VideoGamer.com Plays
The game's we've been playing this week.
Tom Orry, Editor - Resistance 3, PS3
Looking back, I don't think Resistance 2 deserved an 8/10. It had some decent co-op play, but I finished the game with a sense of disappointment. I'm getting none of that sense of disappointment playing through the third game in the PS3 series, partly due to the hugely improved visuals. At points the previous game looked ugly, but Insomniac doesn't need to worry about presentation criticisms this time around. Motion blur helps a lot, giving the game an almost pre-rendered quality, but the lighting and effects are also superb. If I continue to enjoy what Insomniac has delivered Resistance 3 could well be one of the big surprise stories of the year.
Neon Kelly, Deputy Editor - Star Fox 64 3D, 3DS
As good as Star Fox 64 is, it's strangely in keeping with the recent trend for 3DS games that can be completed extremely quickly. Granted, there are multiple paths to take through the campaign, but you're still going to be relying on score-attack hijinx to keep you interested in the long run. This has become something of a recurrent theme in 3DS games, and while Star Fox is good enough that you'll enjoy repeat playthroughs, the platform still needs a few titles with more meat on their bones. We've had Ocarina of Time, of course, and Snake Eater will be out at some point, but is it really too much to ask for something new? Maybe Super Mario 3D Land will be the answer to our prayers.
Jamin Smith, Staff Writer – Ico, PlayStation 3
I'd forgotten just what a masterfully created environment the world of Ico and Yorda was. There's not a single thing to pull you out of the experience it creates; no HUD, no tutorial, no on-screen button prompts, no collectibles that disappear when you run over them, no level breakdown screens. It's one of the most cohesive, believable and immersive worlds a game has presented, and playing through it again – after a good eight years – is bringing back a flood of fond memories. Look out for the review next week.
Emily Gera, Staff Writer - LA Noire, Xbox 360, PS3
So far LA Noire is the story of one man's journey through Los Angeles picking up bottles and putting them back down again. I've described the detective-work as a kind of point-and-click throwback that has you sweeping the surface area of scenes by picking up every object in case it's vaguely related to the case - something that ends up making the game feel less like The Maltese Falcon and more like a day in the life of an intern at the local detective academy. But I will say the interrogations are slightly more interesting. If you enjoy looking at some very decent facial animation and trying to get to the centre of a few standard-issue, L.A. Confidential-alike mystery plots then it's worth a go.
User Comments
clangod
I wrangled my step son into playing Portal 2 the other night. I was at the time only a few levels in so we started a new game and I coached him through for a while. Before long though he was competent enough to understand the concept and had a blast. He eventually got stuck and gave up but he loved it every bit as much as I have been.
Beside that mostly racing. Family and friends have been visiting quite regularly lately so it's been rare that I can manage a good sit down session with an overly immersive title.
That should all change this evening. I wanna get my Portal on and maybe explore a bit more of Pandora in Borderlands.
scaz2244
dudester
Borderlands finally got round to finishing general knoxx and dinged in at level 62 currently not much more to say about borderlands think most people by now know its charms.
I threw in r2 for reminders seeing as 3 is out this week and I want to be playing that not sure if I will hold off tho and pick it up slightly cheaper.
Woffls
I just got to the (first?) twist, and have no idea how far along in the game that is, but I hope there's a decent amount of gameplay left. I spend a lot of time wandering around looking for stuff, so I can probably pry a good number of hours out of the game to tide me over until Human Revolution drops in price.
dazzadavie
Also got some Battlefield Bad Company at the start of the week with some okish games, Borderlands also got a look in. That game really knows how to loss the hours, one second it was 10:30pm then it was nearly 1am!!
Alice:Madness Returns got a massive play last night and I've hit chapter 3 which has a great japanese origami people, and a 2D paper level which realy breaks up any rise and repeat which that game just doesn't have.
FantasyMeister
Also, yes, Farm Town. I have 57 neighbours now, and one of the joys of the game is that because they have to be Facebook friends too I get a sneak peak into the lives of 57 people I don't know.
And, erm, that's it. Deus Ex: Human Revolution is actually gathering dust already, and will probably gather more since I've just ordered The Witcher - Enhanced Edition in another tab whilst writing this :)
altaranga
I know I have broken my vow of gaming celibacy... but it's just an XBLA title so it's only like having a five knuckle shuffle, right?
RukuTheWolf
Portal 2 - As anyone who has added me on Steam will know (RukuTheWolf) I've been playing Portal. Portal has almost definately been the highlight of the week, it was one of those game where I thought that looks like an amazing game why haven't I bought it yet? so I did! I absolutely love it i blitzed through the story then went back in to mop up all the singleplayer trophies, new I'm working my way throughout the multiplayer. I might even be on to a platinum :) Speaking of games that have been out for a while and that probably should be sitting on my shelf is Assasins Creed Broherhood will be pickIng this up on Tuesday which should be good!
Assasins Creed 2 - I also have been casually playing a bit of AC2, really enjoyed going back to this one. Not doing much inpertiular but mainly just causing havoc! Got a few trophies which has put me over 75% now but I really don't want to have to look for all 100 feathers! :(
I also downloaded a few demos which included Limbo which I really enjoyed and will think about picking up a funds card on my way to pick up AC2 om Tuesday.
Another slightly smaller but no less important part of my gaming week is my IPod Apps I downloaded the New Cut the Rope and finished the newsest box on the old one, got a few 'Free app a day' apps which are really good which are Anodia which is like Breakout but with a twist and Quell which is a cute Puzzle game. I also got the GameDev story trial and am waiting until the full version goes on special offer.
That about concludes my plays :)
Wido
Neon-Soldier32
WoW - I felt like playng something different, so I played WoW, for about an hour.
Driver San Fransisco - The driving takes a while to get used to, but the missions are fun. The story isn't too engaging, but it's nice to see it all come together when they put clues on a board. Playing through it slowly, it doesn't seem like anything special, but it's fun and that's what matters.
Witcher 2 - The best RPG I've played since the original Dragon Age. It's incredibly, the visuals, the improved combat, the little animations when you hit someone when they're stunned, the sense of choice, the things villagers shout out, the sense of mystery surrounding Geralt's amnesia. All over it, The Witcher 2 is just incredible. The only flaw I can find with it is that the ending is quite.... abrupt and doesn't have the same cliffhanger that the original did.
Civ V - Same as always, fun, but takes up too much time. VERY frustrating when you lose. Especially when Japan keeps dropping nukes on you.
AC:B Beta - Fun so far, TDM is definetely where that game suceeds.
I have my reservations about Resistance 3, I do want it, but I foresee it falling in price very quickly. However, if it gets a 9 or higher I think I'll definitely purchase this.
p0rtalthinker