Once again it's been a fair while since I posted, although I have a good excuse: I've been playing computer games. Yes, those timewasters.
The most-played game recently has to be Far Cry 2 on the PC. I saw it on Play.com for a tenner with the DLC included (that's downloadable content for those who probably didn't need to know). The first Far Cry didn't really click with me, at least on the PC. Here though for some reason it has grabbed me, albeit in a non-aggressive fashion.
Essentially you're a mercenary in some war-torn African country doing various tasks, although they all involve you driving somewhere (which takes bloody ages) then killing people. The landscape looks amazing, maybe not quite on Oblivion levels of gorgeousness but close. The day/night cycle is particularly impressive, nothing can beat driving along some dusty road into the sunset, except maybe the hugely-irritating roadblocks
They keep remanning these checkpoints with mouthy South Africans who drive straight at you shouting abuse. It really does hamper progress, having to keep stopping every 2 minutes to clean up these fools.
It's strange that at times I feel useless, I'll die and try again, yet if I push on it gets more enjoyable, like each death makes me think how I could approach that mission differently. It does a great job of letting you approach objectives in whatever way you like, although sniping is pretty much mandatory, which suits me down to the ground.
So yes, a tenner well spent there.
What else have I been playing? Let's see: more QuakeLive and Battlefield Heroes, more Halo 3 online - I'm still utterly useless. I even managed to get in a bit of Left 4 Dead seeing as theer is the new Survival Pack DLC just out. It's not bad although it didn't pull me back to that game as much as I thought it would, sadly.
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Monday, 13 April 2009
Final Fantasy XII
Sad to say the Easter weekend is about to end, back to the grind. However I've had a few decent hours playing games, most notably Final Fantasy XII on the PS2.
This was a Christmas present in 2007 from my good friend Michelle. Naughty me openned it early as I was eager to give it a go. I was playing that thing right over Christmas.
About six months has passed since I played this last. I've been meaning to get back into it but was worried I'd have lost the plot, so I was pleasantly surprised to find I got reaquainted with my party and the story faster than anticipated, and am now fully back.
With games like this I pray I'll get sucked in, feel that I'm in control and able to cope with the complexities of things. Some games haven't grabbed me (Neverwinter Nights), others certainly have (Wasteland, Ultima V). FFXII certainly got me, fair and square. It has depth and character, yet it never gets confusing. Some purists poo-poo FFXII as a pale shadow of earlier games, specifically Final Fantasy VII, but I'll leave them to it - if a game is enjoyable I won't knock it.
I'll be sat at work tomorrow, answering calls from the public and wishing I was at home playing FFXII instead.
This was a Christmas present in 2007 from my good friend Michelle. Naughty me openned it early as I was eager to give it a go. I was playing that thing right over Christmas.
About six months has passed since I played this last. I've been meaning to get back into it but was worried I'd have lost the plot, so I was pleasantly surprised to find I got reaquainted with my party and the story faster than anticipated, and am now fully back.
With games like this I pray I'll get sucked in, feel that I'm in control and able to cope with the complexities of things. Some games haven't grabbed me (Neverwinter Nights), others certainly have (Wasteland, Ultima V). FFXII certainly got me, fair and square. It has depth and character, yet it never gets confusing. Some purists poo-poo FFXII as a pale shadow of earlier games, specifically Final Fantasy VII, but I'll leave them to it - if a game is enjoyable I won't knock it.
I'll be sat at work tomorrow, answering calls from the public and wishing I was at home playing FFXII instead.
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Random Easy
Easter weekend and I had Good Friday off work, so managed to get a bit of gaming in. As I listened to the cast of Red Dwarf sans Craig Charles on FiveLive I played a bit of Half-Life 2 on the 360. This was a pre-order for me on the PC in 2004. My dad had to help me decipher the CD-key when I got it, and once we had it sorted I was immersed in the world of City 17.
It's a tad different on 360, there are a few tangible differences but it's all coming back. There are bits I'm not looking forward to, but generally it's a superb game worthy of anyone's time.
Played some more Team Fortress 2 on the 360 Thursday. The lads want to get serious, but I'm still as useless as ever, although it's still great fun. We were down in numbers so grouped up and played a team of randoms for most of the evening. Lukily they were utter balls and at one point I was top of our table - made me feel great. We would deliberately let them take the first point just so we could build up defences on the last point - we had some great defences that way.
Maybe I'll play some on the PC tonight. There's an update coming for the Sniper class, new maps and modes will accompany this so I'm looking forward to it. It's just a shame they aren't updating the 360 one, it is gettng somewhat stale.
Right then, let's see what crap I can roll back to on the Ps2 as I'm having a drink.
It's a tad different on 360, there are a few tangible differences but it's all coming back. There are bits I'm not looking forward to, but generally it's a superb game worthy of anyone's time.
Played some more Team Fortress 2 on the 360 Thursday. The lads want to get serious, but I'm still as useless as ever, although it's still great fun. We were down in numbers so grouped up and played a team of randoms for most of the evening. Lukily they were utter balls and at one point I was top of our table - made me feel great. We would deliberately let them take the first point just so we could build up defences on the last point - we had some great defences that way.
Maybe I'll play some on the PC tonight. There's an update coming for the Sniper class, new maps and modes will accompany this so I'm looking forward to it. It's just a shame they aren't updating the 360 one, it is gettng somewhat stale.
Right then, let's see what crap I can roll back to on the Ps2 as I'm having a drink.
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Infinite What?
I've not posted in a wee while, mainly because I've not been playing much that has inspired me.
Since completing Resident Evil 5 I've been trying to upgrade weapons and all that malarky. I must have done something wrong because I'm the only person on the planet who has completed it yet not unlocked infinite ammo. It's things like this that make me wonder why I play games sometimes: you think you're doing really well then everyone else comes along and says "what, you didn't get this?" - frustrating.
Anyway, maybe one day the planets will allign and it will be available. You get points for completing chapters in the game, and I'm led to believe unlocking infinite ammo on a weapon costs 15,000 - I have 24,600 saved up, not bothering to unlock the figurines and all that crap, saving it for the good stuff.
Now going through it trying to find the medalions that apparently unlock more stuff, although thusfar it's just been more figures. They're not as noticeable as in Resident Evil 4, the blue used there you could see miles off.
Other games played recently include The Club, nearly unlocked all areas there, albeit on Casual, and Team Fortress 2, although when comparing world ranking with the Thursday night crowd I play with mine was embarrassingly low. I did play about 20 minutes of Trackmania United although it was 2.30am and I wasn't really feeling it.
Since completing Resident Evil 5 I've been trying to upgrade weapons and all that malarky. I must have done something wrong because I'm the only person on the planet who has completed it yet not unlocked infinite ammo. It's things like this that make me wonder why I play games sometimes: you think you're doing really well then everyone else comes along and says "what, you didn't get this?" - frustrating.
Anyway, maybe one day the planets will allign and it will be available. You get points for completing chapters in the game, and I'm led to believe unlocking infinite ammo on a weapon costs 15,000 - I have 24,600 saved up, not bothering to unlock the figurines and all that crap, saving it for the good stuff.
Now going through it trying to find the medalions that apparently unlock more stuff, although thusfar it's just been more figures. They're not as noticeable as in Resident Evil 4, the blue used there you could see miles off.
Other games played recently include The Club, nearly unlocked all areas there, albeit on Casual, and Team Fortress 2, although when comparing world ranking with the Thursday night crowd I play with mine was embarrassingly low. I did play about 20 minutes of Trackmania United although it was 2.30am and I wasn't really feeling it.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Frustrating Isn't The Word
Finally!
Yes, somehow managed to get to the end of Resident Evil 5, and generally-speaking it was rather good, apart from the final encounter. I won't spoil it, suffice to say compared to the rest of the game it was awful. In the end my good friend Michelle agreed to join me in co-op to finish it off. Even that took several attempts as we battled not so much against the final enemy, more the baffling design that meant serious trial and error was called for. Not good.
It was blessed relief when the credits rolled. Going back to replay chapters in order to make money and upgrade my weapons, it just feels more relaxed, like I can stop stressing and just enjoy myself again.
I'm yet to try out Mercenary mode - basically an arcade-style game where you run through the various levels shooting baddies for a high score - but am told it bears a strong resembelnce to The Club, a game I did enjoy, at least until my 360 died with it in the drive.
So there you have it: two games completed in 2009! What will be next, I wonder?
Yes, somehow managed to get to the end of Resident Evil 5, and generally-speaking it was rather good, apart from the final encounter. I won't spoil it, suffice to say compared to the rest of the game it was awful. In the end my good friend Michelle agreed to join me in co-op to finish it off. Even that took several attempts as we battled not so much against the final enemy, more the baffling design that meant serious trial and error was called for. Not good.
It was blessed relief when the credits rolled. Going back to replay chapters in order to make money and upgrade my weapons, it just feels more relaxed, like I can stop stressing and just enjoy myself again.
I'm yet to try out Mercenary mode - basically an arcade-style game where you run through the various levels shooting baddies for a high score - but am told it bears a strong resembelnce to The Club, a game I did enjoy, at least until my 360 died with it in the drive.
So there you have it: two games completed in 2009! What will be next, I wonder?
Saturday, 21 March 2009
Chris!
It has been a while since I last posted. No good excuse for this, to be honest.
Anyway, spent most of last week and today playing Resident Evil 5, and pretty good it is too! I did play some RE4 on the PS2 but after leaving it too long between sessions I loaded my save and didn't know wha the hell I was doing. At the very least I knew what sort of gameplay to expect from the 'new' RE.
As I write I've just completed chapter 6-1, amazing really considering, as some may already know, I never complete games. Hopefully the last couple of chapters won't be too offputting, then I can add that to Gears Of War 2 for my list of completed games in 2009 - that's twice what I managed last year.
Generally the game has been very entertaining with a good variety of locations and enemies. Plenty of bosses to tackle, some better than others. Playing on Normal difficulty hasn't proved too tricky - yet. Hopefully it won't end up like Half-Life 2 Episode 2 where it was great until the final fight.
Other than that just more Team Fortress 2 - had my best round ever, scored 11 points as a Heavy, even came top of the board! Sadly this didn't last the whole session but it was a rush, to say the least - so easily pleased.
Anyway, spent most of last week and today playing Resident Evil 5, and pretty good it is too! I did play some RE4 on the PS2 but after leaving it too long between sessions I loaded my save and didn't know wha the hell I was doing. At the very least I knew what sort of gameplay to expect from the 'new' RE.
As I write I've just completed chapter 6-1, amazing really considering, as some may already know, I never complete games. Hopefully the last couple of chapters won't be too offputting, then I can add that to Gears Of War 2 for my list of completed games in 2009 - that's twice what I managed last year.
Generally the game has been very entertaining with a good variety of locations and enemies. Plenty of bosses to tackle, some better than others. Playing on Normal difficulty hasn't proved too tricky - yet. Hopefully it won't end up like Half-Life 2 Episode 2 where it was great until the final fight.
Other than that just more Team Fortress 2 - had my best round ever, scored 11 points as a Heavy, even came top of the board! Sadly this didn't last the whole session but it was a rush, to say the least - so easily pleased.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Rant Alert
I wanted to do a seperate entry about why I'm going through all these online shooters as it's been on my mind alot recently.
Since playing Doom 2 on my mate Richard's work PC in 1994 I've loved the first-person shooter. Down the years I've played stacks, though never online until I got a broadband connection in 2002 and played some Quake III with people on an IRC channel I frequented at the time.
Here are a few of the online games I've tried:
Okay so why am I putting myself through all this pain? Basically I've found that, despite periods of total humiliation at the hands of online players I find that after a drink and with some decent tunes backed up on the MP3 player online shooters are really absorbing, when they're going well. Settling down for a couple of hours of TF2 is really satisfying.
I mentioned in my last entry that the Unreal Tournament 3 reviews I'd read were next to useless as they weren't written with new players in mind. It's something of a bugbear of mine that new players really aren't catered for. It's almost like developers have forgotten there are people out there who have been playing online FPSs for over a decade day in, day out. You'd think they'd be doing more to encourage new players, help them ease into the flow of the game rather than drop them in the deep end.
I'm not saying as a noob I need my hand held, but it would certainly be more encouraging if, when I go on a server, I know I won't get the shit kicked out of me the moment I hit 'ready'. Yes, I know it's a dilema that has faced various developers, some have tackled it better than others. Gears Of War 2 on the 360 has training rooms to help you prepare for online, Halo 3 has the beginner areas.
And the reviewers, whilst I don't need an online FPS explained to me it would be nice for them to acknowledge some people are coming to a game fresh, and not just pandering to the hardcore. Okay, I'm having a whine but again it's the attitude that discourages more people from playing.
You could come back to me and say well all these experts started somewhere, you didn't hear them moan about being a noob, true but as I said we've had a generation of rabid online players who could wipe the floor with new players with both arms tied behind their backs.
Right, rant over, make of it what you will. Maybe I should stop writing and start playing.
Since playing Doom 2 on my mate Richard's work PC in 1994 I've loved the first-person shooter. Down the years I've played stacks, though never online until I got a broadband connection in 2002 and played some Quake III with people on an IRC channel I frequented at the time.
Here are a few of the online games I've tried:
- Counterstrike - first tried to play this on dial-up in 2001 but a thunderstorm cut the power. Never really bothered again until the release of Half-Life 2 in November 2004 when I thought it would be a good time to get into CS:Source. Played several unsatisfying games with randoms on public servers. With one-or-two-shot kills I spent more time waiting for the next round than actually playing. Great game, great concept, just not for my slack skills.
- Quake III Arena - mainly played with people I knew online, with the occasional random person joining in. I'd always end up at the bottom of the table although being fragged by friends is somehow less galling than being shot by strangers. Tried to carry on but it simply wasn't as enjoyable with strangers, something I've found to be the case with most games online.
- Quake Live - I managed to get an invite to the closed beta. It is essentially Quake III via a web browser, fast, simple fun, well that's the theory. I was totally slaughtered the moment I stepped on there, and what was worse - as I'm sure most people who've played online will atest - was being remind how crap I was by other players. Perseverence saw me get somewhere eventually - don't go near me when I have a shotgun - but I have a long way to go before I can comfortably say I'm okay at it.
- Battlefield 2 - see my last entry.
- Team Fortress 2 - now this is a little different. Was intrigued by this when it was first announced, but going by my previous experience thought I'd never get into it - I was wrong. Maybe it's the pace, or the wide variety of classes, or the comic violence, but it just somehow clicked with me. As has been mentioned here before I play on 360 with online friends and on the PC with randoms late Saturday nights (when I've had a few).
Okay so why am I putting myself through all this pain? Basically I've found that, despite periods of total humiliation at the hands of online players I find that after a drink and with some decent tunes backed up on the MP3 player online shooters are really absorbing, when they're going well. Settling down for a couple of hours of TF2 is really satisfying.
I mentioned in my last entry that the Unreal Tournament 3 reviews I'd read were next to useless as they weren't written with new players in mind. It's something of a bugbear of mine that new players really aren't catered for. It's almost like developers have forgotten there are people out there who have been playing online FPSs for over a decade day in, day out. You'd think they'd be doing more to encourage new players, help them ease into the flow of the game rather than drop them in the deep end.
I'm not saying as a noob I need my hand held, but it would certainly be more encouraging if, when I go on a server, I know I won't get the shit kicked out of me the moment I hit 'ready'. Yes, I know it's a dilema that has faced various developers, some have tackled it better than others. Gears Of War 2 on the 360 has training rooms to help you prepare for online, Halo 3 has the beginner areas.
And the reviewers, whilst I don't need an online FPS explained to me it would be nice for them to acknowledge some people are coming to a game fresh, and not just pandering to the hardcore. Okay, I'm having a whine but again it's the attitude that discourages more people from playing.
You could come back to me and say well all these experts started somewhere, you didn't hear them moan about being a noob, true but as I said we've had a generation of rabid online players who could wipe the floor with new players with both arms tied behind their backs.
Right, rant over, make of it what you will. Maybe I should stop writing and start playing.
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