What games are you playing?

[trentdick2882]

I'm psyched for Oblivion as well, Tarn. Can't wait to step out of the prison for the first time and see the outdoors.

 

[Erfael]

I've also dusted off Morrowind this week. I've never actually even finished the main quest....these games are a completionist's nightmare (and I'm a completionist). I can't go from point A to point B without being pulled off on some side venture. If there's a smuggler's cave, I have to go in it. If there's an egg mine, I have to go in it. If there's a tomb, I have to go in it. If there's a daedra ruin, I have to die in it. Well, you get the idea...

Also looking forward to Oblivion....not sure how it will run, though, and I have a decent system.

 

[Muess]

I could never get into Morrowind but I think that had more to do with a odd bug I have with it that would cause it to stutter every minute or so. I Could never figure out what was causing that because my system at the time should have chewed through it so I gave up on it.

As for Oblivion, I don't have the hardware to run it so it's a no go to for now.

I've just started playing Civilization IV which I'm enjoying so far. It's just a natural progression of the earlier Civ games, so if you enjoyed them you will enjoy this one.

 

[Gildor]

I could never get into Morrowind but I think that had more to do with a odd bug I have with it that would cause it to stutter every minute or so. I Could never figure out what was causing that because my system at the time should have chewed through it so I gave up on it.

I had exactly the same problem, I got through about half an hours play no probs, then my whole machine went tits up ... so I just stayed well away in the future. Very odd, as my machine copes well enough with most other games

 

[kron]

I played Commandos Strike Force during the weekend and it left me with mixed feelings. It's somehow schematic. There are some excellent things you can do but they are put in just perfect situations for you to enjoy. It's like "the moment is ripe for doing this" and there's nothing for the thought. I would have given it the credits if there had been the action to compensate. Now it is a boring passing through the missions without any thrill.

 

[Lowrent]

Ive been playing Ragnarok Online for the past few months and its an very enjoyable game(read: addictive) as far as MMO's go, I still pay for it but I quit the offical IRO server to play a much more enjoyable private one. Just finised Tales of Legendia and I didn't think it was as good as Symphnia, its still definatly a game to check out.

Also still rockin' HALO 2 on XBOX Live

 

[cheese]

I'm playing Metroid Prime DS..Borrowed it from a friend for a day and it is incredibly addicting. Muliti-player is what really shines, lots of options available, fast pace fun, and statistics. We had four DS' connected at once and it was getting pretty intense. The story mode is pretty good though it isn't a great story. Still refreshing though. First really good shooter I have played on a nintendo hand-held. 8.5/10

 

[saintjon]

Pretty well hooked on star wars battlefront II.

I picked up naruto, clash of ninja yesterday, it's kind of crappy with only 8 characters (and all of those from the very beginning of the story except that they threw me a bone and put Rock Lee in, but you have to unlock him). Major drag.

 

[kater]

You play much Battlefront 1 sj? I have both and haven't played two anywhere near as much as one, most of the new additions just aren't as good imo.

 

[trentdick2882]

I've been playing Oblivion for 16 hours and I've only completed the Thieve's Guild quests. Looks like this game it going to take up a lot of my time.

 

[cheese]

How is it Trentdick2882? I've been saving up but keep on getting hit by expenses Are the loading times that bad? How are the graphics?

 

[trentdick2882]

The graphics are amazing and the load times aren't bad at all. I have the 360 version, on the PC version the load times are even quicker. The load times are about what I had on my PC for Morrowind. Outside it barely pauses, sometimes it doesn't even pause, it will just say, "Loading area...".

 

[kater]

Sweet, someone with the 360 version - would you recommend it to people who don't normally play a lot of RPG's? I only have three games for my 360 currently and with all the hype around Oblivion I'd like to know if it's worth a dabble

 

[Tarn]

Don't think of Oblivion (or Morrowind, in fact) in traditional RPG terms. In fact, the primary reason I love the game is that they break from the usual RPG traditions (stats, stats, more stats, distant combat, stats). Oblivion is about getting into the role, and yes it has some stats, but it's all far more organic. I think of it more as a mammoth adventure game, really.

 

[trentdick2882]

I would agree with Tarn. The combat is action-oriented and is a lot of fun. I usually stick with first person shooters, but I was surprised at how much fun i'm having with Oblivion's combat. The game has a physics engine, so hitting someone in the face with an arrow sends them flying back. The game is huge, but it also does a good job keeping up with everything so you don't have to. I got really overwhelmed with Morrowind, but you only have to concentrate on whatever quest you choose to be active in Oblivion.

 

[Erfael]

Don't think of Oblivion (or Morrowind, in fact) in traditional RPG terms. In fact, the primary reason I love the game is that they break from the usual RPG traditions (stats, stats, more stats, distant combat, stats). Oblivion is about getting into the role, and yes it has some stats, but it's all far more organic. I think of it more as a mammoth adventure game, really.

Well, I would argue this a little. Or rather, qualify it....

Oblivion and Morrowind are VERY traditional in the Western branch of RPGs. Free-form, less focus on the numbers, sprawling, these are all things that US RPG developers have been doing and refining for years. Ultima, Might and Magic, Elder Scrolls, Wizardry are all series that all fall under a particular RPG philosophy.

Where the issue gets muddy is where the Japanese consoles of the 80s and 90s took RPGs, particularly the FF franchise, where Square pushed for a very regimented story, with very little deviation allowed. These definitely focus on the numbers, distant battle, soap opera happenings, etc.

If you mean you typically don't play that second kind of RPG (and I can't blame you) and you've maybe never really tried that first kind, do try it. It's a far different experience.

And I have to say, most games just don't hold my attention these days. I've turned into a non-gamer who really wants to be a gamer, but don't like 99.999% of all games. This one is holding the attention. It kind of scared me when I shut down the computer Wednesday night and saw that I had about 10 hours clocked on the game, which I had only picked up Tuesday afternoon.

So far, great, great fun. (Somehow feels smaller than Morrowind so far, though. Maybe it's that all the nooks and crannies are more spread out and there aren't all sorts of dividing mountains to create the illusion of more places. Sort of neat, though, coming out of Cheydinhal and being able to see the spires of the Imperial City in the distance.)

 

[Fuxxy Elf]

I am of the same opinion of Erfael here. Games don't seem to hold the fascination they used to. I was bought Resident Evil 4 for christmas and I still haven't completed it (I'm stuck) I bought Shadow Heart Covenant cos I liked the first one, started playing it and just.....stopped. And am waiting for my Bro to finish Knights of the Republic so he can lend me his X box to play it on, but I'm not that fussed. I used to love computer games but I find I don't have the energy, the patience, the temperament to play them anymore. A good book, a good film or chatting on these forums fills up my time really.

But there is still a nagging feeling at the back of my mind saying "You really want to play this game" so I still pick them up every so often.

 

[kater]

I'd go along with that to an extent, if there's 10 games in a year that I really, really want then that's rare - I think more than any other medium it is the idea of what gaming can be and what those special few games offer us that keep us interested, interactivity in stories that we normally only are able to read is a huge attraction.

On the RPG front - used to be a big FF fan, got quite interested in Vagrant Story also, but it tailed off when I got a PS2 and I never really got started on FFX. I have clocked KOTOR 1+2 and Jade Empire but wasn't as drawn to them as many people seemed to be, and that is about the limit of my exposure to RPGs.

 

[Kirby]

Kater, it's well worth a dabble if you have a 360.
I just got it for PC. Once you get out into the wilds, it's a lovely thing. (Or if you like the RP, there's plenty to do in the city. And fighters - just go straight for the Arena! )

Oh, and the "facebuilder" - is NUTS!
(so many choices... but you can have one final tweak of your character's appearance before heading out into the game proper, after the test level. )

 

[kater]

Thanks Kirby I'm going to look into it next pay cheque Now the shops are dropping their prices I've been playing lots of cheap games on the Xbox and PS2 I always wanted to play but never wanted to pay full price for - Area 51 being the latest, lots of fun fps with some clever ideas that seem to have become popular with all the recent Far Cry games. Oh and Destroy All Humans - funny and fun, can't wait for the sequel.