VideoGamer.com Plays March 15, 2013
What we've been playing this week.
Tom Orry, Editor - God of War: Ascension, PS3
Right, so I had a bit of a dip in my enjoyment of Ascension, but things are looking up again in the last third. There have been some great puzzles and the combat is improving thanks to an increase in Kratos' power and new unlocked combos. I've also kind of got used to the parry system, so it's now a useful tool even if it's still not as good as it was in previous games.
And the game still looks amazing. I've just completed an area set inside a massive furnace room and when the place lit up with flames the visuals were a treat for the eyes. I'm really looking forward to the final moments as I've read that it's pretty spectacular.
David Scammell, Deputy News Editor - Tomb Raider, Xbox 360
Okay, Wido, jeffyboy40 and GamingWithLC, you were right: Tomb Raider is excellent. I still stand by what I said in last week's VG Plays about the game's poor opening, but ten hours into it, Tomb Raider has been an absolute joy to play. The Uncharted influences are pretty prevalent, of course, but what I hadn't been prepared for were the hints of Resident Evil 4 and Batman: Arkham Asylum. And those aren't bad ingredients to have.
It isn't just mechanically great, either. Technically speaking, Tomb Raider has to be one of the greatest achievements on the current generation. I was convinced that the blood pit sequence (you'll know the bit I mean when you get there) was rendered in CG, and left utterly confused when control was quickly handed back to me. Either that's an incredibly well-done CG/engine switcheroo, or Crystal Dynamics has achieved things with the Xbox 360 that I didn't think were possible. A marvel.
Steve Burns, Reviews and Features Editor - Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2, Xbox 360, PS3, and PC
This week I finished Sniper Ghost Warrior 2, something that the developers themselves were incapable of. It is buggy, poorly designed, and worst of all for a game about shooting people's faces off, boring. From what we've played the multiplayer mode improves things, but this is a) poor and b) destined to sell loads of copies anyway. Oh well.
User Comments
reynoldio
Clockpunk
Just another hectic week until things calm down and I can play a little more. Although my partner did play through Mass Effect 3: The Citadel, and absolutely loved it.
Njeezy
munkee
The game itself is constructed cleverly. Symphony of the Night fans (like myself) would probably like more freedom. But its been structured well to serve as a challenge for good gamers and friendly, frequent checkpoints for button bashers who don't want to learn the intricacies of combat. It's always auto-saving and pushing you forward which might make it feel easy at times. But your personal pride is always as stake when confronting rooms of weaker enemies that will easily knock you about and leave you laying dead on the floor if you're not playing well enough.
Lots of platforming, exploring and upgrading accompanied by excellent graphics, sound and a hammy as hell story equals an almost perfect Castlevania game.
Castlevania also proves that the 3DS is PERFECT home for a 3D on a 2D plane Metroid game. COME ON NINTENDO! WHERE IS IT? (yes. I will mention Metroid 3DS every week.)
LuckyLukus
Also I got a lovely new computer which I haven't had much time with yet as my gf forced me to install THE SIMS 3. But when I kick her off it I will finally have a chance to try out CIV V and STARCRAFT 2.
rbevanx@ pblive
It felt more like a 4 quid arcade game at best.
But yeah main reason I got it was because of the delay and the other games, plus I can sell this and hopefully get half my money back at least.
Woodfella
pblive@ rbevanx
I quite like the gameplay, but I think they could have built it better around high score tables for replay value.
Plus we get a free game for waiting for the delayed Vita version.
rbevanx
I did Dead Space 3: Awakening and it was total pants.
Like Severed re-used alot of locations from main game (about 90%) and wasnt scary as well as only being an hour long. Plot hole wise it was even worse than Dead Space 3.
Also did Ratchet and Clank: Q-Force, not good and far too short for a full retail game. Just as well I got it for ten quid and comes with a VITA version at least.
pblive
Skylanders Giants and Transformers Prime on Wii U, plus just starting Black Ops 2 on Wii U.
Lots on iOS and Android, too.
Wido
I have been playing a lot of God of War over the past couple of days. Finished God of War HD on Thursday night and nearly there with God of War II. I'll be starting God of War III after that and then finally God of War Ascension. Gave the multiplayer a quick go, and I am impressed. Only went on the trials which you can do either on your own or with a partner. A lot of stuff to do if you prefer the single or co-operative route of play.
dazzadavie
Also online with TC's Hawx which is some fun but really really hard. Co-op with three others though is fun.raptr time 1hr 5mins
Played some Battlefield 3's End Game. I've yet to try Air Superiority but Capture the Flag is pretty intense. All achievements done which I have to say have been the easist out of all the DLC. raptr 3hrs 15mins
Finished out Episode 2 of The Walking Dead on lunch at work raptr 23mins, Also at work i got a checkpoint done on Spec Ops The Line raptr 29mins
BC_Animus
BC_Animus
My main game atm though is Final Fantasy XIV. Not sure if I'm just dense or what, but at 20 hours in I'm still not sure what the hell's going on. What is Eden? Cocoon? Fal'cie? Pulse? er- Granda or something? I can kinda guess at their meaning and I get the gist of it I think, but the game's doing a terrible job with it IMO. Having a mini-crush on Fang too atm, despite her having some weird Aussie-ish accent and being in dire need or a hairwash.
On the PC I've been playing Grotesque Tactics Evil Heroes. Buggy and annoying as hell. It's one of those turnbased tactics RPGs, and it has this weird mechanic where each of your chars have this obcession bar that powers up as you play. However unlike the powermove bars in other games this games moves are usually bad, and can (and will) hurt your own team. And considering your characters bars often moves up at the same time, it can often cause a major landslide where half your team kills itself in one move.
Oh and finally gotten round to playing FTL. It's neatos.
FrostySphincter
Looking forward to getting a bit of spare cash so I can buy tomb raider, after all, who doesn't like seeing rich girls get beaten up (I don't know if I do or not, but I'm sure I will after I've played tomb raider.)?