AndrewTS

Fair enough--some people who pick it up for 12 bucks now may find value in it far exceeding the original price tag. Yet when a game's first few levels--heck the first half perhaps as you seemed to indicate earlier--seem to suffer from problems like that, it's offputting. So either you don't finish the game and you hate it, you finish the game and your opinion changes, or you finish the game and say "you know, I thought this game sucked when I first played it. Now that I've completed it, I *know* it sucks!" I think the first situation will be far more common on the whole than the 2nd, and eventually the 3rd. Unless it's a well-known issue with that particular game (like, nearly all RPGs have crap beginnings, and many action titles have nearly insulting tutorials that drag on seemingly for many levels).

Benoit's ghost isn't going to screw around with floating objects and moaning. Just one "get the **** out of my house!" and if you don't he'll crossface you to death in your sleep.

I've only played 1. The 2nd one has some questionable innovations, mainly the health bar/psych-lock that is designed to make the game more challenging. I've heard overall it isn't drastic. But you can get PW1 for 20 bucks, so I'd start with that.

Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow is better than Portrait, IMO. Mega Man ZX is very good, although ZX Advent is right around the corner and has a superior map system. Phoenix Wright is an adventure/text game that's really entertaining (albeit linear and simple), and Dragon Quest Rocket Slime is a solid Zelda-ish title.

Why before? At the very least he wouldn't have had clean underwear if he did that before.

Benoit was a great father. He made them wear suits to the arenas.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3160603

No comments from Vince on the steroids?

I never even thought of that before. That's terrible to have to go through. No matter what he could or couldn't have done, he's probably going to put some of the blame on this for himself, thinking that he should have seen the warning signs, should have done something to prevent this.

...for a wrestler. The average height of an adult male in North America is about 5'9"--and that's the highest in the world.

As if Cole's laments about Daniel never being able to "follow in his father's footsteps" didn't sound awful before... Lots and lots of lies coming.

Though some has reappeared... http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/superstars/chrisbenoit/bio/

Anyone know what the name of the song they played during the tribute was, please?

Retarded: http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/25/esrb-see...-game-trailers/ Bullshit: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3160522

When Invictus was decrying how same-y all the GTAs are, I actually pointed out some significant advances between them, and it was unfair to label them expansion packs and directly compare them to Madden, etc. However, if you want me to talk about how to improve them--I'd definitely suggest tighting up the controls and changing the aiming of weapons to make it more like Saint's Row. The bolded part is a a discussion absolutely nobody cares about, because most people seem to think the games are fine the way they are or perfect. I've played the games, but wouldn't count myself a fan. That's separate from my opinion of R*--I'm not a fan, because the content/mood/theme of GTA holds little appeal for me. I've not played the game for years, but the levels were extremely linear, there wasn't a whole lot you could do within them--like jump to higher places and attack from below. You couldn't really hide aside from just running into the dark and behind static objects, instead of having more options like making use of the environment to give yourself different types of cover. And about that AI...about "if they give up, they go back to walking the grounds?" Well, the way that's done was kind of silly. *runs in front of hunter* "I see you! I see you! I'm coming to kill you! I'm chasing you! RUN! RUN! RUN! You ran into the dark! I know you're there! I called your mother a whore! I smell your funky ***!! WHERE ARE YOU!? I KNOW YOU'RE THERE!! HUNTER COMING UP THE THE HELL RIGHT NOW!!....I CAN'T FIND YOU! I DON'T SEE YOU but I know you went there! I! I! I...aw, **** it, I'm going to get laid. I'm turning my back now. I'm turning my back completely, and I'm just barely out of the dark! I'm safe! You're not there!... AHHHH!! *gag,choke* YA KILLED ME!! YA KILLED ME!! *head bashed in with baseball bat*!" The stealth and killing was basically all you had to do, at least for the portions I played. Other stealth games have more to them--exploring, item hunting, big explosive boss battles, platforming, etc. And no, I didn't play the entire game. I didn't put up with it that long. So I missed those parts where the gameplay actually expanded beyond that. I've heard of AI issues from that, too (guys standing in one place as you shoot them over and over), but I can't say I've experienced them first hand. I'd say the lighting and the bland environments. Everything seemed to look alike, there seemed hardly any variation. The static effect I know was intentional, but it wasn't that common. I know it's a design choice, of course. Too many areas that practically looked like a sewer, even if it was above-ground. Sony and Nintendo still won't license the game, no matter where it is sold. Even through the website. Problem not solved until the game is a) edited and re-rated to an M , or b) the game is distributed on PC in some fashion.

FWIW, the people who seemed to go insane for it seemed to be taking advantage of the headset. It's supposed to add a lot to the "experience." As for buy/rent--it's a 10 dollar used game these days you should be able to find at a pawn shop. So unless you have Hollywood's MVP/Gamefly/Blockbuster's flat fee plan, renting is going to cost almost as much to buy. I'd say download it if you have the means.

I just can't take AndrewTS comments on Rockstar game seriously, because they're always negative. Besides Manhunt, what R* games have I "unfairly" bashed? I've actually defended GTA on more than one occasion. And if I haven't been unfairly bashing GTA, what the hell are you talking about? GTA series and Manhunt are the only games of note they've made, assuming we're talking about R* North, and not R* Vancouver who have only made Bully. You've always been a Manhunt apologist. I'm not alone in thinking it's a POS; many top mags/sites say the same thing. Maxim and IGN seem to love it, though. The levels are dull, the AI sucks, the lighting is terrible, and the stealth is done a million times better in much better examples of the genre. The game's uniqueness begins and ends with the presentation and cutscenes. Otherwise, you may as well be playing the newest half-ass Tenchu game. The game lets its "horror" theme define it too much. Imagine a grindhouse horror flick with a guy sneaking around...slowing...killing people. Pretty much just that. For hours and hours. F'ed up cutscene now and then. Everything is hideous to look at. That's pretty much the game. Manhunt 2 actually looks a bit brighter and with more well-defined action segments. Anyone curious about how the first game looked--go to youtube. That should tell you all you need to know, whether you'll like it or not.

You're completely wrong. ESRB looks at videos of the in-game content, and PS2 got the same rating. It's true that some papers have editorials sensationalizing the "murder-simulator" potential of Wii, but it's irrelevant to the rating. LOL Manhunt was a POS. However, nobody has really reviewed Manhunt 2 since the final retail build wasn't available....and won't be for a while now. But all the previews so far undoubtedly scaled back criticism of the gameplay quality because that stuff is usually saved for reviews.

Just so long as you don't mind games that are nut-punchingly hard. Seriously, I'm loving it, but it's so goddamned hard. On Stage 7 right now. Stages 4-6 were getting progressively easier, giving me false confidence that I was getting better, and it wasn't as hard as I originally thought. Then....POW! Seven comes around and fucking makes me it's bitch. Compared to many of the best action games, DMC3 and Ninja Gaiden, it's not bad at all. Plus the adjustable difficulty is quite welcome.

It doesn't seem to be so much that the controls are clunky but rather that walking....is....so....slow....

He likely knows of it if he digs Ultimate Alliance, but that reminds me--I got a good rental out of Justice League Heroes, a decent clone of the XML games. Unrelated: Oh, and I always thought Robo's theme (Chrono Trigger) sounded familar for some reason... http://rickrobo.ytmnd.com/

Unless Arn has Vince's ear personally, I doubt he could stop anyone from bringing Sid if an influential figure was pushing for him to be brought in.

Lots of people like Shattered Soldier, but it's hella hard, pattern-memorization material. So whether you'll dig depends on your tastes/patience. Neo Contra is much easier, and the views shift all over the place unlike Shattered Soldier. Neo Contra feels more like Red Star, so if you know you like that give it a short. It's short and easy for a Contra, but it's darn cheap as well so it's all good. MK Shaolin Monks is a blast on co-op, and it's featured as part of the Gamestop/EB Game Days sale. I think it's still going on, so you should be able to get a copy for 10 bucks. While it's only 1 player, I'd also recommend God Hand. Introduce it to a friend by showing them a bit of the game, taking turns with the controller, and screwing around with different moves and combos. The Capcom Classics Collections have a good bit of 2 player content on them. The first one features the awesome Forgotten Worlds and Final Fight.

At least this time you won't be paying $50 a disc. I wouldn't put it past them to put out some expensive collector's set in c-note territory. Like maybe with a KOS-MOS blow up doll.

Could you elaborate? How would waggle work? Does it even have enough buttons to support the game? If it uses the nunchuck it would likely involve using the d-pad on the wiimote for punches and kicks...weak.