Video games...what ya playing? And what are you looking forward to? (2 Viewers)

[Andy Dufresne]

I just spent about 2 hours trying to kill that GD handyman outside Comstock's house...and STILL haven't beaten him.

I assume you know to aim for the heart. If not, now you do.

I do, but they're really quick on "hard".

 

[NCCommish]

I just spent about 2 hours trying to kill that GD handyman outside Comstock's house...and STILL haven't beaten him.

I assume you know to aim for the heart. If not, now you do.

I do, but they're really quick on "hard".

I watched a walk-through for this part. The game is visually very cool.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Uncharted 3 GOTY is $20 at Best Buy today.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I finished my second XCOM playthrough on Ironman (Normal). Once you get the hang of how this game works, Normal is just too easy. I only lost one soldier during the last two thirds or so of the game, and that was because I was stuck in a spot where my very first move to cover revealed 11 (!) aliens, all of which were heavy floaters, mutons, berzerkers, chryssalids, and even a sectoid commander. I don't know how the hell that happened because after finally clearing those guys out, there was only one more pack the rest of the way so I guess I just got really unlucky with enemy spawns, or maybe I spawned on the wrong end of the ship. Regardless, most missions were a cakewalk once I got my snipers and assaults leveled up. And that's without the ability to re-load a save.

Started Classic last night, and I definitely noticed a big increase in difficulty. It took me several tries just to get through the first mission with everyone alive and not needing 10+ days in sick bay.

 

[TxBuckeye]

I only lost one soldier during the last two thirds or so of the game, and that was because I was stuck in a spot where my very first move to cover revealed 11 (!) aliens, all of which were heavy floaters, mutons, berzerkers, chryssalids, and even a sectoid commander. I don't know how the hell that happened because after finally clearing those guys out, there was only one more pack the rest of the way so I guess I just got really unlucky with enemy spawns, or maybe I spawned on the wrong end of the ship.

On the ships with the control room in the front (and yes, sometimes you spawn at the front), once you enter the control room, it activates all enemies on the map. So that is likely what happened.

Classic is a huge step up from Normal. In all honesty, I think the step from Normal to Classic is on par with the step from Classic to Impossible. Simply put, you aren't going to be able to get away with half the crap you did on Normal. A lot of it will get you killed. After awhile though, you'll settle in to it. But it is almost like you are playing a different game.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I only lost one soldier during the last two thirds or so of the game, and that was because I was stuck in a spot where my very first move to cover revealed 11 (!) aliens, all of which were heavy floaters, mutons, berzerkers, chryssalids, and even a sectoid commander. I don't know how the hell that happened because after finally clearing those guys out, there was only one more pack the rest of the way so I guess I just got really unlucky with enemy spawns, or maybe I spawned on the wrong end of the ship.

On the ships with the control room in the front (and yes, sometimes you spawn at the front), once you enter the control room, it activates all enemies on the map. So that is likely what happened.

Classic is a huge step up from Normal. In all honesty, I think the step from Normal to Classic is on par with the step from Classic to Impossible. Simply put, you aren't going to be able to get away with half the crap you did on Normal. A lot of it will get you killed. After awhile though, you'll settle in to it. But it is almost like you are playing a different game.

I'm looking forward to the added challenge. I have a very high tolerance for reloading saves and restarting missions until I get them right, so this should be great.

 

[Pick]

Be patient with troop movement on Classic. I talked about this in the official thread but my first moves are always to put snipers on overwatch and slowly move your other men covered by the snipes. Basically move like you are in battle already. Too many times I got burned because sometimes the enemies are very close to your drop point.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Anybody else get a class action notice from EA? If so, what's that all about and how do you join the class if you don't have receipts or the games in the lawsuit anymore?

 

[OC Zed]

I have noticed that the difficulty curve in XCOM ramped up really quickly. I was able to breeze through the first 6 or 7 missions with no casualties and then all of a sudden I started losing a few guys in the following missions. Money is constantly in short supply as I've been trying to continuously build facilities, although I still don't have enough power generators, satellites and satellite uplinks. And although I keep the research projects going, I haven't had a lot of funds to invest in purchasing the new weapons and armor that comes from it. China and India have already withdrawn. Arrrggghhh.

 

[shake zula]

I played through Bioshock and sold it already. Was the scene from the commercials where they are gonna hang Elizabeth in the game?

 

[TxBuckeye]

I have noticed that the difficulty curve in XCOM ramped up really quickly. I was able to breeze through the first 6 or 7 missions with no casualties and then all of a sudden I started losing a few guys in the following missions. Money is constantly in short supply as I've been trying to continuously build facilities, although I still don't have enough power generators, satellites and satellite uplinks. And although I keep the research projects going, I haven't had a lot of funds to invest in purchasing the new weapons and armor that comes from it. China and India have already withdrawn. Arrrggghhh.

Losing two countries is no big deal. You can lose seven, so don't sweat it. I made it through Normal without losing a country, and managed it on Classic once or twice. But honestly, when I did lose countries, I hardly noticed. It's not a big deal. Much tougher to lose a high ranking soldier than a country IMHO.

 

[thecatch]

I have noticed that the difficulty curve in XCOM ramped up really quickly. I was able to breeze through the first 6 or 7 missions with no casualties and then all of a sudden I started losing a few guys in the following missions. Money is constantly in short supply as I've been trying to continuously build facilities, although I still don't have enough power generators, satellites and satellite uplinks. And although I keep the research projects going, I haven't had a lot of funds to invest in purchasing the new weapons and armor that comes from it. China and India have already withdrawn. Arrrggghhh.

I thought a lot of the increased tactical difficulty going from normal to classic was offset by knowing to build facilities, conduct certain research, etc. the strategic aspect isn't very well explained so its sort of a trial and error thing.

 

[SlaX]

I played through Bioshock and sold it already. Was the scene from the commercials where they are gonna hang Elizabeth in the game?

That scene was not in the game.

 

[NCCommish]

I played through Bioshock and sold it already. Was the scene from the commercials where they are gonna hang Elizabeth in the game?

That scene was not in the game.

Really? I thought that was listed as actual game play.

 

[Hawks64]

I just finished BS Infinite. Should I:

Finish Red Dead Redemption or play skyrim from the beginning. Instruct me!

Red Dead is worth finishing. Skyrim is a very addictive and huge.

Meh, hated Red Dead's ending. Really pissed me off.

 

[NCCommish]

I just finished BS Infinite. Should I:

Finish Red Dead Redemption or play skyrim from the beginning. Instruct me!

Red Dead is worth finishing. Skyrim is a very addictive and huge.

Meh, hated Red Dead's ending. Really pissed me off.

Yeah I admit I was pretty pissed off. I could have taken those guys.

 

[Hawks64]

I just finished BS Infinite. Should I:

Finish Red Dead Redemption or play skyrim from the beginning. Instruct me!

Red Dead is worth finishing. Skyrim is a very addictive and huge.

Meh, hated Red Dead's ending. Really pissed me off.

Yeah I admit I was pretty pissed off. I could have taken those guys.

Spoiler

And then you have to play as that whiny ### little ##### of a kid. I loved playing when you played as John though. Then when I couldn't even try and fight my way out of the barn

 

[NCCommish]

I just finished BS Infinite. Should I:

Finish Red Dead Redemption or play skyrim from the beginning. Instruct me!

Red Dead is worth finishing. Skyrim is a very addictive and huge.

Meh, hated Red Dead's ending. Really pissed me off.

Yeah I admit I was pretty pissed off. I could have taken those guys.

Spoiler

And then you have to play as that whiny ### little ##### of a kid. I loved playing when you played as John though. Then when I couldn't even try and fight my way out of the barn

Spoiler

I took badder guys to get to that spot. I think I even had some dynamite left. I was ready to give them my best Butch and Sundance. To not be able to do anything really sucked.

 

[SlaX]

I played through Bioshock and sold it already. Was the scene from the commercials where they are gonna hang Elizabeth in the game?

That scene was not in the game.

Really? I thought that was listed as actual game play.

first 10 seconds. Many people have expressed disappointment that the scene wasn't in the game. But unless it was left out as DLC, I have no problem with it. Some things get cut for the final product.

 

[NCCommish]

I played through Bioshock and sold it already. Was the scene from the commercials where they are gonna hang Elizabeth in the game?

That scene was not in the game.

Really? I thought that was listed as actual game play.

I guess I missed it first time I saw it. My bad.

 

[Pick]

http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Enemy_Unknown_%28EU2012%29

There's a good XCom site.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Enemy_Unknown_%28EU2012%29

There's a good XCom site.

I found that a while back -- great resource. The page on flanking alone is worth its weight in gold, since the game itself doesn't explain that particular mechanic well.

As nerdy as this is, I'm actually watching videos of this game. Normally I don't sit around watching gameplay on youtube unless I'm stuck someplace and need some help, but there seem to be lots of good (and funny) educational XCOM videos out there.

 

[AYBABTUS]

Still fighting with Ea about a Sim City refund they issued me on March 6th. Not for the server issues but because install errors prevented me from even getting it.

#### this company.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Oh and also, Red Dead Redemption has the best ending for a video game ever, and I don't even know what would be second. I loved the fact that what I thought was the last mission was followed up by a bunch of "settling back into home life" events, followed by all the other stuff that you got play through instead of watching it in a cut-scene.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Oh and also, Red Dead Redemption has the best ending for a video game ever, and I don't even know what would be second. I loved the fact that what I thought was the last mission was followed up by a bunch of "settling back into home life" events, followed by all the other stuff that you got play through instead of watching it in a cut-scene.

For me nothing will ever beat the ending of Bioshock if you choose to save all of the girls during the game.

Spoiler

the ending with him on his death bed and the girls hands was so moving to me

 

[ncc2]

Oh and also, Red Dead Redemption has the best ending for a video game ever, and I don't even know what would be second. I loved the fact that what I thought was the last mission was followed up by a bunch of "settling back into home life" events, followed by all the other stuff that you got play through instead of watching it in a cut-scene.

Oh it was good but it just made me mad. Like I said I know I could take those guys.

 

[Hawks64]

Oh and also, Red Dead Redemption has the best ending for a video game ever, and I don't even know what would be second. I loved the fact that what I thought was the last mission was followed up by a bunch of "settling back into home life" events, followed by all the other stuff that you got play through instead of watching it in a cut-scene.

Oh it was good but it just made me mad. Like I said I know I could take those guys.

What did you do to get the ban hammer?

 

[Pick]

http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Enemy_Unknown_%28EU2012%29

There's a good XCom site.

I found that a while back -- great resource. The page on flanking alone is worth its weight in gold, since the game itself doesn't explain that particular mechanic well.

As nerdy as this is, I'm actually watching videos of this game. Normally I don't sit around watching gameplay on youtube unless I'm stuck someplace and need some help, but there seem to be lots of good (and funny) educational XCOM videos out there.

Find the ones from the guy doing it on ironman impossible if you haven't already. Educational and entertaining.

 

[TxBuckeye]

Finished up Mass Effect tonight. Lots of cut scenes in the end, but enjoyed it a lot. Glad I played through it rather than just watching some video and moving on. Already have ME2 and ME3 on the shelf. But I may take a little break before moving on. I think rolling right in to ME2 might be a little to much ME! I played ME straight through without any sort of "other game" break.

 

[Insein]

Finished up Mass Effect tonight. Lots of cut scenes in the end, but enjoyed it a lot. Glad I played through it rather than just watching some video and moving on. Already have ME2 and ME3 on the shelf. But I may take a little break before moving on. I think rolling right in to ME2 might be a little to much ME! I played ME straight through without any sort of "other game" break.

Yea its good to take a breather and digest. Especially since ME2 will knock you on your ### right away with the story.

 

[TxBuckeye]

http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Enemy_Unknown_%28EU2012%29

There's a good XCom site.

I found that a while back -- great resource. The page on flanking alone is worth its weight in gold, since the game itself doesn't explain that particular mechanic well.

As nerdy as this is, I'm actually watching videos of this game. Normally I don't sit around watching gameplay on youtube unless I'm stuck someplace and need some help, but there seem to be lots of good (and funny) educational XCOM videos out there.

Find the ones from the guy doing it on ironman impossible if you haven't already. Educational and entertaining.

Beaglerush. They are entertaining, but can be a little weak on actual usable strategies. Series one ends in a loss after about 8 missions. Series two just ends after nine. He kept saying he'd be back after the patch, but it never happened. Unless he started up again in the last week or so.

 

[TxBuckeye]

Finished up Mass Effect tonight. Lots of cut scenes in the end, but enjoyed it a lot. Glad I played through it rather than just watching some video and moving on. Already have ME2 and ME3 on the shelf. But I may take a little break before moving on. I think rolling right in to ME2 might be a little to much ME! I played ME straight through without any sort of "other game" break.

Yea its good to take a breather and digest. Especially since ME2 will knock you on your ### right away with the story.

One thing that confused me about the end of ME.

Spoiler

By stopping Saren, and with the Keepers under control, the Reapers are supposed to be trapped in Dark Space. But in the end, when Shepperd is talking to the council, he says they are still coming and they have to be ready. So how did they go from being trapped (according to the Prothean VI) to still coming?

 

[NCCommish]

Oh and also, Red Dead Redemption has the best ending for a video game ever, and I don't even know what would be second. I loved the fact that what I thought was the last mission was followed up by a bunch of "settling back into home life" events, followed by all the other stuff that you got play through instead of watching it in a cut-scene.

Oh it was good but it just made me mad. Like I said I know I could take those guys.

What did you do to get the ban hammer?

I didn't. Last night I left my main notebook at work. So I was using an old one I have at home to watch the Boston thread. For some reason I couldn't get on with my usual ID from it a few weeks ago. So I made ncc2 for when I am on that notebook.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Finished up Mass Effect tonight. Lots of cut scenes in the end, but enjoyed it a lot. Glad I played through it rather than just watching some video and moving on. Already have ME2 and ME3 on the shelf. But I may take a little break before moving on. I think rolling right in to ME2 might be a little to much ME! I played ME straight through without any sort of "other game" break.

Yea its good to take a breather and digest. Especially since ME2 will knock you on your ### right away with the story.

One thing that confused me about the end of ME.

Spoiler

By stopping Saren, and with the Keepers under control, the Reapers are supposed to be trapped in Dark Space. But in the end, when Shepperd is talking to the council, he says they are still coming and they have to be ready. So how did they go from being trapped (according to the Prothean VI) to still coming?

They're not trapped, just delayed. They were supposed to come through the Mass Relay on the Citadel but you stopped that so now they have to take the long way.

 

[Hawks64]

Oh and also, Red Dead Redemption has the best ending for a video game ever, and I don't even know what would be second. I loved the fact that what I thought was the last mission was followed up by a bunch of "settling back into home life" events, followed by all the other stuff that you got play through instead of watching it in a cut-scene.

Oh it was good but it just made me mad. Like I said I know I could take those guys.

What did you do to get the ban hammer?

I didn't. Last night I left my main notebook at work. So I was using an old one I have at home to watch the Boston thread. For some reason I couldn't get on with my usual ID from it a few weeks ago. So I made ncc2 for when I am on that notebook.

Well that explains that, was confused for a second.

 

[Chaka]

Gamefly is running a 75% off special on Mass Effect 1, 2 & 3 and Dragon Age II & Origins.

 

[Bull Dozier]

Oh and also, Red Dead Redemption has the best ending for a video game ever, and I don't even know what would be second. I loved the fact that what I thought was the last mission was followed up by a bunch of "settling back into home life" events, followed by all the other stuff that you got play through instead of watching it in a cut-scene.

Why does this sound like sarcasm to me?

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Oh and also, Red Dead Redemption has the best ending for a video game ever, and I don't even know what would be second. I loved the fact that what I thought was the last mission was followed up by a bunch of "settling back into home life" events, followed by all the other stuff that you got play through instead of watching it in a cut-scene.

Why does this sound like sarcasm to me?

Not sarcasm. I wish more video games would do stuff like this. Most of the time you defeat the last boss -- Liquid, Saddler, Maurder Shields -- and then you just sit back and watch a cutscene. I like that you actually play in out in RDR.

 

[TxBuckeye]

Wow, ME2 is quite different than ME1. First change I dislike, they swapped the funtion of L1/R1 and L2/R2. Man that messed me up awhile! Also, enemies seem much more deadly. I think I bit the bullet more in the first chapter than in the course of the whole dang ME playthrough. But, I imagine it is just a matter of getting a grip on the new gameplay and controls and then I'll be ok. Looks like this one is going to be massive though.

 

[5Rings]

Wow, ME2 is quite different than ME1. First change I dislike, they swapped the funtion of L1/R1 and L2/R2. Man that messed me up awhile! Also, enemies seem much more deadly. I think I bit the bullet more in the first chapter than in the course of the whole dang ME playthrough. But, I imagine it is just a matter of getting a grip on the new gameplay and controls and then I'll be ok. Looks like this one is going to be massive though.

I #####ed about this too (in this thread i think) when I started ME2. You get used to it, but I do like the controls in 1 better.

 

[Insein]

Finished up Mass Effect tonight. Lots of cut scenes in the end, but enjoyed it a lot. Glad I played through it rather than just watching some video and moving on. Already have ME2 and ME3 on the shelf. But I may take a little break before moving on. I think rolling right in to ME2 might be a little to much ME! I played ME straight through without any sort of "other game" break.

Yea its good to take a breather and digest. Especially since ME2 will knock you on your ### right away with the story.

One thing that confused me about the end of ME.

Spoiler

By stopping Saren, and with the Keepers under control, the Reapers are supposed to be trapped in Dark Space. But in the end, when Shepperd is talking to the council, he says they are still coming and they have to be ready. So how did they go from being trapped (according to the Prothean VI) to still coming?

Spoiler

Reapers can travel across dark space. The beacon was just a means to get there quicker. They're still coming.

 

[Insein]

Wow, ME2 is quite different than ME1. First change I dislike, they swapped the funtion of L1/R1 and L2/R2. Man that messed me up awhile! Also, enemies seem much more deadly. I think I bit the bullet more in the first chapter than in the course of the whole dang ME playthrough. But, I imagine it is just a matter of getting a grip on the new gameplay and controls and then I'll be ok. Looks like this one is going to be massive though.

I #####ed about this too (in this thread i think) when I started ME2. You get used to it, but I do like the controls in 1 better.

I feel of the 3, ME3 has the best combat controls. ME1 has the best free world settings. ME2 has the best characters and story.

 

[TxBuckeye]

I got through ME in under 40 hours. What kind of play time can I expect with ME2?

 

[Insein]

I got through ME in under 40 hours. What kind of play time can I expect with ME2?

Bout the same. Possibly more if you do all the side quests.

 

[TxBuckeye]

I got through ME in under 40 hours. What kind of play time can I expect with ME2?

Bout the same. Possibly more if you do all the side quests.

I can live with that. Was hoping it wouldn't be a total time sink like Skyrim where a playthrough could go 150+ hours.

 

[Insein]

I got through ME in under 40 hours. What kind of play time can I expect with ME2?

Bout the same. Possibly more if you do all the side quests.

I can live with that. Was hoping it wouldn't be a total time sink like Skyrim where a playthrough could go 150+ hours.

Nah. That's a beast unto it self. ME is always about driving the story. Skyrim is about making your own story for the most part.

 

[TxBuckeye]

I got through ME in under 40 hours. What kind of play time can I expect with ME2?

Bout the same. Possibly more if you do all the side quests.

I can live with that. Was hoping it wouldn't be a total time sink like Skyrim where a playthrough could go 150+ hours.

Nah. That's a beast unto it self. ME is always about driving the story. Skyrim is about making your own story for the most part.

Wasn't sure since just trying to get Garrus seems to be a mighty long mission. Then again, I guess it is considered a "main mission" even though it has the feel of a side mission to me.

 

[Insein]

I got through ME in under 40 hours. What kind of play time can I expect with ME2?

Bout the same. Possibly more if you do all the side quests.

I can live with that. Was hoping it wouldn't be a total time sink like Skyrim where a playthrough could go 150+ hours.

Nah. That's a beast unto it self. ME is always about driving the story. Skyrim is about making your own story for the most part.

Wasn't sure since just trying to get Garrus seems to be a mighty long mission. Then again, I guess it is considered a "main mission" even though it has the feel of a side mission to me.

All the loyalty missions are technically optional but very enjoyable...

Spoiler

And heavily impact the ending you get

 

[TxBuckeye]

All the loyalty missions are technically optional but very enjoyable...

Spoiler

And heavily impact the ending you get

Well, Garrus is safe. Time to go get the professor.

 

[Insein]

All the loyalty missions are technically optional but very enjoyable...

Spoiler

And heavily impact the ending you get

Well, Garrus is safe. Time to go get the professor.

When I say loyalty missions, I mean the one after you get them. Recruiting them is required but gaining their loyalty is predicated on doing their extra mission.