The Gamer's Quarter

Ryan - SuperWes' Bane

I was wondering if anybody had any first impressions of these games yet. I got a chance to see the new "preview" movie for Xenosaga 3 at a game shop in Nagoya this week and it looks pretty good. No noticable improvements over the graphics from the previous two, but the grand cinematics from Xenosaga 1 seem to be back. I wonder if they got a new scenario writer or something . . .

And I played the demo game of MI: 2. I had a great time playing it. I liked the first one, and the second one has a lot more characters not featured in the first one. Gameplay felt smoother too. Are these just two shite games nobody cares about?

SuperWes

Ryan - SuperWes' Bane · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 4:36 am Post subject:

I played Capcom Vs. SNK Chaos the other day, along with my favorite KOF 2002 and Guilty Gear XX. I also tried the Fist of the North Star video game! I think my favorite was Guilty Gear XX, followed by KOF 2002. Just love those games.

I also noticed that Xenosaga 3 was showing ONLY the movies from the game, which seems to be the only thing games do these days when you KNOW that the gameplay and in game graphics are poor and boring (like Xenosaga 2, which I STILL hate with a passion and am only 10 hours into). However, I DID take a video of the KOF: Maximum Impact game and will put it up on my Myspace account so you can view it if you'd like. I didn't think it was that bad! In your opinion, what IS the best 3-D fighter out there? Soul Caliber?

SuperWes · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 7:22 am Post subject:

Mr. Apol · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 7:32 am Post subject:

OtakupunkX · . Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 730

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Ryan - SuperWes' Bane · Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 4:28 am Post subject:

Lockeownzj00 · . Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 214

Preliminary thoughts: I loved Xenogears (though the story was a bit puerile). I loved Xenosaga, despite its "so immaculate it looks fake" graphics and the tedius battles (I tell you, the game was a vehicle for the story, not the other way around, for me. I anxiously waited for cut-scenes).

Xenosaga 2...disappointed me. I want to love it. I probably still could if I kept playing. But the plain stupid battle system (which is just more dumbed down than the previous iteration's), coupled with some of the most ear-piercing, annoying MIDI-music, and the same shitty voice actors, made me stop. And then there were the stupid cut-scenes that had nothing to do with anything--not even story! Scenes which could have been done in text.

I don't know if I can really anticipate Xenosaga 3. I like the universe and its ideas. But if I have to play through anything like that tripe again to experience it, I'm just going to have to pass it up. As if I'm not already pissed that Xenosaga is merely a derivative universe of Xenogears (why the fuck couldn't they just connect them!)

Persona-sama · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 2:05 am Post subject:

Ryan - SuperWes' Bane · Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 5:52 am Post subject:

So a quick update about Xenosaga 3. It was released two days ago here in Japan. I was in Nagoya over the weekend and stopped by the Sofmap in the station there. I was able to see the gameplay and in game graphics, and I have to say I'm impressed. While still far from being perfect, it has fixed MANY of the things I wanted to set fire to the game for.

For starters, you get to use the GEARS much more in this game (I saw at least 5 different parts using the gears in this game demo movie, and I think there were perhaps 3 in Xenosaga II altogether). I was also glad to see the characters and Mechs MOVING faster in this game. I was sick and tired of how freaking slow they were in the last game. What's the point of having all the enemies on the screen if it was impossible to DODGE the mofos? That REALLY angered me in the last one. It was such a tease. The combo system looked a little better too, with lots of damage being done to REALLY cool looking enemies. I remember in the original Xenogears you could dish out some SERIOUS damage towards the end of the game, but I never cracked 10,000 in Xenosaga 2, even with a Mech.

Another cool thing I saw was the backgrounds and design. I thought X2 was painfully bland and boring, but this new one has sweet moving backgrounds, and a time shift program that switches between day and night. The character designs also seemed a lot better this time around, with a darker mood all around. Gonna be a while before we hear how HORRIBLE the voices are though ... and same with the music. Hope that crap is fixed ..

And Persona, Persona 3 is coming out this weekend I believe.

Persona-sama · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:32 am Post subject:

Wait, what? In Japan, right?

So I'm getting better at the Hokuto no Ken fighting game. I have to say, it's fucking great to be able to chain a combo into a destroyer - especially when you get that awesome YOU WA SHOCK rift playing when you pull it off. Man, I'm addicted.
_________________

Ryan - SuperWes' Bane · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:15 am Post subject:

For some odd reason, when I saw Persona 3, I was like "You know Ryan, that Persona guy on TGQ probably would want to hear about this . . . and be somewhat hateful that you're in Japan and not taking advantage of all the gaming goodness here.

SO yeah ...

GSL · Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:49 pm Post subject:

Persona-sama · Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 3:58 am Post subject:

dark steve · . Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 1110

JasonMoses · . Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 407

GSL · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 2:11 am Post subject:

Ryan - SuperWes' Bane · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 4:14 am Post subject:

I still want to play DOA Beach Volleyball. Isn't a sequel due out?

GSL · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 7:36 am Post subject:

I thought I heard something to that effect in the E3 news.

Mind you, I'm not advocating DOAXVB as being amazingly complex, or even amazing or complex seperately. Just the authentic fighters--and not really DOA1, with its terrifying Jello-Boobitron™ physics and its bland gameplay. Although, the explosive zones outside the ring were pretty cool.

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

GSL · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 1:15 pm Post subject:

Yeah, yeah. You're probably one o' them Tekken fans, aren't you?