I had some time off for the first time in six weeks this past couple of days, some of which would naturally be devoted to playing games.
I say 'games' but one in particular has caught my interest: Rainbow Six Vegas on the 360.
Originally I picked this up to play the Terrorist Hunt mode with a friend, but found it almost impossible, not really getting the way the game played. If you're not familiar with it the game is a first-person shooter involving counter-terrorist types and has something to do with Tom Clancy (never try and read the Rainbow Six novel of his, it really is awful). The focus is more on squad-based tactical combat rather than running about waving a gun about. In fact if you spend more than about 4 seconds in the open it is GAME OVER.
You have two computer-controlled team-mates who, thankfully for me, can take care of themselves when it matters. In fact there are times I can just tell them to go into a room and clear out the bad guys, although it is reaching a point in the game where doing this means having to go in after them and heal them up.
After failing the first part of the game, set in a Mexican border town, I gave it up. The enemy are hard to see, they pop out from cover and fire at you, so more often than not you're firing at a head 50 feet away. I didn't think I'd be able to get on with it but came back to it recently, for no good reason.
I'm glad I did as it's now clicked. Once you get out of the run-and-gun mindset and start thinking tactically it's actually really absorbing.
The game is very Tom Clandy, that is near-future military action with a big dose of full-fat America on top. Not exactly my bag but I will admit this game is much better than I expected.
Friday, 25 September 2009
Monday, 21 September 2009
An Expensive Autumn
Anyone who has even a slight interest in games knows that the last few months of the year are the busiest as far as big game releases goes. Publishers seem to save their big guns to coincide with 'the holidays' (it's all about pleasing Americans, or so it seems), that lucrative Christmas market.
Which leaves skinflints like me with a dilema: shell out big money now on thos big new games or wait six months when they'll be at most half the price.
There are a few games I want to get in on whilst they're still hot:
Modern Warfare 2 - or Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 or whatever they want to 'brand' it. Despite my moaning about online games I really want to give this a go. After watching the following interview I felt Infinity Ward, the bods responsible for this, were genuine in their intention to make the game accessible to all kinds of players, what with the inclusion of 'Deathstreaks' - ie if you get killed 5 times in a row without scoring you get some temporary boost. With me being the epitome of an inept gamer this appeals.
Here's the video
I'll doubtless play it without a headset so as to avoid the rabble. It ought to be fun, but the publisher, Activision, are taking the proverbial by charging more for the game than normal, thinking they can clean up - this game had better deliver!
Beatles Rock Band - I want to pick this up whilst my friends are still playing it, yet you can't find it for less than £35 at the moment, and it certainly won't come down in price before Christmas at the very least.
There are a few in the 'not quite, but maybe later' category like Halo ODST, Left 4 Dead 2 and Guitar Hero 5, but when money is tight you really have to think carefully.
I regularly pick up cheap games but sometimes you have to be in there whilst they're new, and to be honest I feel like an idiot sometimes. I've been burned before.
Anyway, I get paid next week, so which games will get my attention?
Which leaves skinflints like me with a dilema: shell out big money now on thos big new games or wait six months when they'll be at most half the price.
There are a few games I want to get in on whilst they're still hot:
Modern Warfare 2 - or Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 or whatever they want to 'brand' it. Despite my moaning about online games I really want to give this a go. After watching the following interview I felt Infinity Ward, the bods responsible for this, were genuine in their intention to make the game accessible to all kinds of players, what with the inclusion of 'Deathstreaks' - ie if you get killed 5 times in a row without scoring you get some temporary boost. With me being the epitome of an inept gamer this appeals.
Here's the video
I'll doubtless play it without a headset so as to avoid the rabble. It ought to be fun, but the publisher, Activision, are taking the proverbial by charging more for the game than normal, thinking they can clean up - this game had better deliver!
Beatles Rock Band - I want to pick this up whilst my friends are still playing it, yet you can't find it for less than £35 at the moment, and it certainly won't come down in price before Christmas at the very least.
There are a few in the 'not quite, but maybe later' category like Halo ODST, Left 4 Dead 2 and Guitar Hero 5, but when money is tight you really have to think carefully.
I regularly pick up cheap games but sometimes you have to be in there whilst they're new, and to be honest I feel like an idiot sometimes. I've been burned before.
Anyway, I get paid next week, so which games will get my attention?
Friday, 18 September 2009
Just A Quickie
Just a quick update really.
It's been a hard week at work so I've been trying to relax with a few games, the main one being Saints Row 2 on the Xbox 360. It's essentially a homage to the GTA games and an alternative to GTA IV which I found a bit too realistic. SR2 puts the emphasis firmly on fun, everything you do is a bit silly and slapstick. I feel that I can actually do missions rather than getting flattened like in the GTA games.
The game may not look as funky as some recent games but it makes up for it with pure gameplay and pure enjoyment. It'll doubtless get frustrating later on but right now I'm loving it, albeit in small doses, although that's how I tend to play games these days, sadly.
Other than that there was a spot of Team Fortress 2 on the PC as well as the usual bout of Quake Live.
It's been a hard week at work so I've been trying to relax with a few games, the main one being Saints Row 2 on the Xbox 360. It's essentially a homage to the GTA games and an alternative to GTA IV which I found a bit too realistic. SR2 puts the emphasis firmly on fun, everything you do is a bit silly and slapstick. I feel that I can actually do missions rather than getting flattened like in the GTA games.
The game may not look as funky as some recent games but it makes up for it with pure gameplay and pure enjoyment. It'll doubtless get frustrating later on but right now I'm loving it, albeit in small doses, although that's how I tend to play games these days, sadly.
Other than that there was a spot of Team Fortress 2 on the PC as well as the usual bout of Quake Live.
Saturday, 12 September 2009
The Fab Four
Readers of this occasional blog may know I do like a bit of Rock Band 2 now and again, so today I experienced the latest and most-hyped incarnation of the game: Beatles Rock band or whatever they want to call it.
I hosted a bit of a party of sorts with Michelle, her friend Fi, and Dan. After a saunter around town where I picked up Conker: Live & Reloaded on the original Xbox for a stupidly-low £4, we headed back to mine and got the game going.
The presentation is amazing. It's clearly not just a Rock Band cash-in. Whilst the core RB gameplay is the same the menus, stage scenes and whatnot are all lovingly-recreated scenes from the Beatles' career.
Now I'm not the biggest Beatles fan, in fact I'd say they're a bit overrated in my book, but playing along with all the hits was really good fun, especially as a full band. We shifted about and played all the instruments, I managed to get 100% on Paperback Writer on Hard vocals - it helped I knew the song pretty well.
Something I have to mention is how ace the bass part in this is. On normal Rock band bass can be pretty dull, even on Expert, but here most songs are pretty tough which makes a pleasant change.
I'll probably pick this up when it comes down in price a bit. It exceeded my expectations, certainly.
Cheers to Dan, Fi and Mish for coming over, was a great way to experience the game.
I hosted a bit of a party of sorts with Michelle, her friend Fi, and Dan. After a saunter around town where I picked up Conker: Live & Reloaded on the original Xbox for a stupidly-low £4, we headed back to mine and got the game going.
The presentation is amazing. It's clearly not just a Rock Band cash-in. Whilst the core RB gameplay is the same the menus, stage scenes and whatnot are all lovingly-recreated scenes from the Beatles' career.
Now I'm not the biggest Beatles fan, in fact I'd say they're a bit overrated in my book, but playing along with all the hits was really good fun, especially as a full band. We shifted about and played all the instruments, I managed to get 100% on Paperback Writer on Hard vocals - it helped I knew the song pretty well.
Something I have to mention is how ace the bass part in this is. On normal Rock band bass can be pretty dull, even on Expert, but here most songs are pretty tough which makes a pleasant change.
I'll probably pick this up when it comes down in price a bit. It exceeded my expectations, certainly.
Cheers to Dan, Fi and Mish for coming over, was a great way to experience the game.
Thursday, 3 September 2009
It's Been A Long Time
Hello! Yes, I apologise for not being abot these past few months. If I did have an excuse it would be 'the summer' - it's really hard to sit in playing games when it is lovely and warm outside, plus I don't thing the 360 would have been able to cope.
September is here and with it the cooler weather and darker evenings. This will hopefully draw me back into playing more games.
I've not been totally absent from gaming though, what have I been playing?
Quake Live - really been getting into this, and despite my bitching and moaning earlier in the year I have to say I've improved a great deal. Not only can I die less than I frag but my accuracy has improved too. It is so convenient, I can jump into a game on an evening quickly and feel the rush.
Trials HD - I got hold of some cheapo MS moon-bucks and picked this up. It's basically Kikstart II for the Noughties with some excellent level design. I had the previous game in this series on the PC and couldn't even get past the tutorial, it was that rock-hard, but I'm glad to say this is much more approachable and very addictive.
Rainbow Six Vegas - the first one. I started playing this about a year ago but couldn't get on with it, but for some reason I thought I'd give it another go, and have found myself enjoying it much more. Yes, it is rock-hard and my crap eyesight isn't really ideal, seeing as you're mainly firing at bits of targets miles away. Picked up R6V2 recently and am hoping to do a bit of the Terrorist Hunt mode with that.
Team Fortress 2 - the Thursday games of this have moved from the 360 to the PC now. We all got fed up waiting for the much-needed update and jumped over to play on a hired server. It really is amazing stuff, simple as that really.
Anything else? Hmm, bits and bobs really, nothing worth going on about here.
September is here and with it the cooler weather and darker evenings. This will hopefully draw me back into playing more games.
I've not been totally absent from gaming though, what have I been playing?
Quake Live - really been getting into this, and despite my bitching and moaning earlier in the year I have to say I've improved a great deal. Not only can I die less than I frag but my accuracy has improved too. It is so convenient, I can jump into a game on an evening quickly and feel the rush.
Trials HD - I got hold of some cheapo MS moon-bucks and picked this up. It's basically Kikstart II for the Noughties with some excellent level design. I had the previous game in this series on the PC and couldn't even get past the tutorial, it was that rock-hard, but I'm glad to say this is much more approachable and very addictive.
Rainbow Six Vegas - the first one. I started playing this about a year ago but couldn't get on with it, but for some reason I thought I'd give it another go, and have found myself enjoying it much more. Yes, it is rock-hard and my crap eyesight isn't really ideal, seeing as you're mainly firing at bits of targets miles away. Picked up R6V2 recently and am hoping to do a bit of the Terrorist Hunt mode with that.
Team Fortress 2 - the Thursday games of this have moved from the 360 to the PC now. We all got fed up waiting for the much-needed update and jumped over to play on a hired server. It really is amazing stuff, simple as that really.
Anything else? Hmm, bits and bobs really, nothing worth going on about here.
Saturday, 20 June 2009
Arcade Barn
I recently enjoyed a top weekend in Devon at the Arcade Barn in Woodbury, just outside Exeter.
Essentially it's this fella's collection of old arcade machines, It was situated on an old farm that had been turned into some industrial units just outside Exeter. There were about 30-40 machines in various states of repair, and a repair section full of hardware being worked on. In the working section the only lighting came from the machines themselves, so when we emerged into the evening light after 7 hours on the machines it was a real shock.
Most of the people who came along were arcade collectors. I was only there for the games but the collectors were constatnly talking about PCBs, JAMMA cabs, various versions of games etc - it was all a bit over my head but facinating stuff.
Once all the machines were turned on the place really came alive. All the sounds and colours of a classic arcade were there - it brought back memories of playing in arcade in the 80s and 90s. It was a bit warm and got a bit sweaty, it needed a bit of ventilation. Generally though the atmosphere was great.
Games I played:
Daytona USA - sadly this was one-player only as the 3D hardware was all scrambled on the other screen, but it was still great to take this for a spin. I don't remember the pop-in being that bad (mountains would just appear 20 feet infront of you), stiil, really smooth, fast and fun.
Hyper Olympics/Hyper Sports - I well remember playing these in the mid-80s. You may remember them as the ones where you have to bash two buttons realy fast to make your little man run. I played Hyper Olympics to death this weekend.
Starblade - superb cockpit space shooter from 1991 that used flat-shaded polygons. It was brilliant fun, especially since the vibrating seat wasn't quite right so every time a missile hit your ship it felt like someone was repeatedly punching you in the back; you'd thing this was a bad thing but no, in this case it felt great!
Pacman - it's been played to death down the years but actually playing real Pacman on a real machine just feels great. The classic sounds, the classic graphics. It was a very popular machine.
Outrunners - this was the twin seat version but one screen had the blue missing, but it was still very playable. Very hard though. Classic sunny SEGA goodness.
Rage Racer - the monitor was a bit wonky but it played really well. Lovely smooth racing, big drifts, proper arcade thrills.
Marble Madness - used to play this in Taunton Dean services on the M5 in the 80s. I was determined to get through level 3 but despite my best efforts couldn't manage it.
Chase HQ - proper arcade driving excellence from the late-80s. Fast, slick, chunky graphics, driving music. Exciting and brilliant.
Also played Robotron, Puzzle Bobble, Gunbird and a couple of others. Some games I didn't manage to play were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which broke down, Afterburner (the hydraulics on the cab were a bit wonky and it had to be turned off), Star Wars (really wanted to play this but a cog in the joystick was knackered, apparently), and a few more which needed to be "credited up" ie having a poke about in the coin box.
After checking in at the hotel we got a cab and had a nice evening in a country pub including a meal (scampi for me). The four of us who were in the hotel stayed on with this fella Bruce, a massive arcade hardware afficionado. He was coming up with some great stories about finding rare games, the main people on the scene, all sorts. He even bought me a drink! Top fella.
All in all a very interesting weekend. 7 straight hours of playing the games was a little much for me, although that's probably down to my withering attention span more than anything else. I met a decent bunch of people and came away feeling their enthusiasm for arcade machines, although there's no way I'll be able to get into all that.
Essentially it's this fella's collection of old arcade machines, It was situated on an old farm that had been turned into some industrial units just outside Exeter. There were about 30-40 machines in various states of repair, and a repair section full of hardware being worked on. In the working section the only lighting came from the machines themselves, so when we emerged into the evening light after 7 hours on the machines it was a real shock.
Most of the people who came along were arcade collectors. I was only there for the games but the collectors were constatnly talking about PCBs, JAMMA cabs, various versions of games etc - it was all a bit over my head but facinating stuff.
Once all the machines were turned on the place really came alive. All the sounds and colours of a classic arcade were there - it brought back memories of playing in arcade in the 80s and 90s. It was a bit warm and got a bit sweaty, it needed a bit of ventilation. Generally though the atmosphere was great.
Games I played:
Daytona USA - sadly this was one-player only as the 3D hardware was all scrambled on the other screen, but it was still great to take this for a spin. I don't remember the pop-in being that bad (mountains would just appear 20 feet infront of you), stiil, really smooth, fast and fun.
Hyper Olympics/Hyper Sports - I well remember playing these in the mid-80s. You may remember them as the ones where you have to bash two buttons realy fast to make your little man run. I played Hyper Olympics to death this weekend.
Starblade - superb cockpit space shooter from 1991 that used flat-shaded polygons. It was brilliant fun, especially since the vibrating seat wasn't quite right so every time a missile hit your ship it felt like someone was repeatedly punching you in the back; you'd thing this was a bad thing but no, in this case it felt great!
Pacman - it's been played to death down the years but actually playing real Pacman on a real machine just feels great. The classic sounds, the classic graphics. It was a very popular machine.
Outrunners - this was the twin seat version but one screen had the blue missing, but it was still very playable. Very hard though. Classic sunny SEGA goodness.
Rage Racer - the monitor was a bit wonky but it played really well. Lovely smooth racing, big drifts, proper arcade thrills.
Marble Madness - used to play this in Taunton Dean services on the M5 in the 80s. I was determined to get through level 3 but despite my best efforts couldn't manage it.
Chase HQ - proper arcade driving excellence from the late-80s. Fast, slick, chunky graphics, driving music. Exciting and brilliant.
Also played Robotron, Puzzle Bobble, Gunbird and a couple of others. Some games I didn't manage to play were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which broke down, Afterburner (the hydraulics on the cab were a bit wonky and it had to be turned off), Star Wars (really wanted to play this but a cog in the joystick was knackered, apparently), and a few more which needed to be "credited up" ie having a poke about in the coin box.
After checking in at the hotel we got a cab and had a nice evening in a country pub including a meal (scampi for me). The four of us who were in the hotel stayed on with this fella Bruce, a massive arcade hardware afficionado. He was coming up with some great stories about finding rare games, the main people on the scene, all sorts. He even bought me a drink! Top fella.
All in all a very interesting weekend. 7 straight hours of playing the games was a little much for me, although that's probably down to my withering attention span more than anything else. I met a decent bunch of people and came away feeling their enthusiasm for arcade machines, although there's no way I'll be able to get into all that.
Friday, 12 June 2009
Inept Gamer Adventures
Yes, I know I'm slacking, I know it's been a long time, and frankly this games lull continues. More Quake Live, more TF2, some Crysis, that's about it really.
However I'm about to head off to Devon to visit the Arcade Barn, a place as near to an olden days arcade as you're likely to find these days. I'm looking forward to having a go on such ace games as Star Wars, Chase HQ and Daytona - ah the memories.
Your inept blogger will have a full account of the weekend when I get back - here's hoping my camera is charged up. Have a top weekend.
However I'm about to head off to Devon to visit the Arcade Barn, a place as near to an olden days arcade as you're likely to find these days. I'm looking forward to having a go on such ace games as Star Wars, Chase HQ and Daytona - ah the memories.
Your inept blogger will have a full account of the weekend when I get back - here's hoping my camera is charged up. Have a top weekend.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
