Video games...what ya playing? And what are you looking forward to? (8 Viewers)

[Brony]

I got some pretty good freebies recently. Spec Ops The Line was free on PS+ earlier this month, and I highly recommend that one. I was barely even aware that that game existed, but it definitely fell into the category of "overlooked gem." Basically it plays like Uncharted only with Marines Delta Force instead of Drake, and with enemies who aren't bullet-sponges. The guy who voices Drake also voices the main character in this one. It's short, but it was good for three playthroughs. The highest difficulty level was seriously hard, with probably 8-10 areas that were as hard as the hardest areas in Uncharted 1 on Crushing.

Sony was also kind enough to give me a free $10 in my PSN account, which I spent on Motorstorm RC. It took a while to get the controls down (it's basically a top-down racing game), but it's fun and there's a lot of content there for a $5 PSN game.

Amazon doesn't seem to have any special deals on Bioshock Infinite, so I'll hold off on that one for a while until the price comes down. Good luck to all of those are looking forward to this next week -- I'm looking forward to seeing user reviews.

Thanks IK BlackOps2 is starting to get repetitive and I'm looking for new PS3 games. I've tried the first Batman (pretty boring and I'm 20% into it) and gone back to GTA Vice City which I loved the first time around but the controls are just spotty enough to be extremely annoying. I always thought Bioshock was like Resident Evil but now reading more seems like it's not. I'll have to try Bioshock and Spec Ops next.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Just a reminder that Microsoft is still giving out 1600 points for free if you preorder Bioshock Infinite (some other titles as well).

 

[Run It Up]

Started playing Skyrim the other day. Approximately how many hours until I get my life back?

Depends, have you stolen all the sweet rolls yet?

 

[NCCommish]

Started playing Skyrim the other day. Approximately how many hours until I get my life back?

If you don't blow 120 hours you aren't trying.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Started playing Skyrim the other day. Approximately how many hours until I get my life back?

Depends, have you stolen all the sweet rolls yet?

 

[Mad Cow]

Amazing bundle deal for PC Bioshock: Infinite

Preorder it, get Bioshock 1, XCom:ET and your choice of another.

 

[Moe.]

I haven't played a single-player (non-COD or non-sports) game on this generation of consoles. Last one was Metal Gear Solid 2. So last week on a whim I downloaded Far Cry 3 and I'm pretty much loving it. Like a lot. Realizing that I may have been missing out. What other games would you guys recommend that might be similar? Feel free to go back a few years, like I said I haven't played any of these single-player games in forever.

What specifically about Far Cry 3 do you like? Is it mainly the shooting? Or is it exploring the open world and doing little missions? Other good shooting games would be Bioshock (already mentioned), all of the Uncharteds (if you're on the PS3), and Dead Space. Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3) is a good choice too, though I wouldn't consider it a shooter.If you like exploring and doing random stuff, then you should just buy Skyrim and come back to us 120 hours from now. Other good single-player games to look at would be both Batmans, Red Dead Redemption, the Mass Effect franchise, and maybe Grand Theft Auto 4. I'm sure I'm leaving some out.

I'm enjoying the open world aspects the most. Exploring the island, hunting, climbing radio towers, capturing outposts, etc. I like shooters but I also like having the option to take a stealth approach. Is Dishonored any good? Based on a couple of reviews/videos I watched last night I think I might give it a try next. My only concern with Skyrim is that it'd be a bit more than I can handle. I've never really played any RPGs, I'm worried I'd just be totally lost.

 

[Run It Up]

Started playing Skyrim the other day. Approximately how many hours until I get my life back?

Depends, have you stolen all the sweet rolls yet?

My last character, the one that made me finally be able to put skyrim down was a sweet roll thief.I stole literally all of them sweet rolls in skyrim. Role playing is not necessary to enjoy a role playing game, but it can be more enjoyable.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

I also like having the option to take a stealth approach. Is Dishonored any good? Based on a couple of reviews/videos I watched last night I think I might give it a try next.

If you like stealth games, both Dishonored and Deus Ex: Human Revolution are good. The latter is pretty cheap at Gamestop now ($14ish).

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I just got an NES emulator for my Nexus 10 so that I can play the 8-bit Nintendo version of Tetris, the best version of the best videogame ever.

Why doesn't Nintendo make an iPad app for such things (like Atari has done)? I don't want to jailbreak my ipad just to play Ninja Gaiden. Also, are there any good portable controllers for ipad or tablet so you don't have to use crappy touchscreen joysticks/d-pads?

 

[Run It Up]

I just got an NES emulator for my Nexus 10 so that I can play the 8-bit Nintendo version of Tetris, the best version of the best videogame ever.

Why doesn't Nintendo make an iPad app for such things (like Atari has done)? I don't want to jailbreak my ipad just to play Ninja Gaiden. Also, are there any good portable controllers for ipad or tablet so you don't have to use crappy touchscreen joysticks/d-pads?

Do iPads have USB ports? If so there are literally thousands...

 

[Usual21]

I just got an NES emulator for my Nexus 10 so that I can play the 8-bit Nintendo version of Tetris, the best version of the best videogame ever.

Why doesn't Nintendo make an iPad app for such things (like Atari has done)? I don't want to jailbreak my ipad just to play Ninja Gaiden. Also, are there any good portable controllers for ipad or tablet so you don't have to use crappy touchscreen joysticks/d-pads?

If they made apps for iPads/iPhones/Android they would kill their portable hardware line.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

I just got an NES emulator for my Nexus 10 so that I can play the 8-bit Nintendo version of Tetris, the best version of the best videogame ever.

Why doesn't Nintendo make an iPad app for such things (like Atari has done)? I don't want to jailbreak my ipad just to play Ninja Gaiden. Also, are there any good portable controllers for ipad or tablet so you don't have to use crappy touchscreen joysticks/d-pads?

If they made apps for iPads/iPhones/Android they would kill their portable hardware line.

Pretty much. Their exclusivity is what keeps them in the game. No pun intended.

 

[Hawks64]

Started playing Skyrim the other day. Approximately how many hours until I get my life back?

200+

 

[Andy Dufresne]

At Gamestop.com, if you add God of War:Ascension and God Of War Saga to the cart, you get the latter for free.

May have to add code "SAVER".

 

[SlaX]

How is the game?

At first, I thought the game was much better than I anticipated. And it still is, for the most part. But honestly, it's a bit boring. I want to at least get to the part where Daryl gets the crossbow and see if it gets better from there. But it's a chore to play through. I hear the game is short, so I may be able to finish it in a couple of days. But that depends on whether I have interest in doing so. Without the crossbow, I feel that it's just a bad stealth game right now, and the game definitely punishes you for using guns (which, if you're familiar with The Walking Dead, should make sense). There's a mini-game that the game puts you through when a walker gets right on top of you. It's similar to the aiming game that takes place during the shooting sections of TellTale's The Walking Dead game. But it's poorly handled. For people who complained about aiming in TellTale's game, they won't like that any better. And imagine doing that mini-game several times in a row if you're surrounded, basically until you are dead. Don't get surrounded. You can usually handle two at a time, but any more and you're lucky to make it out alive.

The neat thing with the game is that there are some random events that happen. Between missions, you select the route to take with your car. It gives you the destination and gives you the choice to take a rural road, main road or highway. Highways will take less gas, but you have a higher chance of breakdown. Rural routes allow for more exploration and finding supplies, but eat more gas. Main roads are in the middle. And after selecting your route, the game goes into, what I think reminds me of a Oregon Trail type of randomness. Like I said, sometimes you'll break down and need a part, sometimes you stop for supplies, sometimes the road is blocked and you need to push cars out of the way (or find another route). And the game isn't pre-determined with it. I turned off the game after stopping and needing a new battery only to find that the car didn't break down at all when I started from there the next time.

I'm only a few hours in, but that's what I can say so far. There are some nice surprising moments where the game feels like it could've been something better, but for me, I'm just playing for a pre-TV show story on the Dixon Bros. Unfortunately, so far there hasn't been much of that. It's fetch this, do this, here's a survivor and they need this... etc.

I'll give it a little more time. Maybe it'll get better.

I don't mind some of those aspects of a game. They may seem tedious, but I guess if you think about it, gathering supplies/helping others/etc...is what would happen in a zombie apocalypse. I wouldn't want a straight fps in this genre (other than L4d of course).

Thank you for the review. Please post a final update after you play more.

The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct is the worst game I've played this year (Kotaku review)I did forget to mention melee combat, since it's pretty essential to the game. Last night, I found a katana, which means I can finally kill a zombie in two well placed shots. But prior to that, it was a joke. I've tried a knife, hatchet, and a hammer and they all took 4 well placed shots to kill a zombie. You only get a quick kill if you sneak up behind one and hold RB in the right spot. I say the "Right spot" because if you press it in the wrong spot, you shove the zombie instead and it becomes the slap fight talked about in the review above. It's this pathetic melee combat that makes the game so slow and boring.

I gotta run. I'll talk more about it later.

 

[belljr]

I just got an NES emulator for my Nexus 10 so that I can play the 8-bit Nintendo version of Tetris, the best version of the best videogame ever.

Why doesn't Nintendo make an iPad app for such things (like Atari has done)? I don't want to jailbreak my ipad just to play Ninja Gaiden. Also, are there any good portable controllers for ipad or tablet so you don't have to use crappy touchscreen joysticks/d-pads?

If they made apps for iPads/iPhones/Android they would kill their portable hardware line.

dig up th nexus 7 thread. i posted my roms on dropbox with the emulator i use

 

[Disco Stu]

The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct is the worst game I've played this year (Kotaku review)

I can think of no compelling reason why anyone should play this game. Ugly, flat, boring, aggravating and often broken, The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct is the purest form of video game garbage. It's utterly unworthy of your time and money.

 

[Copeman]

How is the game?

At first, I thought the game was much better than I anticipated. And it still is, for the most part. But honestly, it's a bit boring. I want to at least get to the part where Daryl gets the crossbow and see if it gets better from there. But it's a chore to play through. I hear the game is short, so I may be able to finish it in a couple of days. But that depends on whether I have interest in doing so. Without the crossbow, I feel that it's just a bad stealth game right now, and the game definitely punishes you for using guns (which, if you're familiar with The Walking Dead, should make sense). There's a mini-game that the game puts you through when a walker gets right on top of you. It's similar to the aiming game that takes place during the shooting sections of TellTale's The Walking Dead game. But it's poorly handled. For people who complained about aiming in TellTale's game, they won't like that any better. And imagine doing that mini-game several times in a row if you're surrounded, basically until you are dead. Don't get surrounded. You can usually handle two at a time, but any more and you're lucky to make it out alive.

The neat thing with the game is that there are some random events that happen. Between missions, you select the route to take with your car. It gives you the destination and gives you the choice to take a rural road, main road or highway. Highways will take less gas, but you have a higher chance of breakdown. Rural routes allow for more exploration and finding supplies, but eat more gas. Main roads are in the middle. And after selecting your route, the game goes into, what I think reminds me of a Oregon Trail type of randomness. Like I said, sometimes you'll break down and need a part, sometimes you stop for supplies, sometimes the road is blocked and you need to push cars out of the way (or find another route). And the game isn't pre-determined with it. I turned off the game after stopping and needing a new battery only to find that the car didn't break down at all when I started from there the next time.

I'm only a few hours in, but that's what I can say so far. There are some nice surprising moments where the game feels like it could've been something better, but for me, I'm just playing for a pre-TV show story on the Dixon Bros. Unfortunately, so far there hasn't been much of that. It's fetch this, do this, here's a survivor and they need this... etc.

I'll give it a little more time. Maybe it'll get better.

I don't mind some of those aspects of a game. They may seem tedious, but I guess if you think about it, gathering supplies/helping others/etc...is what would happen in a zombie apocalypse. I wouldn't want a straight fps in this genre (other than L4d of course).

Thank you for the review. Please post a final update after you play more.

The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct is the worst game I've played this year (Kotaku review)I did forget to mention melee combat, since it's pretty essential to the game. Last night, I found a katana, which means I can finally kill a zombie in two well placed shots. But prior to that, it was a joke. I've tried a knife, hatchet, and a hammer and they all took 4 well placed shots to kill a zombie. You only get a quick kill if you sneak up behind one and hold RB in the right spot. I say the "Right spot" because if you press it in the wrong spot, you shove the zombie instead and it becomes the slap fight talked about in the review above. It's this pathetic melee combat that makes the game so slow and boring.

I gotta run. I'll talk more about it later.

Ugh. Thanks for the review. I think I've seen enough. I'll save my $.

 

[Insein]

Amazing bundle deal for PC Bioshock: Infinite

Preorder it, get Bioshock 1, XCom:ET and your choice of another.

That's a pretty sweet deal if I didn't have all of those games.

 

[SlaX]

How is the game?

At first, I thought the game was much better than I anticipated. And it still is, for the most part. But honestly, it's a bit boring. I want to at least get to the part where Daryl gets the crossbow and see if it gets better from there. But it's a chore to play through. I hear the game is short, so I may be able to finish it in a couple of days. But that depends on whether I have interest in doing so. Without the crossbow, I feel that it's just a bad stealth game right now, and the game definitely punishes you for using guns (which, if you're familiar with The Walking Dead, should make sense). There's a mini-game that the game puts you through when a walker gets right on top of you. It's similar to the aiming game that takes place during the shooting sections of TellTale's The Walking Dead game. But it's poorly handled. For people who complained about aiming in TellTale's game, they won't like that any better. And imagine doing that mini-game several times in a row if you're surrounded, basically until you are dead. Don't get surrounded. You can usually handle two at a time, but any more and you're lucky to make it out alive.

The neat thing with the game is that there are some random events that happen. Between missions, you select the route to take with your car. It gives you the destination and gives you the choice to take a rural road, main road or highway. Highways will take less gas, but you have a higher chance of breakdown. Rural routes allow for more exploration and finding supplies, but eat more gas. Main roads are in the middle. And after selecting your route, the game goes into, what I think reminds me of a Oregon Trail type of randomness. Like I said, sometimes you'll break down and need a part, sometimes you stop for supplies, sometimes the road is blocked and you need to push cars out of the way (or find another route). And the game isn't pre-determined with it. I turned off the game after stopping and needing a new battery only to find that the car didn't break down at all when I started from there the next time.

I'm only a few hours in, but that's what I can say so far. There are some nice surprising moments where the game feels like it could've been something better, but for me, I'm just playing for a pre-TV show story on the Dixon Bros. Unfortunately, so far there hasn't been much of that. It's fetch this, do this, here's a survivor and they need this... etc.

I'll give it a little more time. Maybe it'll get better.

I don't mind some of those aspects of a game. They may seem tedious, but I guess if you think about it, gathering supplies/helping others/etc...is what would happen in a zombie apocalypse. I wouldn't want a straight fps in this genre (other than L4d of course).

Thank you for the review. Please post a final update after you play more.

The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct is the worst game I've played this year (Kotaku review)I did forget to mention melee combat, since it's pretty essential to the game. Last night, I found a katana, which means I can finally kill a zombie in two well placed shots. But prior to that, it was a joke. I've tried a knife, hatchet, and a hammer and they all took 4 well placed shots to kill a zombie. You only get a quick kill if you sneak up behind one and hold RB in the right spot. I say the "Right spot" because if you press it in the wrong spot, you shove the zombie instead and it becomes the slap fight talked about in the review above. It's this pathetic melee combat that makes the game so slow and boring.

I gotta run. I'll talk more about it later.

Ugh. Thanks for the review. I think I've seen enough. I'll save my $.

Finally got the crossbow. It definitely opens the game up more. I want to like the game, but I'm still having trouble finding good things to say.

 

[belljr]

I got some pretty good freebies recently. Spec Ops The Line was free on PS+ earlier this month, and I highly recommend that one. I was barely even aware that that game existed, but it definitely fell into the category of "overlooked gem." Basically it plays like Uncharted only with Marines Delta Force instead of Drake, and with enemies who aren't bullet-sponges. The guy who voices Drake also voices the main character in this one. It's short, but it was good for three playthroughs. The highest difficulty level was seriously hard, with probably 8-10 areas that were as hard as the hardest areas in Uncharted 1 on Crushing.

Sony was also kind enough to give me a free $10 in my PSN account, which I spent on Motorstorm RC. It took a while to get the controls down (it's basically a top-down racing game), but it's fun and there's a lot of content there for a $5 PSN game.

Amazon doesn't seem to have any special deals on Bioshock Infinite, so I'll hold off on that one for a while until the price comes down. Good luck to all of those are looking forward to this next week -- I'm looking forward to seeing user reviews.

got excited to download spec ops and its only free to plus members

 

[SlaX]

How is the game?

At first, I thought the game was much better than I anticipated. And it still is, for the most part. But honestly, it's a bit boring. I want to at least get to the part where Daryl gets the crossbow and see if it gets better from there. But it's a chore to play through. I hear the game is short, so I may be able to finish it in a couple of days. But that depends on whether I have interest in doing so. Without the crossbow, I feel that it's just a bad stealth game right now, and the game definitely punishes you for using guns (which, if you're familiar with The Walking Dead, should make sense). There's a mini-game that the game puts you through when a walker gets right on top of you. It's similar to the aiming game that takes place during the shooting sections of TellTale's The Walking Dead game. But it's poorly handled. For people who complained about aiming in TellTale's game, they won't like that any better. And imagine doing that mini-game several times in a row if you're surrounded, basically until you are dead. Don't get surrounded. You can usually handle two at a time, but any more and you're lucky to make it out alive.

The neat thing with the game is that there are some random events that happen. Between missions, you select the route to take with your car. It gives you the destination and gives you the choice to take a rural road, main road or highway. Highways will take less gas, but you have a higher chance of breakdown. Rural routes allow for more exploration and finding supplies, but eat more gas. Main roads are in the middle. And after selecting your route, the game goes into, what I think reminds me of a Oregon Trail type of randomness. Like I said, sometimes you'll break down and need a part, sometimes you stop for supplies, sometimes the road is blocked and you need to push cars out of the way (or find another route). And the game isn't pre-determined with it. I turned off the game after stopping and needing a new battery only to find that the car didn't break down at all when I started from there the next time.

I'm only a few hours in, but that's what I can say so far. There are some nice surprising moments where the game feels like it could've been something better, but for me, I'm just playing for a pre-TV show story on the Dixon Bros. Unfortunately, so far there hasn't been much of that. It's fetch this, do this, here's a survivor and they need this... etc.

I'll give it a little more time. Maybe it'll get better.

I don't mind some of those aspects of a game. They may seem tedious, but I guess if you think about it, gathering supplies/helping others/etc...is what would happen in a zombie apocalypse. I wouldn't want a straight fps in this genre (other than L4d of course).

Thank you for the review. Please post a final update after you play more.

The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct is the worst game I've played this year (Kotaku review)I did forget to mention melee combat, since it's pretty essential to the game. Last night, I found a katana, which means I can finally kill a zombie in two well placed shots. But prior to that, it was a joke. I've tried a knife, hatchet, and a hammer and they all took 4 well placed shots to kill a zombie. You only get a quick kill if you sneak up behind one and hold RB in the right spot. I say the "Right spot" because if you press it in the wrong spot, you shove the zombie instead and it becomes the slap fight talked about in the review above. It's this pathetic melee combat that makes the game so slow and boring.

I gotta run. I'll talk more about it later.

Ugh. Thanks for the review. I think I've seen enough. I'll save my $.

Finally got the crossbow. It definitely opens the game up more. I want to like the game, but I'm still having trouble finding good things to say.

Finished the first playthrough and I can now officially say: "It's garbage". I've been told that it gets better with multiple playthroughs, but you cannot pay me to play that game again. I'll mention some things that aren't said in Kotaku's review. The crossbow, while much better than nothing else has one problem. Hit detection is horrible in the game. Crossbow bolts are rare to come by, and it's not supposed to be an issue, because you can pull a bolt out of a zombie and use it again. But hit detection makes hitting your target hard. You can line up the shot and then, zooms right past him. That bolt is gone. Some times you can pick up a missed bolt, if you can find where it landed. But sometimes I swear they just disappear. I had to do the last two missions without any bolts. But the last mission gives you military grade assault rifles if you get in a bind.

I mentioned that shove and stealth kill were the same button. This is a big problem. On the XBox they are both on RB. You sneak up behind a zombie, press RB and it's supposed to kill him. But no, often times it just shoves him, which defeats the purpose. The LB button isn't mapped to anything. How hard would it be to make that the shove button?

The game changes depending on the survivors. No. Not really multiple endings. You get a different relic for when you finish the game with a particular character. These survivors you'll meet on your travels, but most of the time, you can't let them all come with because your car is too small, so you have to choose who stays. Apparently one survivor gives you the ability to start a new game with silencers on all ranged weapons. That would be nice, but that requires playing the game again. Also, once you beat the game, no matter who is remaining, you can start the game with the crossbow (and assault rifle, if you prefer that direction).

However, I cannot refute anything in the Kotaku review. I wanted to find redeeming qualities in it, but that's like finding it in a pile of dung. The game did get a little better after the crossbow, but not much.

I'm sure some The Walking Dead fans will want to play this game. They will be interested in the Dixon's back story and hope that the game will provide it. It's not there. I cannot stop you from playing it. In fact, I'm sure someone will enjoy it. But don't blame me if you don't. You've been warned.

This is not The Walking Dead game you're looking for.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I got some pretty good freebies recently. Spec Ops The Line was free on PS+ earlier this month, and I highly recommend that one. I was barely even aware that that game existed, but it definitely fell into the category of "overlooked gem." Basically it plays like Uncharted only with Marines Delta Force instead of Drake, and with enemies who aren't bullet-sponges. The guy who voices Drake also voices the main character in this one. It's short, but it was good for three playthroughs. The highest difficulty level was seriously hard, with probably 8-10 areas that were as hard as the hardest areas in Uncharted 1 on Crushing.

Sony was also kind enough to give me a free $10 in my PSN account, which I spent on Motorstorm RC. It took a while to get the controls down (it's basically a top-down racing game), but it's fun and there's a lot of content there for a $5 PSN game.

Amazon doesn't seem to have any special deals on Bioshock Infinite, so I'll hold off on that one for a while until the price comes down. Good luck to all of those are looking forward to this next week -- I'm looking forward to seeing user reviews.

got excited to download spec ops and its only free to plus members

Plus hasn't been as good as it could be, but it's still been a pretty good deal for $50 per year. I signed up last year shortly after E3, when Sony pushed out a fairly impressive lineup of games for the "Instant Game Collection." Since then, I've played inFamous 2, Bioshock 2, Borderlands*, Darksiders, and Spec Ops: The Line for free. I also picked up Rainbow Moon and Walking Dead (the good one) at a discount. If you just look at the $ value of the games I got to play, it's an okay value. I also can't argue too much in terms in terms of the game selection -- I want it to highlight quality games that I might have overlooked, like Spec Ops. But the most common complaint is that Europe has gotten a much stronger lineup (Arkham City, Mass Effect 3, Motorstorm Apocalypse, Metal Gear Collection) and Sony could do a better job of thowing some bones to Americans. In other words, it's nice for cheapskates like me, but it could be improved upon.

* I gave up on Borderlands after about 10 levels or so. That game just sucked as a single player experience.

 

[AYBABTUS]

New PC built. Loving it. In the middle of Tomb Raider now. Hopefully get it done and maybe Crysis 3 just to see what my system can do before Bioshock takes over.

 

[NewlyRetired]

* I gave up on Borderlands after about 10 levels or so. That game just sucked as a single player experience.

Not for me. I could not get enough of BL 1 single player. It was so well done. And then on top of a great game they added some of the best DLC's designed ever.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Wii U basic for $250 at Best Buy.

Not a good sign for Nintendo that they're having to drop prices already. My opinion is that they just didn't have enough launch titles.

 

[shadyridr]

Wii U basic for $250 at Best Buy.

Not a good sign for Nintendo that they're having to drop prices already. My opinion is that they just didn't have enough launch titles.

Nintendo rarely ####s things up. Last time they ####ed up so badly was Gamecube

 

[Copeman]

How is the game?

At first, I thought the game was much better than I anticipated. And it still is, for the most part. But honestly, it's a bit boring. I want to at least get to the part where Daryl gets the crossbow and see if it gets better from there. But it's a chore to play through. I hear the game is short, so I may be able to finish it in a couple of days. But that depends on whether I have interest in doing so. Without the crossbow, I feel that it's just a bad stealth game right now, and the game definitely punishes you for using guns (which, if you're familiar with The Walking Dead, should make sense). There's a mini-game that the game puts you through when a walker gets right on top of you. It's similar to the aiming game that takes place during the shooting sections of TellTale's The Walking Dead game. But it's poorly handled. For people who complained about aiming in TellTale's game, they won't like that any better. And imagine doing that mini-game several times in a row if you're surrounded, basically until you are dead. Don't get surrounded. You can usually handle two at a time, but any more and you're lucky to make it out alive.

The neat thing with the game is that there are some random events that happen. Between missions, you select the route to take with your car. It gives you the destination and gives you the choice to take a rural road, main road or highway. Highways will take less gas, but you have a higher chance of breakdown. Rural routes allow for more exploration and finding supplies, but eat more gas. Main roads are in the middle. And after selecting your route, the game goes into, what I think reminds me of a Oregon Trail type of randomness. Like I said, sometimes you'll break down and need a part, sometimes you stop for supplies, sometimes the road is blocked and you need to push cars out of the way (or find another route). And the game isn't pre-determined with it. I turned off the game after stopping and needing a new battery only to find that the car didn't break down at all when I started from there the next time.

I'm only a few hours in, but that's what I can say so far. There are some nice surprising moments where the game feels like it could've been something better, but for me, I'm just playing for a pre-TV show story on the Dixon Bros. Unfortunately, so far there hasn't been much of that. It's fetch this, do this, here's a survivor and they need this... etc.

I'll give it a little more time. Maybe it'll get better.

I don't mind some of those aspects of a game. They may seem tedious, but I guess if you think about it, gathering supplies/helping others/etc...is what would happen in a zombie apocalypse. I wouldn't want a straight fps in this genre (other than L4d of course).

Thank you for the review. Please post a final update after you play more.

The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct is the worst game I've played this year (Kotaku review)I did forget to mention melee combat, since it's pretty essential to the game. Last night, I found a katana, which means I can finally kill a zombie in two well placed shots. But prior to that, it was a joke. I've tried a knife, hatchet, and a hammer and they all took 4 well placed shots to kill a zombie. You only get a quick kill if you sneak up behind one and hold RB in the right spot. I say the "Right spot" because if you press it in the wrong spot, you shove the zombie instead and it becomes the slap fight talked about in the review above. It's this pathetic melee combat that makes the game so slow and boring.

I gotta run. I'll talk more about it later.

Ugh. Thanks for the review. I think I've seen enough. I'll save my $.

Finally got the crossbow. It definitely opens the game up more. I want to like the game, but I'm still having trouble finding good things to say.

Finished the first playthrough and I can now officially say: "It's garbage". I've been told that it gets better with multiple playthroughs, but you cannot pay me to play that game again. I'll mention some things that aren't said in Kotaku's review. The crossbow, while much better than nothing else has one problem. Hit detection is horrible in the game. Crossbow bolts are rare to come by, and it's not supposed to be an issue, because you can pull a bolt out of a zombie and use it again. But hit detection makes hitting your target hard. You can line up the shot and then, zooms right past him. That bolt is gone. Some times you can pick up a missed bolt, if you can find where it landed. But sometimes I swear they just disappear. I had to do the last two missions without any bolts. But the last mission gives you military grade assault rifles if you get in a bind.

I mentioned that shove and stealth kill were the same button. This is a big problem. On the XBox they are both on RB. You sneak up behind a zombie, press RB and it's supposed to kill him. But no, often times it just shoves him, which defeats the purpose. The LB button isn't mapped to anything. How hard would it be to make that the shove button?

The game changes depending on the survivors. No. Not really multiple endings. You get a different relic for when you finish the game with a particular character. These survivors you'll meet on your travels, but most of the time, you can't let them all come with because your car is too small, so you have to choose who stays. Apparently one survivor gives you the ability to start a new game with silencers on all ranged weapons. That would be nice, but that requires playing the game again. Also, once you beat the game, no matter who is remaining, you can start the game with the crossbow (and assault rifle, if you prefer that direction).

However, I cannot refute anything in the Kotaku review. I wanted to find redeeming qualities in it, but that's like finding it in a pile of dung. The game did get a little better after the crossbow, but not much.

I'm sure some The Walking Dead fans will want to play this game. They will be interested in the Dixon's back story and hope that the game will provide it. It's not there. I cannot stop you from playing it. In fact, I'm sure someone will enjoy it. But don't blame me if you don't. You've been warned.

This is not The Walking Dead game you're looking for.

Love the show, love zombie games (in fact I think I played L4D2 with you a few times), and was really looking forward to this. I trust your judgement, and based on other reviews, no way I am touching this, unless someone unknowingly buys me it.

 

[SlaX]

Wii U basic for $250 at Best Buy.

Not a good sign for Nintendo that they're having to drop prices already. My opinion is that they just didn't have enough launch titles.

Nintendo rarely ####s things up. Last time they ####ed up so badly was Gamecube 3DS

fypThey are finally starting to get it on track.

 

[SlaX]

Love the show, love zombie games (in fact I think I played L4D2 with you a few times), and was really looking forward to this. I trust your judgement, and based on other reviews, no way I am touching this, unless someone unknowingly buys me it.

Haven't played L4D in a while. I've still barely touched the second game, compared to the time I put into the first. With two kids and the backlog of games I have, I sometimes have a hard time getting back to games I left behind for dead. I'm sure I'll get back around again soon. And you can carry me through, since I'm a bit rusty. Speaking of which, check out this video of

 

[Copeman]

Love the show, love zombie games (in fact I think I played L4D2 with you a few times), and was really looking forward to this. I trust your judgement, and based on other reviews, no way I am touching this, unless someone unknowingly buys me it.

Haven't played L4D in a while. I've still barely touched the second game, compared to the time I put into the first. With two kids and the backlog of games I have, I sometimes have a hard time getting back to games I left behind for dead. I'm sure I'll get back around again soon. And you can carry me through, since I'm a bit rusty. Speaking of which, check out this video of

Let me know. I've played the heck out of both installments. I'm up for it anytime. Usually Wednesday and Fridays are my free nights.

 

[Tony Jabroni]

Bought the stepson 2 for 1 at Target today for his birthday:

Skyrim

Mass Effect 3

Batman Arkham City

Really hope he likes them.

 

[SlaX]

Bought the stepson 2 for 1 at Target today for his birthday:SkyrimMass Effect 3Batman Arkham CityReally hope he likes them.

It's a good lot of games. Has he played the other Mass Effect games?

 

[TxBuckeye]

Bought the stepson 2 for 1 at Target today for his birthday:SkyrimMass Effect 3Batman Arkham CityReally hope he likes them.

If he doesn't, take his console away. That's a great list.

 

[The Tick]

Wii U basic for $250 at Best Buy.

Not a good sign for Nintendo that they're having to drop prices already. My opinion is that they just didn't have enough launch titles.

I'm a big gamer and I follow gaming news a lot, but honestly, besides the touch screen control, which i'm not sure is that special, I couldn't tell you what the Wii U system brings to the market. It really just looked to be a catch-up to the existing 360 and PS3 hardware that are about to go obsolete.Nintendo did so great with the Wii and were able to make an inferior HW platform mean something and bring something new in with the motion gaming. Unless they come up with the next revolutionary thing, they are going to need to catch up big time with HW or they will always be the smaller market cap for kids system.

Only reason I could see to get a WiiU would be if you have young kids that are in the right range for those games.

 

[The Tick]

Bought the stepson 2 for 1 at Target today for his birthday:SkyrimMass Effect 3Batman Arkham CityReally hope he likes them.

If he doesn't, take his console away. That's a great list.

Seriously, that's a sweet gift! I have all of those on my waiting to buy list, i'm just cheap and am trying to wait until they are $19.99 or less.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

How does Skyrim compare on the 360 or PS3 vs PC? I've got a "trial version" on my PC right and will be going to buy a legit copy this weekend but not sure what to get it for. I'd like it on either 360 or PS3 so that I can be on the couch and have the big screen... but other than sports games, I've never preferred a console over PC.

ETA: I don't care about mods or online play (if there is any)

 

[SlaX]

How does Skyrim compare on the 360 or PS3 vs PC? I've got a "trial version" on my PC right and will be going to buy a legit copy this weekend but not sure what to get it for. I'd like it on either 360 or PS3 so that I can be on the couch and have the big screen... but other than sports games, I've never preferred a console over PC.ETA: I don't care about mods or online play (if there is any)

PC is better, if your rig can handle it - and that's even without mods. Then 360 over PS3, just slightly. I'm not familiar with any current PS3 issues. Someone else will have to answer if there is. But I doubt you'll see much difference between 360 and PS3.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

How does Skyrim compare on the 360 or PS3 vs PC? I've got a "trial version" on my PC right and will be going to buy a legit copy this weekend but not sure what to get it for. I'd like it on either 360 or PS3 so that I can be on the couch and have the big screen... but other than sports games, I've never preferred a console over PC.ETA: I don't care about mods or online play (if there is any)

PC is better, if your rig can handle it - and that's even without mods. Then 360 over PS3, just slightly. I'm not familiar with any current PS3 issues. Someone else will have to answer if there is. But I doubt you'll see much difference between 360 and PS3.

PC handles it no problem, auto-detect sets it to 'Ultra High Quality'. Why is the PC better? Just for the mouse/keyboard? Console I get to sit/lay on the couch, big screen TV (58") and surround sound.PC I have to sit in a chair, with crappy speakers and a small monitor (relative to the TV).

 

[SlaX]

How does Skyrim compare on the 360 or PS3 vs PC? I've got a "trial version" on my PC right and will be going to buy a legit copy this weekend but not sure what to get it for. I'd like it on either 360 or PS3 so that I can be on the couch and have the big screen... but other than sports games, I've never preferred a console over PC.

ETA: I don't care about mods or online play (if there is any)

PC is better, if your rig can handle it - and that's even without mods. Then 360 over PS3, just slightly. I'm not familiar with any current PS3 issues. Someone else will have to answer if there is. But I doubt you'll see much difference between 360 and PS3.

PC handles it no problem, auto-detect sets it to 'Ultra High Quality'. Why is the PC better? Just for the mouse/keyboard?

Console I get to sit/lay on the couch, big screen TV (58") and surround sound.

PC I have to sit in a chair, with crappy speakers and a small monitor (relative to the TV).

First of all, this generalization needs to go away. With Steam coming to consoles and Big Picture mode currently an option in Steam, it's easier than ever to play your PC games on a TV.However, to answer your questions. Why is PC better? Better visuals, better mod support (which I understand you don't care about), and the option for mouse/keyboard if you prefer that. I prefer that, but I'll mention that I own this game on XBox because that was the better deal at the time. It plays perfectly fine on that system. You really can't go wrong either way.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

How does Skyrim compare on the 360 or PS3 vs PC? I've got a "trial version" on my PC right and will be going to buy a legit copy this weekend but not sure what to get it for. I'd like it on either 360 or PS3 so that I can be on the couch and have the big screen... but other than sports games, I've never preferred a console over PC.

ETA: I don't care about mods or online play (if there is any)

PC is better, if your rig can handle it - and that's even without mods. Then 360 over PS3, just slightly. I'm not familiar with any current PS3 issues. Someone else will have to answer if there is. But I doubt you'll see much difference between 360 and PS3.

PC handles it no problem, auto-detect sets it to 'Ultra High Quality'. Why is the PC better? Just for the mouse/keyboard?

Console I get to sit/lay on the couch, big screen TV (58") and surround sound.

PC I have to sit in a chair, with crappy speakers and a small monitor (relative to the TV).

First of all, this generalization needs to go away. With Steam coming to consoles and Big Picture mode currently an option in Steam, it's easier than ever to play your PC games on a TV.However, to answer your questions. Why is PC better? Better visuals, better mod support (which I understand you don't care about), and the option for mouse/keyboard if you prefer that. I prefer that, but I'll mention that I own this game on XBox because that was the better deal at the time. It plays perfectly fine on that system. You really can't go wrong either way.

Uh, it isn't a generalization. It is what my current choices are. If my PC was close to my TV then yes, I'd just hook it up. But it isn't an option at the moment.So, not a whole lot of difference then. What about 360 vs PS3?

 

[SlaX]

How does Skyrim compare on the 360 or PS3 vs PC? I've got a "trial version" on my PC right and will be going to buy a legit copy this weekend but not sure what to get it for. I'd like it on either 360 or PS3 so that I can be on the couch and have the big screen... but other than sports games, I've never preferred a console over PC.

ETA: I don't care about mods or online play (if there is any)

PC is better, if your rig can handle it - and that's even without mods. Then 360 over PS3, just slightly. I'm not familiar with any current PS3 issues. Someone else will have to answer if there is. But I doubt you'll see much difference between 360 and PS3.

PC handles it no problem, auto-detect sets it to 'Ultra High Quality'. Why is the PC better? Just for the mouse/keyboard?

Console I get to sit/lay on the couch, big screen TV (58") and surround sound.

PC I have to sit in a chair, with crappy speakers and a small monitor (relative to the TV).

First of all, this generalization needs to go away. With Steam coming to consoles and Big Picture mode currently an option in Steam, it's easier than ever to play your PC games on a TV.However, to answer your questions. Why is PC better? Better visuals, better mod support (which I understand you don't care about), and the option for mouse/keyboard if you prefer that. I prefer that, but I'll mention that I own this game on XBox because that was the better deal at the time. It plays perfectly fine on that system. You really can't go wrong either way.

Uh, it isn't a generalization. It is what my current choices are. If my PC was close to my TV then yes, I'd just hook it up. But it isn't an option at the moment.So, not a whole lot of difference then. What about 360 vs PS3?

I can't vouch for the PS3. I remember hearing about problems with that version back when the game was new, but they may have been patched since then. A Skyrim PS3 player will have to chime in here.

 

[The Tick]

How does Skyrim compare on the 360 or PS3 vs PC? I've got a "trial version" on my PC right and will be going to buy a legit copy this weekend but not sure what to get it for. I'd like it on either 360 or PS3 so that I can be on the couch and have the big screen... but other than sports games, I've never preferred a console over PC.

ETA: I don't care about mods or online play (if there is any)

PC is better, if your rig can handle it - and that's even without mods. Then 360 over PS3, just slightly. I'm not familiar with any current PS3 issues. Someone else will have to answer if there is. But I doubt you'll see much difference between 360 and PS3.

PC handles it no problem, auto-detect sets it to 'Ultra High Quality'. Why is the PC better? Just for the mouse/keyboard?

Console I get to sit/lay on the couch, big screen TV (58") and surround sound.

PC I have to sit in a chair, with crappy speakers and a small monitor (relative to the TV).

First of all, this generalization needs to go away. With Steam coming to consoles and Big Picture mode currently an option in Steam, it's easier than ever to play your PC games on a TV.However, to answer your questions. Why is PC better? Better visuals, better mod support (which I understand you don't care about), and the option for mouse/keyboard if you prefer that. I prefer that, but I'll mention that I own this game on XBox because that was the better deal at the time. It plays perfectly fine on that system. You really can't go wrong either way.

Uh, it isn't a generalization. It is what my current choices are. If my PC was close to my TV then yes, I'd just hook it up. But it isn't an option at the moment.So, not a whole lot of difference then. What about 360 vs PS3?

I can't vouch for the PS3. I remember hearing about problems with that version back when the game was new, but they may have been patched since then. A Skyrim PS3 player will have to chime in here.

I don't have first-hand experience, but like you I have all 3 and have been looking at getting Skyrim for a while. When I go console PS3 is my way preferred, but everything I have read about Skyrim on PS3 has been a mess. I know it got better, but i don't know if they ever really fixed it. If I really wanted to get this on console instead of PC, I would really choose XBOX. I usually only buy exclusives for my xbox, but in this case, it just has sounded like it's much more bug and lock-up, and lag free.Again, hopefully a PS3 guy can chime in on if it really is fixed and running flawlessly, but I'd go xbox myself.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

How does Skyrim compare on the 360 or PS3 vs PC? I've got a "trial version" on my PC right and will be going to buy a legit copy this weekend but not sure what to get it for. I'd like it on either 360 or PS3 so that I can be on the couch and have the big screen... but other than sports games, I've never preferred a console over PC.

ETA: I don't care about mods or online play (if there is any)

PC is better, if your rig can handle it - and that's even without mods. Then 360 over PS3, just slightly. I'm not familiar with any current PS3 issues. Someone else will have to answer if there is. But I doubt you'll see much difference between 360 and PS3.

PC handles it no problem, auto-detect sets it to 'Ultra High Quality'. Why is the PC better? Just for the mouse/keyboard?

Console I get to sit/lay on the couch, big screen TV (58") and surround sound.

PC I have to sit in a chair, with crappy speakers and a small monitor (relative to the TV).

First of all, this generalization needs to go away. With Steam coming to consoles and Big Picture mode currently an option in Steam, it's easier than ever to play your PC games on a TV.However, to answer your questions. Why is PC better? Better visuals, better mod support (which I understand you don't care about), and the option for mouse/keyboard if you prefer that. I prefer that, but I'll mention that I own this game on XBox because that was the better deal at the time. It plays perfectly fine on that system. You really can't go wrong either way.

I have to respectfully disagree here. PC games still always have a PC feel. Yes the graphics can be better and the mods are great, but there is still a visual trade off. While the graphics are better - the gameplay ALWAYS feels different and "computery" and the same goes for the animations. Also, being able to plug and play is well worth the trade off. PCs are a colossal pain in the ### when something inevitably goes wrong.

 

[SlaX]

How does Skyrim compare on the 360 or PS3 vs PC? I've got a "trial version" on my PC right and will be going to buy a legit copy this weekend but not sure what to get it for. I'd like it on either 360 or PS3 so that I can be on the couch and have the big screen... but other than sports games, I've never preferred a console over PC.

ETA: I don't care about mods or online play (if there is any)

PC is better, if your rig can handle it - and that's even without mods. Then 360 over PS3, just slightly. I'm not familiar with any current PS3 issues. Someone else will have to answer if there is. But I doubt you'll see much difference between 360 and PS3.

PC handles it no problem, auto-detect sets it to 'Ultra High Quality'. Why is the PC better? Just for the mouse/keyboard?

Console I get to sit/lay on the couch, big screen TV (58") and surround sound.

PC I have to sit in a chair, with crappy speakers and a small monitor (relative to the TV).

First of all, this generalization needs to go away. With Steam coming to consoles and Big Picture mode currently an option in Steam, it's easier than ever to play your PC games on a TV.However, to answer your questions. Why is PC better? Better visuals, better mod support (which I understand you don't care about), and the option for mouse/keyboard if you prefer that. I prefer that, but I'll mention that I own this game on XBox because that was the better deal at the time. It plays perfectly fine on that system. You really can't go wrong either way.

I have to respectfully disagree here. PC games still always have a PC feel. Yes the graphics can be better and the mods are great, but there is still a visual trade off. While the graphics are better - the gameplay ALWAYS feels different and "computery" and the same goes for the animations. Also, being able to plug and play is well worth the trade off. PCs are a colossal pain in the ### when something inevitably goes wrong.

There will always be some PC games that will always feel like PC games, but recently I feel that the majority of PC games are developed with console gamers in mind and feel more like console games first. I believe that the recent announcement that Diablo III was coming to PS3 (which was clearly made to be console friendly, even when it was believed to be a PC exclusive) made that even clearer.Borderlands on PC plays exactly like it does on XBox. Even Battlefield 3 plays basically the same on PC as it does on console. Of course, if you're a prefered kb/mouse FPSer like myself, you'll always lean PC because the console cannot give you the same level of control. But playing on a level play field and using a controller, the games feel the same no matter what you play them on.

As for plug and play: I would love if the Steam Box would be made with plug and play in mind. I just think it would be remarkable if they made a "console" that was completely capable of being upgraded as you go on. Pop the old GPU out and put the new one in and you're good for another several years. The specs would have to be made so that everything is compatible, but I just feel that that would be a great opportunity, even if it's not Valve who does it. But I don't expect that to be what Valve does with the Steam Box.

 

[ncc2]

How does Skyrim compare on the 360 or PS3 vs PC? I've got a "trial version" on my PC right and will be going to buy a legit copy this weekend but not sure what to get it for. I'd like it on either 360 or PS3 so that I can be on the couch and have the big screen... but other than sports games, I've never preferred a console over PC.

ETA: I don't care about mods or online play (if there is any)

PC is better, if your rig can handle it - and that's even without mods. Then 360 over PS3, just slightly. I'm not familiar with any current PS3 issues. Someone else will have to answer if there is. But I doubt you'll see much difference between 360 and PS3.

PC handles it no problem, auto-detect sets it to 'Ultra High Quality'. Why is the PC better? Just for the mouse/keyboard?

Console I get to sit/lay on the couch, big screen TV (58") and surround sound.

PC I have to sit in a chair, with crappy speakers and a small monitor (relative to the TV).

First of all, this generalization needs to go away. With Steam coming to consoles and Big Picture mode currently an option in Steam, it's easier than ever to play your PC games on a TV.However, to answer your questions. Why is PC better? Better visuals, better mod support (which I understand you don't care about), and the option for mouse/keyboard if you prefer that. I prefer that, but I'll mention that I own this game on XBox because that was the better deal at the time. It plays perfectly fine on that system. You really can't go wrong either way.

I have to respectfully disagree here. PC games still always have a PC feel. Yes the graphics can be better and the mods are great, but there is still a visual trade off. While the graphics are better - the gameplay ALWAYS feels different and "computery" and the same goes for the animations. Also, being able to plug and play is well worth the trade off. PCs are a colossal pain in the ### when something inevitably goes wrong.

There will always be some PC games that will always feel like PC games, but recently I feel that the majority of PC games are developed with console gamers in mind and feel more like console games first. I believe that the recent announcement that Diablo III was coming to PS3 (which was clearly made to be console friendly, even when it was believed to be a PC exclusive) made that even clearer.Borderlands on PC plays exactly like it does on XBox. Even Battlefield 3 plays basically the same on PC as it does on console. Of course, if you're a prefered kb/mouse FPSer like myself, you'll always lean PC because the console cannot give you the same level of control. But playing on a level play field and using a controller, the games feel the same no matter what you play them on.

As for plug and play: I would love if the Steam Box would be made with plug and play in mind. I just think it would be remarkable if they made a "console" that was completely capable of being upgraded as you go on. Pop the old GPU out and put the new one in and you're good for another several years. The specs would have to be made so that everything is compatible, but I just feel that that would be a great opportunity, even if it's not Valve who does it. But I don't expect that to be what Valve does with the Steam Box.

Nothing beats the kybd/mouse combo in FPS. I was playing some Serious Sam the other day and I kept dying because the fine movement control just isn't there with the controller for me. I would have been shredding them on the PC instead I was dying too often for my liking.

 

[Moe.]

How do you walk slowly with a mouse/keyboard? I don't understand how that works without some sort of joystick.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

How do you walk slowly with a mouse/keyboard? I don't understand how that works without some sort of joystick.

Hold another button.

 

[Copeman]

PC's are best for FPS's. Nothing beats using a mouse to aim.

Consoles are better for sports games.

Skyrim, while I guess could be considered a fps, is fine on a console though. Not much shooting unless you're an archer, and even then it's not bad. It's much more than a "shooter" game.