I’m a Console Whore
By SteveWhat the hell? I suddenly find myself with all three consoles right now. It’s the first time I’ve had every console since, uh, the Atari 2600.
So, here’s what I’ve been playing:
Wii: Super Mario Galaxy. Yeah, it comes out on Tuesday. but I got it Thursday because a co-worker’s wife works at Nintendo. I’m as skeptical as anyone about everything from Nintendo being god’s gift to gaming, but it’s pretty damn terrific despite the fact it’s way easy. (Though not quite as easy as Super Paper Mario.)
It’s probably the most 3D game ever made, even more than Descent. It’s constantly shifting perspectives, flipping the world, fucking with gravity. If you have problems navigating in 3D space, you’re screwed. But for those who can manage, it’s crazy good.
Xbox 360: Conan. I have reasons for playing this beyond fun, but after a fairly weak start, it’s sort of growing on me. It’s a total B-game; the graphics sorta blow, it’s overly linear, and it’s just a God of War clone. But the combat is oddly satisfying and over-the-top violent, with decapitations, arm chopping, stabbing, flipping, etc. There’s topless girls you need to save, and after you release them, they present themselves… it’s very 15-years old.
PlayStation 3: Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction. I haven’t played this that much yet, but whoa… it’s gorgeous. I missed this series on the PS2, but so far so good.
I also downloaded some demos (currently downloading the one for Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune). Heavenly Sword is gorgeously vapid, and Ninja Gaiden Sigma is… well, it’s Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox, only prettier. MLB 2K7 for the PS3 has the most retarded hitting scheme using the Sixaxis; you “push” the controller forward to hit. Thank god it can be disabled.
Of course I’ve also been playing some PC games. Hellgate: London, for example. It’s a bit of a mess (the interface, yikes), but I haven’t experienced a single crash so I can’t totally get my hate all over it. (I know everyone else is having all sorts of problems; guess I have the magic compatible machine.) It’s just full of loot-y, randomized goodness.
I also picked up Gears of War for Windows. I didn’t care much for it on the 360, so I figured I’d give the PC version a go. I set up Live for Windows, though I haven’t seen PC achievements appear on my 360 gamecard. (Anyone know if they’re supposed to appear there?)
I’ll be picking up Call of Duty 4 soon (though I may just borrow someone else’s 360 version to blast through the single player, since I have little interest in multiplayer), and I’m somewhat interested in The Witcher.
But it’s Crysis that’s got me all hot and bothered. If you haven’t tried that demo, it’s absolutely killer. It’s basically a remake of FarCry with dudes in powersuits and with less sucking (the last third of that game.) Yeah, it’s gorgeous, but it’s all about the open-ended gameplay, tons of amusing ways to kill people, and a physics engine to die for. Every time you say, “I wonder if I can do that?”, you try it and find out you can. It’s my most anticipated game of the year right now.
November 12th, 2007 at 8:07 am
I am with you on Crysis. When I learned that I could blow off the top of a tree and have it crush the soldier hiding beneath it, well, I may have wept.
November 12th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
It’s probably the most 3D game ever made, even more than Descent. It’s constantly shifting perspectives, flipping the world, fucking with gravity. If you have problems navigating in 3D space, you’re screwed. But for those who can manage, it’s crazy good.
I never made it through Descent II, but years later when I tried TIE Fighter, my mind finally fit around the 3D thing. I think it gets easier as graphics get better.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Yes, the PC achievements will show up on your 360 Gamercard. They also show up on your 360voice.com blog, if you have one.
I see you adding a lot of games to your gamefly queue on facebook, hehe. I would save Lair for later with so many other games coming out. You’re right that you shouldn’t waste a Gamefly slot on COD4 - I beat the game in one night. Do try to just borrow it.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
One night for COD4? Crikey.
Lair is actually at the bottom of my GameFly queue, so chances are I’ll cancel my subscription before I get to it. I do want to blast through Heavenly Sword, though.
And I’ll probably pick up Crysis this weekend. Curse this “having to buy games stuff!” There’s too many good games at once, sheesh.
November 14th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Now you know why some of us missed out on classics even though we were there in that era. Although I suppose it’s more the time crunch when games aren’t your job rather than the money issue.
November 19th, 2007 at 2:21 am
I’m with Steve - One night to beat CoD4? Man… That’s almost not giving the game it’s due attention.
I recently defeated it (probably in 5 gaming sessions or so), and was very impressed. The entire package and presentation is slick (especially the intro after the first mission). The controls are what they should be (and what you would expect). There are tons of extras and “earned” cheats, though I’ve not yet tinkered with any of them… mostly because there are so many games coming out within 4 weeks of each other. It’s like, I want to get sucked into a game for a few days, beat it, then move on to the next for the sake of time.
Once things get slow again, it’ll be time to revisit them in full.