Videogaming

[chand]

I've decided Uncharted is the tits now, I've been hammering it this weekend. I have no idea how long it us, but I'm up to the 21st chapter, it actually just got quite intense and scary, surprisingly. Not finding it too hard, it's not a stroll but I've not had to do segments more than two or three times.

The graphics are really lush though, earlier on today I was running round a big white clifftop castle, and kept wandering off to look out across the sea. The textures of the rocks and the castle walls were great and the lighting is spot-on, better looking than the early jungle sections too. There was even a really enjoyable on-rails section escaping from there, and I usually don't like those things. Really fun game though, it has the feel of a Saturday evening action movie, and I keep wanting to find out what's gonna happen next.

[Pseudopath]

Really fun game though, it has the feel of a Saturday evening action movie, and I keep wanting to find out what's gonna happen next.

Ha ha! You've hit the nail on the head exactly. The production values are insanely good (especially the voice acting) and some of the set-pieces are a joy to behold. It helps that the death sequences are hilarious as well...tumbling over that waterfall and the old bloke shouting "Oh, god, Nathan...NOOOO!" spring to mind!

[chand]

Damn, I only went and completed it after I got offline last night. It's not incredibly short, but because I played it pretty much all weekend I raced through it. I suppose though that's one of the things about fast-paced action games, though, it's hard to make them really long. Still, thoroughly glad I played it through; the twist changes the way the later levels pan out and gives an interesting change of pace, makes you have to change the way you approach the game, and there are some more cool set pieces at the end. I'll probably play through it again over Christmas.

[Rolf Harris]

Really enjoying Uncharted; I'm at about 90% so not far off the end after playing it a fair amount over the weekend - although I tried to donate some time to COD4 for the double XP weekender. I've got a bit tired of it though, because everyone else has got really good now, whereas my accuracy in intense situations is pretty poor.

What did everyone make of Uncharted's twist? I'm undecided about whether I like it or not... I'm waiting for the plot to reveal some kind of explanation, so we'll see.

After this, I'm looking forward to playing Assassin's Creed over Christmas.

[chand]

What did everyone make of Uncharted's twist? I'm undecided about whether I like it or not... I'm waiting for the plot to reveal some kind of explanation, so we'll see.

I liked it; I see some people on games boards thought it was a bit unrealistic, but to me it fitted with the mood that this was basically a cliched action movie you can play. I think the quality of the cutscenes fooled people into taking it a bit too seriously, when really it's just a fun romp through a bunch of cliches that are well executed enough to justify it. It needed something to happen before the end, and that to me was as good as any other solution I could think of, and it really changes the gameplay. Reminded me a bit of the way Manhunt switched from tense sneakery to shotgun-pumping action toward the end, and gave it something different for a couple of levels, with the latter stages feeling a million miles away from the sunny jungle atmosphere of the start.

[matt]

Really enjoying Uncharted; I'm at about 90% so not far off the end after playing it a fair amount over the weekend - although I tried to donate some time to COD4 for the double XP weekender. I've got a bit tired of it though, because everyone else has got really good now, whereas my accuracy in intense situations is pretty poor.

Yes, I'm looking forward to the influx of new players who get it for christmas.

I think it would benefit from some kind of matchmaking system like Halo, as sometimes the imbalance is ridiculous and it stops being enjoyable.

[Slaaaaabs]

Sounds like the demo of Uncharted was a really crap representation of the game then. (Removed, sorry - Neil)

[Famous Mortimer]

Anyone feeling like a slightly less risky punt, "Kane and Lynch: Dead Men" is £22.49 in my local Gamestation (and yours too, possibly), for this week only.

[chand]

Sounds like the demo of Uncharted was a really crap representation of the game then. (Removed - Neil)

It's not incredibly short, it's probably longer than Call Of Duty 4, although it took me longer to complete that because I did more retrying of annoying bits.

If you disliked the demo though, I wouldn't recommend it, I mean, most of the game uses that cover-and-shoot mechanic so it's not a totally unfair representation. There is a bit of variety, and it's easier to like starting from the beginning rather than the point where the demo starts.

[Rolf Harris]

[COD4]
Yes, I'm looking forward to the influx of new players who get it for christmas.

Ha ha! I hadn't thought of that! I think I might spend the week between Christmas and New Year blasting the new players to boost my rank. I've noticed that when the lobby splits everyone into two teams seconds before the game starts, it's basically High Rankers VS Low Rankers. Which makes no sense, but does generally allow for an easy ride if you're higher up in the rank system.

Kane and Lynch is supposed to be pretty bad, isn't it? Seems to have got bad-to-mediocre reviews across the board; the consensus being good ideas, bad implementation. I had a go on the demo that was on the PSN Store, and didn't play for long... maybe I should at least give it more of a chance.

The Uncharted Demo is a fairly accurate representation of the finished product, I think maybe they just didn't choose a particularly interesting bit of the game to release. I guess the story really reels you in and keeps you hooked. I'm hoping to finish it off when I get home tonight.

I'm quite tempted to get the Orange Box this week, but I'm feeling a bit FPS-ed-out. And I feel now that I've played COD4, any other FPS that doesn't live up to that standard won't be worth playing.

[Slaaaaabs]

Oops, sorry about that Neil.

Kane & Lynch is a mess, have a look at the videos on Gamersyde (http://gamersyde.com/news_5625_en.html) The second mission looks especially bad, watch the movement of the guards/police they are fighting.

[matt]

Ha ha! I hadn't thought of that! I think I might spend the week between Christmas and New Year blasting the new players to boost my rank. I've noticed that when the lobby splits everyone into two teams seconds before the game starts, it's basically High Rankers VS Low Rankers. Which makes no sense, but does generally allow for an easy ride if you're higher up in the rank system.

Yup, should be some easy pickings during that week!

I haven't noticed it splitting between high and low rankings, in fact I thought it tried to balance the average ranking on each team. The problem I find is that even though I'm level 40 something, I'm not actually that good and often get beaten by 20's and 30's, so a "skill" rank alongside the "experience" rank (like Halo 3) i think would balance the teams better. Although it does do this a bit when you stay in the same lobby and it splits according to points in the previous round. You're right though, it's great when you find yourself against a load of low-rankers.

[Deadman97]

Apologies if this has already been asked, but Mario and Sonic at the Olympics, right? How does that work? In what way would Mario ever beat Sonic in a race?

[Little Hoover]

Sonic has to run with cement block shoes

[Rolf Harris]

Just finished Drakes, and I really enjoyed the game as a whole. As I think one online reviewer said; "the sum of game is greater than it's parts". Yes, there are things that are imperfect, things that are slightly annoying, but overall it was very enjoyable. Really enjoyed the climactic scenes... still not totally convinced on the twist, although I guess it was good to throw a new element in just as you think you're getting comfortable with both playing the game, and the world of the game.

Edit: Oh yeah, and I really like Drake's shoes. Anyone know if they're based on some real shoes, or just something Naughty Dog created from scratch?

[The Boston Crab]

Apologies if this has already been asked, but Mario and Sonic at the Olympics, right? How does that work? In what way would Mario ever beat Sonic in a race?

That's the annoying thing about the game because the way you control the characters in the events is pretty good fun using the Wii controls. It's just a ball-ache that they have different strengths and weaknesses, it's supposed to be you against your mates, not tactical character selection. What it then tends towards is one person as Sonic, wins sprint, one person as Bowser, wins throwing contest and one person as Mario, an all-rounder who wins the table tennis/fencing etc. Unless you're playing someone crap, it's hard to take points off when they've got an obvious advantage.

I can't believe I'm that serious about Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games.

[Famous Mortimer]

Oops, sorry about that Neil.

Kane & Lynch is a mess, have a look at the videos on Gamersyde (http://gamersyde.com/news_5625_en.html) The second mission looks especially bad, watch the movement of the guards/police they are fighting.

Fraid so. It looks nice, all cinematic and shit, but is hopelessly confusing in terms of where you're supposed to go, alternating with periods where it might as well be a rails shooter. At least I didn't waste too much money on it.

[Rolf Harris]

Rockstar win appeal, Manhunt 2 to get UK release...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7137212.stm

I enjoyed the first one, and am curious to play this one and see how they've moved the game on.

[chand]

Rockstar win appeal, Manhunt 2 to get UK release...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7137212.stm

I enjoyed the first one, and am curious to play this one and see how they've moved the game on.

They were no doubt influenced by the opinions, voiced yesterday, of snooker legend Steve Davis:

"Not aware of the Manhunt game but it's obviously all bollocks! Kids used to play cowboys and indians and everyone used to go "aaaah!"...kids are not stupid. And as far as the mass murderers? Well they're are not going to be stopped by confiscating their joysticks. Their sickness has nothing to do with the fantasy of videogames."

Apparently Manhunt 2 generally isn't as good as the first one, but I was a massive fan of that so I still want to play this.

[Steve Lampkins]

Rockstar win appeal, Manhunt 2 to get UK release...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7137212.stm

I enjoyed the first one, and am curious to play this one and see how they've moved the game on.

Didn't they have to tone it down to get it released?

[The Boston Crab]

I played Manhunt 2 a month or so ago, my detailed analysis is that it's absolute shit. I haven't even thought about it since the one afternoon's play I wasted on it.

[bill hicks]

The speculation about the Manhunt affair would now have to be whether or not the BBFC intended for this to happen since they knew it was a win-win situation for them.

By the appeal being successful they now have an opportunity to re-examine their guidelines for 18, with legal backing from the High Court shutting up the Tories and the Daily Mail for good. Basically they are saying Manhunt 2 is as bad as it gets and the High Court says it is okay so we can't do anything about it.

It seems far fetched, until you look at the BBFCs past tactics in this area. I'm sure most people know the story of how Hardcore pornography was legalised almost by accident in this country but the jist of it is this:

The BBFC decided it was time, after several consultation reports about the subject, to rewrite the guidelines for R18 and allow consensual hardcore through, but knowing that the Obscenity laws and complete lack of political support would be difficult to overcome if they tried to get a legislature change they did it in a strangely outlaw way for the BBFC. They passed several hardcore films uncut, to the surprise of the distributors who submitted them who expected the usual rainforest of A4 back with the cuts required, and then when Customs and Excise (as it was at the time) kicked up the expected fuss and impounded all the films coming in despite their certificated status the BBFC took the matter to the High Court and won giving them the power to continue rating R18 as they saw fit.

Whether that is true in this case will probably never be known (the small p politicking of the BBFC is rarely acknowledged), but whether it's a fabricated controversy designed to give the BBFC what they proclaim to want...the power to release a wider range of material at 18 and above and stop cutting for taste and obscenity altogether, or just a wonderfully ironic twist that saw them attempt to reign in the bolting horses that they released themselves back at the turn of the century it will make a great chapter in any future history of the organisation.

[Rolf Harris]

Didn't they have to tone it down to get it released?

I think after the first rejection they submitted a toned down version, which was also rejected. They appealed against the decision, but I don't know which version will be released.

I've heard that it's quite bad, but I did really enjoy the first one... will there be nothing in there that a fan of the original might enjoy?

I know someone who downloaded a disc image of the supposedly unedited version, but he doesn't know how to burn it to disc, and neither he nor I have our PS2s chipped.

[bill hicks]

Further to my ramblings above, after one look at the Melonfarmers site my suspicions about the decision are strengthened. The top BBFC news story on the site is 'Rockstar win Manhunt 2 appeal'. The next several stories? All about Julian Brazier MP having his long planned bill to hold the BBFC to account for it's decisions being presented for the first time. A bill that calls into question their lowering of the standards at 18 and a call to return to the old Censorious system used under Ferman.

I'm sure it's just a coincidence that one of his main points is the rating of violent games 'like Manhunt'.

[The Boston Crab]

I've heard that it's quite bad, but I did really enjoy the first one... will there be nothing in there that a fan of the original might enjoy?

If you're looking for more shonky controls, utterly miserable level design and an embarrassing try-hard 'edgy' tone, this one's just the same.

Ooh, bitchy.

[terminallyrelaxed]

YAlthough it does do this a bit when you stay in the same lobby and it splits according to points in the previous round. You're right though, it's great when you find yourself against a load of low-rankers.

As far as I was concerned this was the only time you get majorly uneven teams, basically it seems to team up based on how people in the lobby did last round.

[terminallyrelaxed]

Now I know I shouldn't rise to it, but I must have got tired of some drawling ignorance on Live and said something, because I just got this PM on Charlie Oscar Delta:

From:     xCARNIVOREx
To:    BiscuitFrenzy
Posted:    29 Nov 2007 08:36
Subject:    screw you    Quote message
Who cares if you go to Iran with us?If it wasnt for a shitload of bleeding heart liberals such as you we could turn Iran into a parking lot and be done with it.make love their women and children they are just future liabillities.

Charming, and so eloquent, eh? I shouldn't have risen to it, its not big, and its not clever, but I couldn't resist:

Thanks for sharing your world-view you ignorant pig-fuck. I'm grateful you took the time out from fucking your sister and lynching black people to share it with us. Just so you know, when China starts trading it oil in Euros and the US becomes a third world country and you're wondering where it all went wrong, the answer is you. Thats right, when you're sitting by the traffic lights trying to sell roasted peanuts to the foreigners who own your economy you can only blame your total ignorance of the world outside your backward state although no doubt you'll tell anyone who'll listen that it was the UN or some jews.

Enjoy the new millennium, Cleetus, the American Century ended seven years ago.

[The Boston Crab]

Nicely put. At least you know he'll read it, unlike any response you might make to You Tube comments.

[terminallyrelaxed]

Baiting rednecks. Its as satisfying as it is easy.

[Slaaaaabs]

Trouble is that winding up a nutter like that might make him mad enough to beat his wife/sister/cousin/mother then shoot up a mall.