Crofto • Comments
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The big interview: Phil Harrison on Xbox One...
...Kinect, indie games and red rings.
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Sid Meier's cultural victory
"If there's anything in reality that's not fun, we will change it."
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Games of 2010: Red Dead Redemption
On the one hand you have a reviewer who's trying to not be the same as every other person who overrates Rockstar-made titles (I actually admit this, and think GTA IV is overrated massively), but on the other hand the website will happily slap the highest score on games which simply cannot warrant such praise on any level what-so-ever. Had this website been consistent with reviews, I would take no issue with an 8/10 for RDR, but to give ME2 and AC:B 10s is just beyond stupid.
Incidentally, I find it amusing that a website I often slate for also talking tons of shit actually seems to be able to distinguish between gaming design achievements and games which are good, but not superb.
Again, hilarious reading the comments on Gamespot for their correct choice "OMFG MASS EFFECT IS GAME OF THE YEAR!!!! i can shootz people + talk to people and haz sex n be in space at DA SAME TIME". I do hope their odour doesn't spread too far, I'd hate for the staff at GS to consider them of any importance where gaming quality is concerned. Reply 0
Games of 2010: Super Mario Galaxy 2
Was the same reason why I felt Arkham Asylum was GotY last year, when Uncharted 2 was actually the better game; the sequel factor. Reply 0
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
Just to add to my post, I want to point out that Oli praises the writing of the quests, yet the fact that the majority of them are still text-based at-all is a flaw, since I now consider full voice-acted and narrative-driven content to be a feature MMORPGs should be striving for; reading some text, no matter how witty, is very outdated and poor. I appreciate that there are a lot more lines of dialogue, a few cutscenes, and - overall - more incentive to give a shit about the story, but it's still not enough.
Also, while the phasing technology equals more enjoyable content for a single player, it actually works against playing together; I can complete a few quests and then be completely separate to my friend who wants to join me later - I can't help him until he 'phases' in. That isn't a great thing for an MMORPG, is it?
Either way, as a review of WoW itself, or Cataclysm, or both, the game isn't 10/10. New reviewer next time please. Reply 0
I think Oli is a bit too blinded by his love of the game to properly review it. Rob Fahey - or whoever wrote the original WoW review - is likely the better candidate to review Cataclysm, but I guess he's not available these days. Biased review because the game is "WoW", basically.
Incidentally I been playing Cataclysm since launch, and have been at the maximum level for some time - while also trying out some new classes/races - and have found it to be impressive and competent, but certainly not 10/10 in quality.
To be honest I don't even know why I bother with this website with the quality of big-game reviews being of such poor standard, and mostly falling right where publishers would like it (deny all you want, EG, but the evidence is becoming laughable). That, or the journalists have no ability to be non-biased and objective what-so-ever. Probably a mix a both.
I guess if it wasn't for the personality and charm of EG I would have stopped using this shit for news/reviews a long long time ago. Reply 0
Final Fantasy XIV Online
I played the beta for FFXIV and found it - much like the reviewer - an absolute mess in regards to basic functionality. However, and I know this is often said, there is actually a good game hidden underneath the crap. The visuals, art-style, animations and such are very good indeed, along with the music which is supplied via the immortal Nobuo Uematsu (sorry Blizzard, but this is something you'll never be able to compete with!).
I honestly don't know if it's possible to fix the game enough to make it playable and fun, or at least do it within a time-frame short enough for the game to remain relevant. As shadowcatt says though, the game at the current stage is likely in a much better place than at launch, so it would be interesting to know exactly when this reviewer last played the game? Reply 0
The Last Story is 30 hours long
Nah, that's cause you're just reading what Western developers say. 30 hours is actually not much for a JRPG, especially since Lost Odyssey could offer 60+, so the developer saying it will be 30 hours will in all probability be true.
I'm glad there's going to be a New Game+ with additional tweaks, since 30 hours doesn't seem long enough for me personally. Reply 0
Xbox 360 vs. PlayStation 3: Round 28
Jesus, don't go saying shit like that or they might actually listen. The worse thing about these articles is Richard giving his dumbass and irrelevent opinion on the games themselves; I honestly couldn't give a fuck what he thinks, I come here to see tech comparisons and comparisons alone. This website already has enough poor reviewers as it is. Reply 0
Eurogamer.net Podcast #49
- Tom and co. criticise FFXIII for having a bad plot, dialogue and not being a particularly great game and then bang on about how great Mass Effect 2 is. I'd like to point out that ME2 actually has flaws that make it equal, or even lesser than, FFXIII. Examples include spending 80% of the game to collect party members and do their quests, so you can complete 20% worth of actual story. The game is also short on the whole, and - as mentioned - is massively stripped down (FFXIII actually isn't, as Tom said, since the amount of customisation/freedom offered later is more akin to previous games). The AI of the enemies is shit (team AI especially), and the variation hardly ever alters. ME2 also suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, and clearly isn't polished; FFXIII is a 100-hour game, on the other hand, and has no bugs/glitches that I know of, and is extremely well-polished.
People are always yelling about how superb ME2 is, and it's really starting to grate on me. The story amounts to nothing more than an episode of Babylon 5 for God's sake! Just cause you can TALK and SHOOT doesn't make it epic, kids. >_>
By the way, I like both games, and consider them equal in quality, but I just wanted to highlight that for every big flaw FFXIII has, ME2 can offer one too. Works both ways, so take that into consideration.
- Finally, Tom Bramwell's enthusiasm for ME3 makes me sick. Therefore, because I know fine well he'll be the one to review it - after all, he is a publishers wet dream - and because this is a website and not a newspaper, I'll be sure to have the printer on standby so I can immediately print-off and use his ME3 review to wipe my arse with. =D
Other than that, great podcast! Reply 0
Elder Scrolls V tech took "many years"
Actually, no.
It is entirely possible to polish a game on the scale of what Bethesda make - especially since the actual scale of each TES is getting smaller, not bigger - but it's more a case of how long it is feasible to delay a game to make to do so. Of course, Bethesda are more with 'that' crowd of Western developers whom just release their game ASAP and patch the shit out of it later. I'd personally prefer a middle ground; spend a solid couple of months on bug-testing and polish after the game is "done" before release, but don't worry about making sure the game is 100% bug-free since that would likely delay it to the point where it becomes outdated on release (like parts of Gran Turismo 5, for example).
Also, good to see so many comments from PC gamers. I'm only just still excited about TES games, but Oblivion was a massive let-down after Morrowind. Definitely aimed at a casual console market, which impacted its quality even on PC (though mods can redeem it, and Nehrim certainly makes it worth a purchase if only as a conduit). Reply 0
The Remaking of World of Warcraft
Guess it means I'll avoid the gank-fest that inevitably occurs whenever new content arrives, especially since my server is like 5% Alliance and 95% Horde (guess which side I'm on!). Reply 0
Civilization IV nominated for a Grammy
Civ is a great game to champion the music for games too, and deserves massive credit (whether you like the game or not). Some other great examples of excellent music this year are Mario Galaxy 2 and Final Fantasy XIII. Reply 0
Are you the best FIFA player on PS3?
Yes.
But in other topics - I agree with Shikasama 100%. Well said sir.
Also, I don't own FIFA on any console, let alone the PS3, so I'm just using my massive over-confidence to come to the conclusion that I'm the best player. Reply 0
Eurogamer.net Podcast #47
Food for thought, reviewers. Maybe stop saying every game released is super-awesome? Maybe, you know, try to critique a little? Hard to imagine, I know. But do try, please.
Not just a dig at EG by the way; too many websites/magazines doing it too. Reply 0
MS responds to Halo 1 HD remake rumour
Fully see where you're coming from, and in principle I agree, however, a remade Halo: CE would be really really good. I mean, they need to make sure to not fuck it up, but since the original is by far the best it would be great to relive those great times with updated gameplay and visuals.
To save time they should not bother with multiplayer either - just bung a Reach multiplayer disc with the game like ODST. Job done.
*Edit* Agree with the guy above me too; a Half-Life 1 remake would be even better than this. Reply 0
Killzone 3 Collector's Edition detailed
Deus Ex: HR special edition detailed
And yes, these pre-order/limited edition exclusive game content packs are a big pile of smelly poo. Would love to see film DVDs do the same, like Pirates of the Caribbean - pre-order from HMV so Johny Depp is enabled in your film!
>_> Reply 0
Microsoft developing console TV service?
Thing is, both the Wii and PS3 have a browser and i-Player, while the 360 isn't offering services like that, despite being a "entertainment" device and not just a console. If Microsoft don't budge with their policies it may cause future customers to look at other devices.
This probably sounds like baiting, but what the heck. I own/owned all three consoles and a PC so I can call it as I see it. Microsoft definitely need to open their console a bit more, and not charge for every slice of shit that people want. Ya dig? Reply 0
Why I hate… Halo
Yep, this.
Reach was, just... damn. All that potential and hype for the events before Combat Evolved... and then... damn. So poorly told. Reply 0
The Witcher 2: We're not afraid of Dragon Age
In this instance I agree, but it's purely because I really respect CD Projekt and think that they already say what they mean, so pushing them doesn't seem necessary.
However, I've always said that magazines and websites - this one included - are more than happy to brown-nose most developers and publishers, rather than actually ask what's important. I saw another interview a week or so ago also posed by Wesley, and it was similar in tone to this (might have been a BioWare one actually); in that case I really felt it worked well. So keep it up Wesley/guys/whoever. Reply 0
MVC3: Capcom defends DLC chars
This.
Street Fighter IV DLC outfits within a few days of release, was it? Probably already on the disc?
Fuck off. Reply 0
Gran Turismo 5
Massively read like an 8/10 to me. Reply 0
Cataclysm UK launch event revealed
And no, I won't be going to this for 2 reasons. 1: Spending time at the event is time wasted when you should be installing! 2: I don't live anywhere near London! Reply 0
Eurogamer.net Podcast #45