AndrewTS

Like, 40%-ish.

I wouldn't count on it until after Mario and Sonic is released.

Haven't invested in any of them yet. I've had a PS2 since launch, played it in fits and starts, but only after playing Resident Evil 4 this spring did I really get back in the gaming mindset. It just seems odd to me to suddenly drop over $700 on hardware, even though I could and kind of want to. I'd say winter would be a good time to take a look at the titles and jump on what you want more. You've got two systems under starting at under 300 bucks (although with 360 hard drive is a must IMO), with major games due to come out this holiday (Mass Effect and Halo 3 on 360, plus Mario Galaxy and Brawl for Wii). Otherwise, wait until spring and take a look at 'em side-by-side with the Metal Gear Playing Machine. I doubt my EB games will have it. It is just a short demo or seemingly the full game? Don't they want your name, address, SS# and a urine sample to hand you the wiimote/nunchuck tho? Bleh.

Puff piece on TAFKA Irrational's Ken Levine: http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3162207 Really interesting and fun read, although I wished he talked more about Bioshock's "Nazis on an island" period. He remains quite humble, a far cry from certain other folks who have critically acclaimed games under their belt. Oh, and I picked up Deus Ex for like 4 bucks and began trying it out. Thanks to the folks who recommended. I'm very impressed with gameplay even though the graphics are weak. You can open doors in other ways than just finding a key card of a matching color? I can blow it up, pick the lock or hack it open (depending on what kind it is)?! I'm very slooooooooowly making my way through the area to get to the Statue of Liberty. I don't really totally get what I'm doing, but I'm having fun getting there, playing it very much like a FPS Metal Gear Solid (stealthing around, popping enemies, dragging their corpses out of sight and picking them clean of goodies).

Eh, kind of lost the impact now that every site basically has covered it. I think Seanbaby has the definitive Atari porn coverage: http://www.seanbaby.com/nes/naughty03.htm

Metroid Prime 3 guides are out, for those who anticipate sucking at the time/want to be ready to collect everything.

Thanks. I checked the other day and I didn't see it, so probably did just go up.

12-track soundtrack free download: http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/home.html It isn't that Moby trash that comes with the LE.

Yuna is on a Miho/Sin City kick, I see. Oh yeah...Manhunt...yay for R*. I'm surprised they got it edited, resubmitted, and approved all quick. That was all so sudden.

Preordered it and paid in full. Metroid Prime 2 was a bit of a letdown for me--I never finished it--however Metroid Prime is one of my favorite games of all time, featuring some of my favorite boss battles of all time. Do you have a PS3 or just haven't invested in any of the new systems?

I don't know many people complaining about the story, but System Shock veterans expected a major plot twist ever since playing the demo (see: the recent Retronauts podcast covering survival horror games, where they touch on Bioshock and its spiritual predecessors). Some liked it for that, some didn't. However, the System Shocks were and are pretty obscure, while Bioshock looks to be a big, mainstream hit. However, I'm rather annoyed at how damn bloody many of those log things there are (and they're sometimes better hidden than any of Prime's info panels), and despite collecting about a million of them there are still more because I didn't achieve Historian. If anyone knows where there is a checklist, would you kindly point me to it?

They slapped Wii ads in the textures that were used for some brand name jetskis in Wave Rave 64 for VC, so it wouldn't be unprecedented. But N didn't develop No Mercy.

Finished the game, starting on my next playthrough for the good ending. Darn fine game, although all the hype from the magazines have done it a disservice. It's darn good and a very pretty game with beautifully designed environments and excellent atmosphere. Genre-defining megaton that redefines the FPS? I'm going to say no way. Folks who have been weaned on some of the best of the genre will probably be left jaded and unimpressed except for the visuals. However, it's good and fine for me, as it's changed a lot of the expectations and possibilities I ever considered for the genre. Bring on Metroid Prime 3.

Has anyone spotted any

Is the two-installs-only for any kind of installation, including a basic one that just runs the game from the disc, or only when you full-install the entire game? I assume the publishing muckity-mucks were the ones who went for this, not TAFKA Irrational.

He's back again and about time too, And this time he's in the mood, He can fly real high with his jetpack on, With his pistols out he's one tough Kong, He'll make you smile when he plays his tune, But Kremlings beware 'cause he's after you!

Yeah, not all the plasmid powers are worth it. bites the big one, except in the "looking cool" area. Plus there's I once again love the layout. There are distinctive levels, but you can go back to previous ones to take care of unfinished business (except tutorial, but nothing is really much there. Main story goals are given to you, but you can screw around and explore all you like. Unfortunately, exploring is really all you can achieve in the meantime. There's not really alternate goals I see that you can achieve. oldskool: I'd say crank up the difficulty and run through it again. Anyone discovered a way to take care of those booby-trapped electric wires other than crouching under or jumping over them? Shooting them doesn't seem to break them. I notice enemies can set them off and if I levitate an object and toss it at an enemy, sometimes they set it off. Levitating objects directly into the wires doesn't seem to work, though.

After playing the game almost non-stop since buying it today--this is looking to be my GOTY so far. Such a fun, beautiful game. My biggest complaint of the demo, the Splicers basically making a beeline for you whenever you're in the area, isn't really a problem. Sure, they'll ambush you now and then but you can sneak up on them and give it back to them, too. I love exploiting the security system, going off exploring, and hearing gunfire and screams and returning to a pile of dead splicers (maybe a straggler or two left alive). I noticed in the tea garden area (or any area with a big pool of water) when you set a splicer on fire it'll dive into the water....that's when I zap 'em with an electro bolt. *evil grin* If you're in a big fight, check the floor for flammable liquids--you can sometimes set multiple enemies ablaze that way. I think I'll look into Deus Ex too--sounds really cool.

Ripper--I generally hate FPSers too--Metroid Prime being the first I really enjoyed. Speaking of which, a lot of story elements unfold in a similar way. Instead of scanning, you collect voice recordings scattered all over the place. I haven't played Black, but if I just want to shoot the crap out of stuff, playing the old Doom games usually do it for me. From what I heard there wasn't much more to Black than just shooting the crap out of stuff, but I may be wrong. I got my copy of Bioshock, though. EDIT AGAIN: Spoiler tags added. Not really much more than what was revealed in the demo, but anyone who missed it may not appreciate.

Gamecube has Assignment Ada, but Seperate Ways is PS2/Wii.

Didn't he break JR's leg or arm? Then again, Kane burned JR alive but JR quickly forgave him for that. He broke his arm, I believe. Specifically his damn arm, I believe.

To play the game the way it was originally intended to be played. What's so crazy about that? I happen to like the GC controller for 3D games. Remember, I haven't played through the game (let alone multiple times) like some folks. I'll admit that once I tried it, seeing I have to hold down the B-button to run, I said "yuk" and picked up the wiichuck again, but the same issue still exists with that scheme, it's just less prominent since it's mapped to a button that isn't a pain to hold down often. I don't like having the classic controller as a sole option for traditional controls. I'll take a wavebird over a pad that has a wiimote dangling from it. The GC controller *is* conspicuously absent from the back of the game box and it isn't mentioned in the manual. So while the GC controller support is there, it's there quietly. And if you didn't have access to your nunchuck, it seems silly that you can't boot the game.

I meant that as somewhat tongue-in-cheek, hoping that it beats it as far as overall game design as well as the great reviews. However, you're not the first or second person I've read mention Half-Life along with this game. So...you're the third. I couldn't be happier if it indeed does. I hate first person shooters that are too...first person shootery. Which is why I'm being soaked big time this month for Prime 3 and this one. I'd say it's a safe bet that its sales top Deus Ex, though.

It's supposed to be far more open-ended and varied in its storytelling, so I hope not.