Chase

Anyone getting the game?
 
It looks great. Was totally under my radar until I read the IGN review on it:
 
 http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/26/middle-earth-shadow-of-mordor-review

Anyone getting the game?
 
It looks great. Was totally under my radar until I read the IGN review on it:
 
 http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/26/middle-earth-shadow-of-mordor-review

 
Ok this actually looks amazing, I need a PS4 now, not looking forward to paying for online though, even with the benefits of PS+

Haven't posted in a while. Been busy!
 
Here are the latest makeovers:
 

 

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTdB4WD1LHY
 
 
Also, there is a new Q&A released every Friday.

Put up a mental barrier around yourself so she can't sense you.

Make them all wear cameras monitored by an outside source. Make taking off the camera an instant dismissal.

Make them all wear cameras monitored by an outside source. Make taking off the camera an instant dismissal.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/08/18/nintendo-responds-to-robin-williams-in-the-legend-of-zelda-petition
 
I doubt they'll do anything but it would be cool nonetheless. Maybe a picture or something behind a window, like Mario in Ocarina of Time.

Wow. I can't believe the last generation of consoles is almost over. It was a long run, but it brought us some amazing experiences in gaming. The following list is a personal one, and the choices are based on my own experiences. If you disagree, that's fine, but I wanted to make this list with the hope that some of you will be driven to play these games. Every game on this list is the absolute best of what last generation had to offer, so I fully recommend that you find the time to play every game, including the honorable mentions. That said, I know we don't have enough time to play everything, so I'm putting them in the order that I believe they should be played. 
 
I'm also only listing one game per franchise, just for the sake of variety. Some games should be played in order, though (Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 should be played in order) so keep in mind that, just because it's my favorite and it's the one on the list, that doesn't mean you shouldn't play the honorable mentions or other games in the series first.
 
Also, this is only a console game list. I will make a separate list for DS and PSP games.
 
 
Without further ado, here is my list of the best games of the generation:
 
1. The Last of Us- For me, THE best game of last generation. The best graphics, the best story, the best characters, and Splinter Cell-like gameplay. What more can you ask for? Ellie is my favorite female character in gaming. I resonated with Joel near the end of the game, and I would do the same thing he did at the end. Dat giraffe scene. This game is a must play for anyone. Seriously, this game is worth buying a PS3 for. Play it all the way to the end. You owe it to yourself to experience this story. The characters in this game emit real emotions, and you will grow to love Ellie like a daughter.   2. Fallout 3- The Fallout series is one of the most immersive series in gaming. Nothing will top the moment I stepped out of the vault and was blinded by the sunlight. After regaining sight, I marveled at the huge, open world before me. This was the first time I really felt that “next gen” was here, and it was glorious. I poured over 300 hours into Fallout 3, and I could go back to it today. This would be one of the games I’d take to a deserted island. honorable mention: Fallout: New Vegas.   3. Mass Effect 2- My favorite game in the Mass Effect trilogy. It was the perfect balance of everything that makes Mass Effect great. Interesting, well-developed characters, fun combat, space exploration, and Commander Shepard. The ending was epic and set up for the 3rd game. Oh, and Miranda Yvonne Lawson. Mmmmmmmmmmmm. honorable mention: Mass Effect 3   4. Bioshock- I was blown away by the story of this game. Fortunately, the twist was not ruined for me, so I got to experience Ryan’s “would you kindly?” first hand. The game is dated, now, but I still rank it this highly because of the initial experience. If the game has been spoiled for you, play Bioshock Infinite and skip Bioshock.  honorable mention: Bioshock Infinite    5. Super Mario Galaxy 2- Possibly my favorite Mario game. It’s hard to beat 64 because of pure nostalgia, but Galaxy 2 is one of the best games I’ve ever played, Mario or otherwise. The sweeping, orchestral music is charming and easy to listen to. The levels are varied, the challenge is balanced, and the powerups are fun to use. honorable mention: Super Mario Galaxy    6. Uncharted 2- I love this game so hard. It’s like the perfect Indiana Jones game. Everything about it (except the final boss fight) is perfect. I play this game every once in a while and I think I’ll play it every summer from now on. The voice actors are spot on (Nolan North!) and the characters move realistically. I often forgot I was playing a video game. honorable mention: Uncharted 3   7. The Witcher 2- This game feels so mature to me. It was a point where I said, “yes. Games are as mature as movies and television.” It's certainly not for everyone, but the choices you make in the game lead you down extremely different paths and the game is worth playing through multiple times just to experience everything. Also, best romance scenes in any video game thus far.   8. Twilight Princess- Far from my favorite Zelda game, but Twilight Princess is still a great game. I waited a very long time for this game, so long, in fact, that another console came out (Wii) before I was able to play it on my Gamecube. Was I disappointed? Yes, but I can’t deny that this game is a blast to play and is one of the darker Zelda titles. It won’t make the list of my top 5 Zelda games, but it still holds a special place in my heart for last generation. honorable mention: Skyward Sword   9. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare- I must admit, I was never a big shooter fan before this game. I didn’t see the appeal, really. CoD4 changed everything about the FPS genre. It was groundbreaking, revolutionary, and fantastic. I spent hundreds of hours on the multiplayer alone. All Ghillied Up is one of the best missions in any game. honorable mention: Call of Duty 2   10. Resident Evil 5- I can see a lot of people disagreeing with me here, and that’s fine. Resident Evil 5 is definitely not the best Resident Evil game (that goes to 4), but it is an action-packed co-op survival game. It has better co-op than any game last generation, so I feel like it gets a lot of undeserved hate for not being Resident Evil 4. In a way, I agree, but I’ve put more hours into this game than any of the Resident Evil titles, and I think that says something.  honorable mention: Resident Evil 6   11. Red Dead Redemption- I’ve always wanted a good western game. RDR surprised me by not only being a fantastic western game (the best one ever made, no contest), but by being one of the best games of the generation. I’m not a fan of GTA games, so I was surprised to find that I enjoyed Rockstar’s western so much. I’ll replay this game again in the future, I’m sure.   12. Batman: Arkham Asylum- A GOOD Batman game? I had a side-scrolling brawler for my Super Nintendo that was pretty good, but this game took it to another level. It was finally Batman at his best. Here’s hoping Rocksteady can continue making amazing Batman games in the future. honorable mention: Batman: Arkham City; Batman: Arkham Origins   13. Assassin’s Creed II- I thought the first Assassin’s Creed game was very monotonous, but it was groundbreaking for its time. ACII took everything the first game did right and refined it. It’s my favorite Assassin’s Creed game to date (though IV is giving it a run for its money) and the series hasn’t been as good since. honorable mention: Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood   14. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim- What do I have to say about Skyrim? What can I say about Skyrim? It’s huge, it’s amazing, you fight dragons, you can do anything, go play it. honorable mention: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion   15. Metal Gear Solid IV- It held the title of best looking game on the PS3 for a long time. A very short game with a very large amount of cutscenes, but MGSIV was certainly an experience. While MGS3 will probably remain my favorite, I enjoyed my time with IV and will eventually get around to earning those trophies that were FINALLY PATCHED IN.   16. Telltale's The Walking Dead- Clementine. If you don’t understand, play all 5 episodes of the game and come talk to me. I want to hear about the choices you made.   17. Dark Souls- A challenging, but rewarding game. This is a love it or hate it type of game. You’ll either play for 5 minutes and throw the controller in anger because you keep dying at the weak enemies, or you’ll delve deep into the experience and emerge victorious, praising the sun all the while. honorable mention: Demon’s Souls   18. Dead Space 2- I think this game is the quintessential Dead Space experience. It’s got a good blend of horror, action, and gore. I will never, ever stick a needle anywhere near my eye after playing this game. honorable mention: Dead Space   19. Tomb Raider- The new Tomb Raider does Lara Croft right. It borrows from the Tomb Raider games of the past, as well as adding some newer Uncharted and Arkham Asylum mechanics. What you end up with is a fun survival/action game that definitely should be played by any fan of the previous Tomb Raider games, or fans of the Uncharted series.   20. Final Fantasy XIII- Another potentially controversial choice, but despite the horrible, horrible grind to getting the platinum, I enjoyed my time with the characters of XIII. Lightning, Snow, Hope, Vanille, Sazh, and Fang were all memorable and the story was well written. Was it the Final Fantasy game I wanted/expected? No. Was it still a good game? Absolutely. If not for the Final Fantasy namesake, I feel that many people would praise this game for its attempt to shake up the RPG genre.  honorable mention: Final Fantasy XIII-2   21. Xenoblade Chronicles- The best RPG on the Wii. I still need to put more time into this game (it might be higher on the list after I see the end), but so far, it’s one of my favorite games from last generation.   22. Halo 3- Halo 2 is the best Halo game ever made, agreed? Agreed. With that said, Halo 3 was the most anticipated game for the Xbox 360 that I can recall. Everyone wanted this game. Even stores like Hot Topic had it in stock. I first got to play it at my friend Emily’s house, on her brother’s big screen television. It was a new experience for me. Looking back, the graphics look like PS2-era graphics and the story leaves a lot to be desired, but you can’t deny what Halo has done for the Xbox brand, and continues to do to this day. honorable mention: Halo 4   23. Portal 2- The first Portal was a witty, short puzzle game with a villain more quotable than any other in existence. Portal 2 took the wit and the puzzles to new heights. This is unmistakably Valve’s best game. honorable mentions: Portal   24. CATHERINE- This game would be better off without the puzzles. There, I said it. I could not get into the puzzle system in the game. However, the story is so engrossing I had to keep playing to find out what would happen with Vincent. If you’ve ever cheated or thought about cheating on a significant other, you should play this game. If you want to learn interesting facts about alcohol, you should play this game. If you like sheep and seeing your protagonist in his underwear, you should play this game.    25. Dishonored- I feel like no one will understand why this game ranks so highly compared to everything else last generation. If you didn’t play through the game with no kills, no alarms, and with no powers...you won’t understand. This game is one of the best stealth games I have ever played, with a very dark, interesting story and true consequences for your actions. It’s sad this game was overlooked by so many, because it deserves to be played the correct way. No kills, no alarms, no powers. Just a man on a mission to save his kingdom and a little girl.     More honorable mentions: Infamous 2- Great Superhero sandbox game. Gears of War 2- Chainsaw Bayonet. Yes. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption- The end to an epic trilogy. Ni No Kuni: The Wrath of the White Witch- A charming RPG about loss, friendship, and innocence. VANQUISH- Fast, arcade shooting, with the best controls in a 3rd person shooter, ever. Made by the guy that made Resident Evil 4. Short, intense campaign. Worth playing. Dragon’s Dogma- The fighting in this game feels amazing. If it weren’t for some confusing elements, this would be in the top 25. Just Cause 2- Cause chaos in an open-world sandbox. More fun than GTA. GTA without the drama, really. Borderlands 2- Amazing co-op play. Decently good story and villain. Awesome for people who like scrounging for loot. Half-Life 2- Valve’s story driven FPS. Didn’t love it as much as everyone else, but it had some great moments. Left 4 Dead- Co-op zombie killing fun. Don’t play alone.     There. Phew. I haven't played every game from last generation, so if there is a great one I missed, please let me know so I can put it on my list of games to play!

You gave me the password to the Wild West, lol. That was five years ago, I think? Regardless, I remember back when you had Sheik as your avatar. 
 
You may remember me as zeldafancs. 
 
Regardless, it's good to see you post again, man.

 
See, I don't think collectibles automatically means the game is about exploration. Sure, Link to the Past was designed for exploration, and Ocarina of Time was more linear but was less about exploration, but still very much encouraged it. The roots of the series are in exploration. But even then, a game series doesn't really have to be about anything. There's a specific kind of expectation you have when you see a mainline installment to a franchise, like that Madden will have football or that Sonic will have speedy segments, but those don't even have to be the case. I disagree that there really is a heart to a franchise, and that it's set in stone.
 
Like, I complained about how slow and paralyzed Sonic '06 was compared to all the other Sonic games, saying that it should be about going fast, but it wasn't necessarily because I totally believe that that is the heart of the series. If they designed the game differently, the game can be whatever it wants. The problem is that Sonic '06 retained almost all of the elements that lend to the idea that the game is supposed to be fast-paced. It has all the speeding segments, loop-de-loops, enemy placement that should help progress through different areas, and yet the game was still mind-numbingly slow because they made several design mistakes and had crippling limitations. The render distance was horrible and I guess they didn't utilize their assets very efficiently, and the controls were unpolished and clunky, so Sonic couldn't move very fast. Plus, they gave the enemies life bars and really long cooldown times on your homing attack, and you were required to destroy them before moving on, which breaks any kind of flow there could have been. It was an inconsistently built mess that should have been a fast-paced, somewhat enjoyable game. It's like a door with a turn handle that you have to push in. Sure, it functions, but the design implies that you're supposed to pull, and yet it pushes.
 
Zelda's currently making a transition from an at-your-own-pace explorationy adventure game to a fast-paced low-exploration action game (Hyrule Warriors) and I'm not saying that that flies in the face of what makes a Zelda game. Arguing that there is an objective heart of a series is being a purist, and I feel that that limits what a game is capable of. There's a reason that when we see Warriors, we don't immediately get pissed that it's clearly not about exploration, and that's because it's designed to be a totally different kind of game, same with any other spinoff. But then there' Four Swords Adventures, which was not very much at all about exploration, really. There were parts that had interesting exploration, like a couple of the town levels, but it was all-in-all a linear quest that was still interesting and fun.
 
Skyward Sword's major fault, yeah, was probably Fi's redundant explanations and gratuitous hand-holding, even though Miyamoto had already literally patented an in-game device that gave you hints if you were truly stuck on something. That move right there should have eliminated all the handholding. But it didn't, so the game has a weakness. However, other parts of the game were really designed around the mechanics and designed around the limitations of the player. I think the game was cleverly built and strongly designed (with a little exception to the combat) but particularly in their implementation of sprinting and puzzle design. It didn't have a huge ton of exploration, but so what? It was still there. There were still big sprawling maps for each location you were in, and many of the areas weren't so linear that you couldn't explore on your own at all. The dowsing was supposed to be a supplement for who I can only imagine as impatient people who would end up looking at a guide online anyway, like me. You still technically used a guide, but it was just provided by the game itself so it doesn't feel like cheating. If you used it and hated that it made things easier, that was your choice. You aren't required to dowse for the exploration-related collectibles.
   
 
I agree that his argument against Z-targeting is totally ridiculous, and that it doesn't sound like he's played similar modern third-person games that utilize it. And I think the mechanics themselves have aged well enough. It's still a well-made game with an extremely iconic world and a lasting impact on video games made even today. Like I said, I really only strongly agree with the ridiculous portion of the game dedicated to waiting for something to happen. I wish the random caves were more interesting. Some things were superfluous and didn't really contribute to any tension or whatever, like the Fire Temple's bridge jump. I feel like he was amplifying his criticisms because Ocarina of Time is so critically hailed. he also exaggerated the designs of previous Zeldas. Zelda I's difficulty was crazy-whack insane, and it was because of a somewhat poorly used enemy placement. He praised LoZ Darknuts for some reason, even though they were literally not designed in a way that let you know you couldn't attack them from the front.
 
I also agree that Egoraptor sucks at video games, particularly modern ones. The tutorial thing kind of goes against his mantra that you shouldn't even have tutorials in the first place, that the game should teach you by having you play it. And while I do think the best tutorials are ones you don't notice, that doesn't necessarily have to apply to all the games. If you want to play a game and enjoy it based on its merits, and it has a tutorial system you disagree with, you should still listen to it so you don't just expect the game to do something you know is uncommon. Most games have these somewhat boring, ineffective tutorials, but they're still required for you to play the game. It's like, you don't just pick up a musical instrument and expect its design to cater to those who have never played one. There's nothing about a trumpet that can easily relate to you which keys correspond to which notes, or what you have to do with your lips to change octaves, or how you're even supposed to blow into the thing. Some things just require a little research and a little boring tutorial, and you just have to deal with it. I've definitely watched a lot of Game Grumps videos where the grumps are having a hard time with something because they didn't pay attention to some mechanic they should have learned early on. The tutorial is there BECAUSE the game doesn't teach you through gameplay, so you should expect that you need its information.
 
But anyway, pheo, you should play those earlier Zelda games, at the very least to be a little more cultured about it so you have an opinion and input, and at the very most to play an iconic game that is a well-received example of game, and to a certain extent, game-story design.

I kind of hate having a phone. Or checking it all the time. 2 minutes ago, I was sitting with my phone in my hand looking at the phone. And my other hand reaches into my pocket to pull my phone out.

I felt pathetic. To be fair though, only have three things at that I check but whatever. I still suck.

I can't talk about this without getting angry.
 
Most of the criticisms he throws against OoT can also apply to ALTTP. 
 
His argument against Z targeting is utterly ridiculous. 
 
OoT was the FIRST 3d Zelda game. And one of the FIRST 3d games EVER. And it was GOOD. Better than good, really. It was amazing. I've played games all my life. I played and owned ALTTP long before I played OoT. I still consider OoT the superior game. It was the first game that made me a believer in the magic of video gaming. I don't know if I'd be playing games today if it wasn't for OoT. 
 
Anyone who plays it today wouldn't understand why it had such an impact. The graphics don't hold up. The story is somewhat minimal. Hyrule field is empty. It's somewhat small and linear. But back then, it was unprecedented. Hyrule field was HUGE. The graphics were cutting edge at the time. Much better than Mario 64 at least. It was an adventure. 
 
Arin sucks at video games anyway. Ever since I've watched him in Game Grumps, he's lost all credibility to me when it comes to game design. He'll complain about games holding his hand, then skip tutorials, then blame the game for not telling him what to do. It is asinine. 

I can't talk about this without getting angry.
 
Most of the criticisms he throws against OoT can also apply to ALTTP. 
 
His argument against Z targeting is utterly ridiculous. 
 
OoT was the FIRST 3d Zelda game. And one of the FIRST 3d games EVER. And it was GOOD. Better than good, really. It was amazing. I've played games all my life. I played and owned ALTTP long before I played OoT. I still consider OoT the superior game. It was the first game that made me a believer in the magic of video gaming. I don't know if I'd be playing games today if it wasn't for OoT. 
 
Anyone who plays it today wouldn't understand why it had such an impact. The graphics don't hold up. The story is somewhat minimal. Hyrule field is empty. It's somewhat small and linear. But back then, it was unprecedented. Hyrule field was HUGE. The graphics were cutting edge at the time. Much better than Mario 64 at least. It was an adventure. 
 
Arin sucks at video games anyway. Ever since I've watched him in Game Grumps, he's lost all credibility to me when it comes to game design. He'll complain about games holding his hand, then skip tutorials, then blame the game for not telling him what to do. It is asinine. 

I'm not sure who you're with phone company-wise Cirt, but if it's with AT&T, you should really spend the $6.99 a month for insurance. It will save you a lot of heartache. 

Based on my experience, having grown up using Windows for the majority of my life (95, XP, Vista, 7, and now 8) and using Macs from age 18 on (Macbook pro 13 inch 2011, Macbook Pro 15 inch 2012, Macbook Pro Retina 2013), I can honestly say that I prefer the Apple side of things.
 
I will agree that, with Windows, you are a lot less limited. Though, if limitations are your primary concern, you might as well go Linux. However, with a more closed ecosystem, Apple products work well. Much more reliable, from my experience, than Windows machines. That's not to say Windows machines aren't reliable. They are, and they're getting better each year. But Macs seem to function better overall.
 
Keep in my I'm mostly talking about laptops and tablets. 
 
For a desktop, I wouldn't purchase one at all if I wasn't planning on gaming on it. What's the point, otherwise? Get a laptop. But if you want to game, and game well, you need a decent desktop, or an expensive laptop. 
 
I bought an Alienware X51 that was half-off on Amazon a year or so back. I was very, very happy with how the machine functioned, especially with my past experiences with Dell (not good). It played games at 1080p 60 fps with relative ease, and I bought it for only 600 dollars (regularly $1200). It was small and quiet enough to fit in my living room, and I hooked it up to my HDTV. It was a more powerful system than either my Xbox One or my PS4. 
 
I sold it awhile back. A few issues I think I should bring up that most PC gamers either ignore, or talk down in order to make PC gaming appear better than it is. There are compatibility issues. My Nvidia graphics card performed extremely well 95% of the time. Certain games, such as Sonic Generations, did not play well with my card. For whatever reason. By all accounts, the system should have run the game flawlessly, but it didn't. This is just one example, but I ran into other issues as well. Had a couple blue screens of death, which were scary. Never got those on Macs. I'm not trying to scare you away from them or anything. Just letting you know that PC gaming isn't exactly as plug and play as consoles are. If you're used to just popping a game in and playing, don't expect that on your PC. Though your PC can also deliver you a 1080+p, 60+ fps, screen-tear free experience if you build it well enough, so there are perks. It will definitely cost you more than $399 or $499 to get the same experience as the PS4 or Xbox One, but I'd say spending ~$1000 building your PC will net you a fairly future-proof system that performs well above either next-gen console.
 
If I ever buy a PC again, which I probably will, I'm going to build my own. I think I can build a PC for ~$1000 that performs better than my alienware did. Definitely won't skimp on the graphics card. I just wonder if I can do it all while still having a small, quiet machine. Most people that build their own have huge towers, and I need something to fit under my TV, so I'll have to work on that.
 
Anyway, sorry for the long post, just wanted to share my experience with PC gaming and Macs. 

I just realized that there is an HD version of Soul Calibur 2 (the best one) on Playstation Store

He's a good singer and he's popular with the girls. As long as he stays classy, he'll be just fine. He needs to emulate Justin T, not Miley, Britney, or Bieber. 

He's a good singer and he's popular with the girls. As long as he stays classy, he'll be just fine. He needs to emulate Justin T, not Miley, Britney, or Bieber. 

One Direction is just a way for Harry Styles to make money before he goes solo. I will be surprised if he is not the next Justin Timberlake.

I asked my parents only for money this year for my birthday
I woke up to literally a decorative money tree.

That actually was really funny

Let's give them one to remember...!!

How do you get to this point in E3 before realising it's on. Have you been offline and isolated for a couple days?

I want this to be real.