As of now Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Sonic 2, Sam and Max Hit the Road, Super Smash Bro's Brawl, Sega Superstar Tennis take up my time (I'm am also hoping to continue my X-files Resist or Serve PS2 game wich is much better than the PS1 X-files game).

My future slate contains Ghostbusters, Sonic Chronicles: Dark Brotherhood for the DS, Sonic Unleashed, and I'm hoping to add more.

[Kevin]

I can't wait for GB 3 ^_^ but I may not be able to afford it for a while -_-

[cmoon]

Just started playing Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne (thanks to the wonder of Play Asia). I can't advocate all the many Megami games, but Nocturne is something amazing if you are into meaty old-school rpgs. That said, Nocturne has its own thing going on, but quite enigmatically every convention they discard somehow reinforces the general old school nature of it. I love it!

[Ash]

[Tetsuwan]

[Kevin]

I did not know this! thank you ^_^

[Kevin]

[Ash]

So I finally completed No More Heroes (real ending of course) which was a pretty fun game, but I doubt I'm going to play it again anytime soon...

And these last days I've been playing LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures which is surprisingly fun. First Traveler's Tales LEGO game I played and I can see where all the positive reviews come from. It's just plain fun to play it.

[Kevin]

[cmoon]

[Ash]

Finished Tantei Jinguuji Saburou DS: Kienai Kokoro for the DS. Great visual novel. It's too bad the US localized version of the first DS Jinguuji was such a half assed attempt from what I hear (Jake Hunter Detective Chronicles: but the majority of the Japanese version was stripped down!), as this sequel is really, really good.

This week Super Smash Bros. Brawl FINALLY comes to Europe. :3

[Ash]

Super Smash Bros. Brawl was finally released last week in Europe, took them long enough! Mostly playing with Marth again, who has been changed quite a bit (the most annoying change is the SHORTER SWORD, gone are my years of perfect tip-of-the-sword training!).

But online play is horrible! The lag is just unbelievable, especially compared to Mario Kart! I can't even select if I want to play online continentally or worldwide, which would probably reduce lag.