Running video games (and consoles) thread

Yup. And Nuketown 2025 is a blast.

 

I rented FIFA 13 and I'm not sure why it's getting some middling reviews. I really like it.

I've seen some reviews mention that its just a reboot. Really? The one-touch system makes it totally different and a lot more realistic. A lot of the AI has been cleaned up (AI forwards on your team or the other team don't seem to stand around as much, they actually attack loose balls) and crosses/headers work better.

I think some reviewers don't know soccer. It's a pretty realistic game. One thing they need to shore up is some of the behind-the-ball defending is a bit silly and their collisions need work, but past that, I like it.

 

My local Best Buy had at least 10 Wii U systems pre-Black Friday. Of course, since those are new they are not on sale. The Wii was marked down to barely $100. Today, all Wii consoles are gone, and the Wii U consoles have not been touched. There's not even a big banner or poster or anything to note that the Wii U is even for sale. They were just stacked on the floor.

Obviously, Nintendo wants to get rid of old stock, but I wonder how much this will cut into sales of a new console?

 

Maybe I'm just showing my ignorance here, but is anyone actually all that excited for the Wii U? To me, it just looks like an update on the Wii, and not even better than the PS3 or 360. The tablet controller seems OK, but I'm not sure how it really changes gaming. I suspect that Nintendo's huge casual audience - i.e. all those folks with a Wii - are going to be tough to convince to upgrade to a Wii U, especially since they're probably pretty happy as is playing bowling or tennis or Mario once every couple of days.

 

So, for Black Friday, I scooped up a Vita, a memory card and Black Ops for $199, in a bundle. Of course, right after I went through with that, I get sent another ad that's a Vita, a memory card and two better games - Assassin's Creed 3 and Uncharted - for about $219. Damn it. But still, I loved my PSP, one of the 20 people in America seemingly, and the Vita already has Persona 4 out and a bunch of other obscure RPGs scheduled for it.

Other purchases / games played lately - Persona 4 Arena (fun fighting game that bridges P3 and P4), Kingdoms of Amalur (about $10, haven't played yet), Tales of Graces f (really fun JRPG, really REALLY long). Coming next in the mail from GameFly is the Family Guy game, which is allegedly a horrible turd of a game, but I forgot to take it out of my queue after seeing the bad reviews. (Doh!) I also bought Batman: Arkham Asylum from GameFly because it was marked down to like $9.

 

I remember playing one of the Persona games a while back. It was pretty good that I recall.

 

Persona 3 and 4 are incredibly games if you like RPGs at all. They're a little on the talky side, but the localization job was really good, so they sound like actual people for the most part instead of Engrish. The other games in the series are also good, but they tend to be Nintendo Hard for RPGs in some cases. (The truly, ridiculously hard games though, like Digital Devil Saga, tend to be out of print though.)

 

I really love my Vita. Actually, I love it more than my PS3 right now because I actually get to play the Vita. LittleBigPlanet Vita is really good, just finished that, and FIFA Soccer (not FIFA 13 or whatever the new one is) is awesome. I have not played the new FIFA, mainly because reviews said it's the exact game as FIFA Soccer and I didn't want to throw down another $50 on a game I have. I want to try out Black Ops, AC and the other games like that, but overall I just want more games for the Vita, they seem to be coming out way too slow.

 

Nintendo still has an iron grip on the handheld game, so I think it's tough for Sony to get third party support for the Vita and, in the past, the PSP. Combine that with them not being a strong first party developer, and you run into some library shortages. At the very least though, the fact that the 3DS isn't doing gangbusters either probably helps the Vita, but then again, the market could just be eroding in general because of the rise of cell phone games.

 

I read some reviews just out of curiosity, but it sounds like it's just a Wii with a fancy new controller and HD (which who knows why they didn't make it HD the first time around). Even the controller doesn't sound overly special. You can only use one at a time with a game right now and it has to stay within range of the console to use it without the TV. So really you still need all your old Wii controllers anyway.

It does sound like they're trying to get more "adult" games and third-party game makers with the new system, but I'd imagine the Nintendo stuff is still what would be the draw and who knows if there are enough people out there to make that jump. I'm actually a huge Mario fan (the real games, not the sports or party games). The two Galaxies -- two of my all-time favorite games -- and Super Mario Bros. Wii were awesome in my mind. I'd love to get a crack at the new one but I'm not plunking down $350 just for that game.

I'd be interested to see if anyone had the new system and what they thought, but it doesn't seem like anyone does.

 

Every time I see a Wii U, I pick up the controller and try to play Super Mario bros. or Arkham City. But it only lets me play the Rayman demo. It's neat, but nothing I'd buy a system for. The controller is cool, and seems like the next evolutionary leap after the Dreamcast controller's "You can call your Madden plays without the opponent seeing them!!!!!" little screen. Only a matter of time until they start selling the iPad-type controllers separately. It's kind of cheesy to have other players use Wii stuff.

Think Nintendo jumped the gun, and will feel behind the times the moment the next generation starts up. It insisted on sticking with cartridges with the Nintendo 64, it refused to have its machine do anything but play games with the GameCube, and it had a great hit in the Wii. Now it seems like there's not much special reason to get a Wii U yet.

Had my PS3 for two months before finally opening it last week. Was just way too busy. Picked up a couple games on Black Friday, a deal or two elsewhere. Now have Metal Gear 4, the Metal Gear HD collection (I love that series like most love Grand Theft Auto), FIFA world cup 2010, FIFA 13 (which is amazing), NCAA Football 13, Arkham Asylum, Topspin tennis (it is great), and Red Dead Redemption Game of the year edition.

I hear Red Dead is better than GTA. I always lost interest in GTA except to wreak havoc and see how much mayhem I could cause. The missions didn't matter. On red Dead, I want to wreak havoc right now. So the Zombie game is a heck of a lot of fun.

 

2K is at it again. MLB 2K12 freezes on the load screen yet again. I don't see why they just can't turn off the living season -- or whatever the hell it's called. I know the game isn't that great, but I still enjoyed it more than other players.

I just wish Xbox had another baseball option so I could get that game right now.

Screw you, 2K.