Sunday, June 6

Learn to Fly

By 2PM on Saturday afternoon, I was convinced that I could not move on from Red Dead Redemption. Even though I had tied up the loose ends of the narrative, I was thinking that I would be happy not to touch another game until I had killed every buffalo, helped every stranger and found every township. After having dwelled on my conundrum for another hour, I thought to myself that it may be time to move on. If only to see that I wasn't missing much if I was to leave the Great Plains.

The first disc loaded was King of Fighters XII. I paid 19 dollars for the Collector's Edition, which included a detailed statue of SNK stalwart, Terry Bogard and it still felt like a monumental rip-off. This is the most shallow, uninspiring fighting game I have ever had the displeasure of playing. The arcade most consists of 5 fights using the usual 3 versus 3 KoF formula. No boss fight. No noticeable rise in difficulty across fights. The aim of arcade mode is to have completed all 5 fights in an overall time which is faster than your opponents. This time attack slant on the franchise could have been interesting if it weren't for the fact that the computer-controlled opponents are only able to manage a time of 59:59:59. In my first of two playthroughs, I completed in just over 6 minutes and didn't lose a single round. While the achievement whore in me was happy enough, I felt robbed. Robbed, as there was no final confrontation, no real test of skill. I thought I could satiate my thirst for a challenge by taking the fight online. How wrong I was. For the few players still accepting matches online are a class of player worse than the achievement whore; they are achievement vultures. Still trying desperately to attain that last bit of gamerscore for participating in 300 matches. I don't think the two players I came across were interested in winning as they both appeared to have put the A button on autofire while I proceeded to smash them with Joe Higashi's Hurricane Upper. Once again, I snagged a few achievements but I was far from satisfied. To further spoil the deal, KoF XII is one ugly duckling with heavily pixelated (I will concede however, rather large) sprites, a handful of arenas and frame rate hitches when anything resembling modern visual effects appears on screen. The only bright side to this grim tale is the responsiveness of the 360 controller in this 2D fighter. I could pull off any maneuvers I desired after 2 attempts, which for anyone who has played Street Fighter IV on a 360 controller would know, is impressive. Avoid at all costs dear readers, you have been warned.



After this bitter affair I felt guilty, and thought that I should return to the streets of Blackwater and repent after my unfaithful behaviour. I booted up my PS3 to find a friend had invited me to play Lost Planet 2. Could I really do this to old Red twice in one day? Well, it had been two weeks since I had played Lost Planet 2, and a veneer of dust had begun to accumulate on the brutally difficult action game's case. It couldn't hurt. Headset equipped, I ventured into the dense jungles of EDN III to battle a band of snow pirates (?) who appear to enjoy bondage play and have an affinity for large tribal tattoos and revealing clothing. The results were highly favourable. With the difficulty set to easy, I was able to forgive my lack of skill (in normal difficulty at least), and finally best the evil tattooed biker bondage pirates and fight another day.

Could I really enjoy something that wasn't Red Dead Redemption?

Moving away from RDR again, I booted up Mass Effect 2 for the first time today. I'm only about 3 hours in and it looks as though Rockstar's Wild West masterpiece will enjoy some rest for the next few weeks. The opening sequence aboard the crumbling starship, Normandy was truly something to behold. Further to that, Bioware's mastery of chatter and consequence has sucked me in again. The gunplay and visuals have also been significantly improved over it's predecessor.



So the answer is: Life carries on, even outside of the greater South-West. What games were you all playing over the weekend?

25 comments:

  1. Thanks again for the co-op fun in LP2, sir. It's the kick-off point for a new post I've got in the works.

    Good Lord, KoF XII got a working over! I feel a bit sorry for that mess, pushed out the door half-finished and bare-boned at the demands of the publisher. One of those horrible missteps like Samurai Shodown Sen. Hopefully XIII makes up for it...it's looking that way.

    Only Lost Planet 2 and Motorstorm Pacific Rift this weekend. A quiet one.

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  2. Nothing quiet about Lost Planet 2 buddy. Louder than a Hypercolour shirt!

    I thought writing a review of KoF XII would be redundant so long after the fact. It did still deserve a good shellacking though.

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  3. Hypercolour shirts! Man, couple them with slap-bands (which apparently readied your bone marrow for cancer, the alarmist parent groups cried) and Moose yo-yos and we're right back in '93.

    Yeah, the less said about the tragic XII the better.

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  4. I told you ME2 was awesome you chump.

    I started playing again last night, cant wait for the new DLC its gonna be mad fun.

    I still recommend you buy all DLC, even if it is just visuals sometimes it really adds to the overall experience, Legion and Tali the best team. But if you use soldier class use Garrus' upgrade Armour Piercing rounds, kills all.

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  5. Oh and I got Planet minigolf, fun but crazy hard.

    Seriously makes Tiger seem like a cake walk. Never got that expession though, how does one walk cake?

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  6. I hate to be the stickler/wanker here, but the term stems from a form of public entertainment in the 19th Century, where African-American women would walk in accomplished or elegant ways...with the winner receiving cakes as a prize.

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  7. Not entirely certain how one would "walk the cake".

    I played RDR, then popped in some MW2 to play some HC Headquarters Pro so I could master a few guns. I have now mastered all the assualt rifles except the FAL (which I am pretty close to doing) and the Famas (I really don't like the Famas), the UMP, the Vector, the Mini uzi, RPD, AUG HBar, Intervention, Barrett. Next up is the MP5K and the L86.

    I am loving RDR though. I find myself riding around shooting birds more than playing the single player! LOL Good times though.

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  8. Taz that didnt make you a "wanker", as now i know exactly what it means, Thank you.

    Ahhh bird shooting, one of my favourite RDR past times, beside cougar show downs in the tall trees, seriously they hunt in packs there. Ride to the edge hop off your trusty steed and see how long you last against the beasts.

    Im looking forward to this week end guys, split system L4D2 and MW2 if Samma brings his copy. I recommend a serious game rent on Saturday so we can utilise this glorious split system opportunity. Tris i request that you come round saturday morning...or samma and help me lug my two tv's (so ma, pa, carls and D may still utilise upstairs telly) xbox and ps3 to Geebung so that we can just set up down stairs and play like crazy. split MW2 will be mad, fear the pistols fools.

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  9. Split System Madness, I Cant Wait!!!

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  10. Well, Reubes, I'd asked myself the cake-walk question a few years back and sought out the answer. I thought it might have something to do with overhead gantries, but far from it!

    I've also a sneaking suspicion the posse will be long gone before my copy of RDR arrives...funnily enough, the Asian version on Play-Asia is listed as "Out of stock, orders shipped when new stock arrives", or something to that effect.

    Hell's bells.

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  11. Taz - Ouch, that is horrible news. But efficient work on the cake-walk business.

    Rubes - Dave is bringing his copy of MW2 so you're safe Sambo. I'll bring my systems up.

    Sambo - You have RDR!!! Leave MW2 alone for a couple of days bro lol

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  13. Yeah I know dude, but I just love pawning noobs! LOL I went 99-34 on headquarters on Sat morning. I was so pissed I didn't break the 100!!!! LOL

    But yeah dude, I can come help, let me know what time I need to be round your joint to pick it all up. Also, do I need to bring a controller or two? I can also bring FIFA 10.

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  14. Bring whatever, we will play anything at least once.

    Mainly MW2 i feels though.

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  15. Hopefully will only need to make one trip samma as long as we set the tvs right and tris watches them while i drive all should be good

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  16. Remember to tell Carls its free for all participation, D is looking forward to L4D and street fighting, remember guys its split system so technically its 8 play possiblities, So Me, D, Trit, Samma, Dave, Carls, Matt, its 7 so far so just in case all want to play can people please bring controllers, i have 3.

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  17. 3 for ps3, 2 for 360. I think we can only max 4 on 360 cause of controller constraints

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  18. I can bring 2 for PS3. Also, MW2 on two tvs is going to be funny as.

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  19. sweet samma. its gonna be mad, seven players all on 2 screens, you wont know who is creen cheating who lol, pistol KILLS!!

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  20. Plus if any of you have a Component cable for ps3 please bring it, unless Gravey has his, some people may have to suffer no hd visuals, the horror

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  21. I have one, but it isn't very long. But I can sort it out. Also, do I need to actually bring my PS3? also I will be around at about 10. I will pick Tristan up from his place, then swing through to yours, then back to your mum and dad's. Sound like a plan?!

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  22. Yeah sounds good man. Length doesnt matter, plus i think gravey is bringing his ps3?

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