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I just had my first proper XBox 'session', at my mates house. Before, I'd played it in dribs and drabs, completing Halo and messing about on Splinter Cell a lot. However, I'd never played it like I played my Cube, with games like Mario Sunshine.
I played a lot. I did a 2-player co-op on Halo, but we got very bored very quickly, then i did some single player stuff, on my file. All I did was go through the levels, doing it like normal. Now, many of you know my thoughts on Halo, and lets just say it really confirmed them for me in stone. Then i went on Splinter Cell (again) messed around, knocked out a few guards. Then Enclave. Less said the better. Then I went on his demo discs. I played Phantom Crash, Shenmue II, Panzer Dragoon Orta, House Of The Dead III, Vexx, Indiana Jones + The Emperors Tomb, and watched the Halo II vid.
Now, after all that, I really can't but help feel underwhelmed. I know you all love Halo, and I don't, so I won't go into that. I like Splinter Cell, so that was good, but a little dull, to be honest. Enclave was just plain bad. Demos (only demos I know, but still an indication of a games worth) were just plain poor. All these games that I've heard you praise, I really found very dull (WITH NO BIAS AT ALL). Phantom Crash was repetitive rubbish, and Panzer Dragoon Orta in particular was very dissaponting. Shenmue II was just plain boring, realistic maybe, but incredibly slow, House Of The Dead III was insanely dull after the first 5 zombies, and the Halo II vid (while not revealing much, I know) was also a little underwhelming. I enjoyed Vexx (getting it on Cube now) and Indy. That Indy game rules.
I'm just saying these things because I properly looked at several future release titles, and found them to be pretty crud. I know they are only demos, but a demo NORMALY provides you with a good indication of what a game is like and how good it will be. From these demos, I wouldn't touch Shenmue II, HOTD III, PDO and Phantom Crash without the aid of a very long barge pole. And I know there are loads of good XBox titles on the way.
*please note. This is not an anti XBox post. I'm just saying SOME of the big titles on the way/out now seem a little......rubbish. To me. To you, they may rule. But to me, my first long XBox play (i.e several hours) was simply very dissapointing*
*runs away*
I played a lot. I did a 2-player co-op on Halo, but we got very bored very quickly, then i did some single player stuff, on my file. All I did was go through the levels, doing it like normal. Now, many of you know my thoughts on Halo, and lets just say it really confirmed them for me in stone. Then i went on Splinter Cell (again) messed around, knocked out a few guards. Then Enclave. Less said the better. Then I went on his demo discs. I played Phantom Crash, Shenmue II, Panzer Dragoon Orta, House Of The Dead III, Vexx, Indiana Jones + The Emperors Tomb, and watched the Halo II vid.
Now, after all that, I really can't but help feel underwhelmed. I know you all love Halo, and I don't, so I won't go into that. I like Splinter Cell, so that was good, but a little dull, to be honest. Enclave was just plain bad. Demos (only demos I know, but still an indication of a games worth) were just plain poor. All these games that I've heard you praise, I really found very dull (WITH NO BIAS AT ALL). Phantom Crash was repetitive rubbish, and Panzer Dragoon Orta in particular was very dissaponting. Shenmue II was just plain boring, realistic maybe, but incredibly slow, House Of The Dead III was insanely dull after the first 5 zombies, and the Halo II vid (while not revealing much, I know) was also a little underwhelming. I enjoyed Vexx (getting it on Cube now) and Indy. That Indy game rules.
I'm just saying these things because I properly looked at several future release titles, and found them to be pretty crud. I know they are only demos, but a demo NORMALY provides you with a good indication of what a game is like and how good it will be. From these demos, I wouldn't touch Shenmue II, HOTD III, PDO and Phantom Crash without the aid of a very long barge pole. And I know there are loads of good XBox titles on the way.
*please note. This is not an anti XBox post. I'm just saying SOME of the big titles on the way/out now seem a little......rubbish. To me. To you, they may rule. But to me, my first long XBox play (i.e several hours) was simply very dissapointing*
*runs away*
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Fair enough, I wouldn't discount the PS2 though, it may look poor compared to the GC and Xbox, but it unfortunately occupies #1 slot everywhere.
However, from what I've read, Sony is making a total hash up of the online launch in America, it's literally "hunt the online adaptor" time in the stores, not because of massive sales, but because not enough were made in the first place, reminiscent of the European console launch.
Despite not having the highest user base, Microsoft have the most successful online network already, and will continue to do so. Nintendo's efforts are crap, frankly, and Sony's aren't much better - Everquest Online hasn't received great reviews and SOCOM is inferior to Ghost Recon, and both Sony and Nintendo are not exploiting voice communication online ! It's one of the killer aps for flips sake !
I think that this Christmas Microsoft will be able to give Sony a serious competition, and whilst I see what Nintendo is trying to do with the GC I don't think their new obsession with the GBA/GC linkup and concentrating on their own brand quality titles is going to help them much. Zelda may be good, but the graphic style guarantees the people attracted by Halo, GTA Vice e.t.c. to console gaming won't even play it. That may be sad, but it is a fact and why, in my opinion, Nintendo need to change their ideas. Buying the Resi franchise does not make the GC a mature titles platform...
However, from what I've read, Sony is making a total hash up of the online launch in America, it's literally "hunt the online adaptor" time in the stores, not because of massive sales, but because not enough were made in the first place, reminiscent of the European console launch.
Despite not having the highest user base, Microsoft have the most successful online network already, and will continue to do so. Nintendo's efforts are crap, frankly, and Sony's aren't much better - Everquest Online hasn't received great reviews and SOCOM is inferior to Ghost Recon, and both Sony and Nintendo are not exploiting voice communication online ! It's one of the killer aps for flips sake !
I think that this Christmas Microsoft will be able to give Sony a serious competition, and whilst I see what Nintendo is trying to do with the GC I don't think their new obsession with the GBA/GC linkup and concentrating on their own brand quality titles is going to help them much. Zelda may be good, but the graphic style guarantees the people attracted by Halo, GTA Vice e.t.c. to console gaming won't even play it. That may be sad, but it is a fact and why, in my opinion, Nintendo need to change their ideas. Buying the Resi franchise does not make the GC a mature titles platform...
No I hadn't. If you really want to know, I consider the XBox and GC far superior to the PS2, and as such, both very good consoles, just I prefer the GC.
I know they are only demos, which does not give much depth to a game. Shenmue II was boring, but porbably incredible later. Panzer Dragoon Orta was just, to be crude, rubbish. It looked reasonable, but the game simply dull. But I don't like on-rails stuff, so thats probably why.
I know they are only demos, which does not give much depth to a game. Shenmue II was boring, but porbably incredible later. Panzer Dragoon Orta was just, to be crude, rubbish. It looked reasonable, but the game simply dull. But I don't like on-rails stuff, so thats probably why.
To be honest, everyone knows Enclave got mixed reviews, but PDO and Shenmue 2 are both excellent games, PDO's graphics alone are excellent whilst the gameplay is just as good as the original version.
Each to their own, but I suspect you'd made your mind up before you'd started....
Each to their own, but I suspect you'd made your mind up before you'd started....
Well, it's all about taste and perspective I suppose.
A friend of mine bought Mario Sunshine on Monday and took it back on Tuesday, complaining of blurry graphics and [quote] "the same old annoying gameplay". And this is a person who proclaims that Super Mario World on the SNES is the best game ever.
All the games you mentioned are quality [in my opinion]. Even Enclave, which is one of the most intense games I've ever played.
I played through Splinter Cell for the third time last week and was still gripped from start-to-finish.
HOTD3 is just a fun blaster. Twice as good with a gun, and brilliant in 2-player.
Panzer Dragoon Orta is sublime. I understand that some people don't like on-rails shooters, but for me it's my most anticipated game of the year.
And Halo, well, if you don't like it you don't like. Hard to understand why when it's a polished gem but....
But I know what it's like to feel underwhelmed by certain games.
I felt the same way about the PS2 [which I sold], but looking back on games like Ico, GTA3, Devil May Cry, I can honestly say that my prejudices at the time clouded my judgement, because there's nothing wrong with the PS2. Although I do prefer the Xbox, simply because the graphics are generally better, and I'm a bit of a graphics junkie.
A friend of mine bought Mario Sunshine on Monday and took it back on Tuesday, complaining of blurry graphics and [quote] "the same old annoying gameplay". And this is a person who proclaims that Super Mario World on the SNES is the best game ever.
All the games you mentioned are quality [in my opinion]. Even Enclave, which is one of the most intense games I've ever played.
I played through Splinter Cell for the third time last week and was still gripped from start-to-finish.
HOTD3 is just a fun blaster. Twice as good with a gun, and brilliant in 2-player.
Panzer Dragoon Orta is sublime. I understand that some people don't like on-rails shooters, but for me it's my most anticipated game of the year.
And Halo, well, if you don't like it you don't like. Hard to understand why when it's a polished gem but....
But I know what it's like to feel underwhelmed by certain games.
I felt the same way about the PS2 [which I sold], but looking back on games like Ico, GTA3, Devil May Cry, I can honestly say that my prejudices at the time clouded my judgement, because there's nothing wrong with the PS2. Although I do prefer the Xbox, simply because the graphics are generally better, and I'm a bit of a graphics junkie.
I'd have to agree with you when it comes to your opinion on Halo. Whenever I play the game - usually at Edgy's house or when we're in town and spending too long playing on the consoles in, say, Game - I just can't get into it. I can honestly say that there are a hell of a lot of first person shooters I have enjoyed far more than Halo - Timesplitters 2, GoldenEye 007, Perfect Dark and the entire Turok series to name just a few - and as FPS's go, it's slow, boring and ultimately underwhelming.
Shenmue II on the other hand... I can't bring myself to agree with your - frankly diabolical (lol!) - opinion on the game. Admittedly, when I first got the game on the Dreamcast - as a Gameaday prize - I was spectacularly unimpressed by it. I found it boring, clumbersome and repetitive and I just didn't like it at all. But at some point down the line, something suddenly clicked... and I really got into it. I don't know what happened exactly. Maybe SEGA used some kind of space satellite to shoot some sort of infa-red propaganda message into my brain... but whatever it was, I really got into the game and played it solidly for weeks. I still haven't completed it and - as of today - the Dreamcast is now nestled in my brother's room, so perhaps a purchase of Shenmue II on X-Box is now on the cards. But back to the point; you only played the demo of the game... yes, you did elaborate on this on more than one occasion, but I don't think Shenmue II is the kind of game that a demo can do any justice. If you ever get the chance, play it properly - on Dreamcast or X-Box - and get a proper feel for the game and immerse yourself in it. I did, and it's now probably one of my all-time favourite games. And this is coming from someone who originally loathed the game which every bone, organ and piece of cartlidge in his body.
Splinter Cell I can't really comment on, as I've only seen the game, not played it. But honestly, it does look more and more appealing every time I see it. But for some reason there's a feeling scratching away at me, telling me NOT to get the game. Again, I don't know what this is... but I'm weary of the game, and it's something I'll probably rent out whenever I get the chance.
Shenmue II on the other hand... I can't bring myself to agree with your - frankly diabolical (lol!) - opinion on the game. Admittedly, when I first got the game on the Dreamcast - as a Gameaday prize - I was spectacularly unimpressed by it. I found it boring, clumbersome and repetitive and I just didn't like it at all. But at some point down the line, something suddenly clicked... and I really got into it. I don't know what happened exactly. Maybe SEGA used some kind of space satellite to shoot some sort of infa-red propaganda message into my brain... but whatever it was, I really got into the game and played it solidly for weeks. I still haven't completed it and - as of today - the Dreamcast is now nestled in my brother's room, so perhaps a purchase of Shenmue II on X-Box is now on the cards. But back to the point; you only played the demo of the game... yes, you did elaborate on this on more than one occasion, but I don't think Shenmue II is the kind of game that a demo can do any justice. If you ever get the chance, play it properly - on Dreamcast or X-Box - and get a proper feel for the game and immerse yourself in it. I did, and it's now probably one of my all-time favourite games. And this is coming from someone who originally loathed the game which every bone, organ and piece of cartlidge in his body.
Splinter Cell I can't really comment on, as I've only seen the game, not played it. But honestly, it does look more and more appealing every time I see it. But for some reason there's a feeling scratching away at me, telling me NOT to get the game. Again, I don't know what this is... but I'm weary of the game, and it's something I'll probably rent out whenever I get the chance.
I just had my first proper XBox 'session', at my mates house. Before, I'd played it in dribs and drabs, completing Halo and messing about on Splinter Cell a lot. However, I'd never played it like I played my Cube, with games like Mario Sunshine.
I played a lot. I did a 2-player co-op on Halo, but we got very bored very quickly, then i did some single player stuff, on my file. All I did was go through the levels, doing it like normal. Now, many of you know my thoughts on Halo, and lets just say it really confirmed them for me in stone. Then i went on Splinter Cell (again) messed around, knocked out a few guards. Then Enclave. Less said the better. Then I went on his demo discs. I played Phantom Crash, Shenmue II, Panzer Dragoon Orta, House Of The Dead III, Vexx, Indiana Jones + The Emperors Tomb, and watched the Halo II vid.
Now, after all that, I really can't but help feel underwhelmed. I know you all love Halo, and I don't, so I won't go into that. I like Splinter Cell, so that was good, but a little dull, to be honest. Enclave was just plain bad. Demos (only demos I know, but still an indication of a games worth) were just plain poor. All these games that I've heard you praise, I really found very dull (WITH NO BIAS AT ALL). Phantom Crash was repetitive rubbish, and Panzer Dragoon Orta in particular was very dissaponting. Shenmue II was just plain boring, realistic maybe, but incredibly slow, House Of The Dead III was insanely dull after the first 5 zombies, and the Halo II vid (while not revealing much, I know) was also a little underwhelming. I enjoyed Vexx (getting it on Cube now) and Indy. That Indy game rules.
I'm just saying these things because I properly looked at several future release titles, and found them to be pretty crud. I know they are only demos, but a demo NORMALY provides you with a good indication of what a game is like and how good it will be. From these demos, I wouldn't touch Shenmue II, HOTD III, PDO and Phantom Crash without the aid of a very long barge pole. And I know there are loads of good XBox titles on the way.
*please note. This is not an anti XBox post. I'm just saying SOME of the big titles on the way/out now seem a little......rubbish. To me. To you, they may rule. But to me, my first long XBox play (i.e several hours) was simply very dissapointing*
*runs away*
I played a lot. I did a 2-player co-op on Halo, but we got very bored very quickly, then i did some single player stuff, on my file. All I did was go through the levels, doing it like normal. Now, many of you know my thoughts on Halo, and lets just say it really confirmed them for me in stone. Then i went on Splinter Cell (again) messed around, knocked out a few guards. Then Enclave. Less said the better. Then I went on his demo discs. I played Phantom Crash, Shenmue II, Panzer Dragoon Orta, House Of The Dead III, Vexx, Indiana Jones + The Emperors Tomb, and watched the Halo II vid.
Now, after all that, I really can't but help feel underwhelmed. I know you all love Halo, and I don't, so I won't go into that. I like Splinter Cell, so that was good, but a little dull, to be honest. Enclave was just plain bad. Demos (only demos I know, but still an indication of a games worth) were just plain poor. All these games that I've heard you praise, I really found very dull (WITH NO BIAS AT ALL). Phantom Crash was repetitive rubbish, and Panzer Dragoon Orta in particular was very dissaponting. Shenmue II was just plain boring, realistic maybe, but incredibly slow, House Of The Dead III was insanely dull after the first 5 zombies, and the Halo II vid (while not revealing much, I know) was also a little underwhelming. I enjoyed Vexx (getting it on Cube now) and Indy. That Indy game rules.
I'm just saying these things because I properly looked at several future release titles, and found them to be pretty crud. I know they are only demos, but a demo NORMALY provides you with a good indication of what a game is like and how good it will be. From these demos, I wouldn't touch Shenmue II, HOTD III, PDO and Phantom Crash without the aid of a very long barge pole. And I know there are loads of good XBox titles on the way.
*please note. This is not an anti XBox post. I'm just saying SOME of the big titles on the way/out now seem a little......rubbish. To me. To you, they may rule. But to me, my first long XBox play (i.e several hours) was simply very dissapointing*
*runs away*
Page: