[Micki!]

I hope it's gonna be challenging though...
I even hope to die because of my own mistakes (under-estimating enemies etc) Then i can try it once again, and "make them pay"
I got myself to play it several times, again and again, even with the exact skills, so this game has PLENTY of variation, and replayability...

I also don't think there's much of a difference between Normal, and Hard difficulty... I think enemies blocked attacks more, and they acted more carefull (avoiding getting near traps)

But other than that, the AI is pretty "dumb"...
Enemies are cool and know how to attack, and use/avoid the environment, but that's really it... They are not very good in noticing you, and they give up pretty quick when you run away to hide...
It's a little sad, since they say "Orc's can smell your presence"... but maybe it's just the demo... There are quite a few things i noticed, that seemed "beta" like... For instance a mana potion that i found, which wasn't rendered with any textures... SO it had black and white squares all over it...

But, i guess that's just a demo thing though... Painkiller's demo's were not from the final product too... And it's surely the same case with this demo...

Anyways, i'm deffenately
getting the full game, if it lives up to the same kind of variation and fun the demo had...

[Cerberus_e]

I don't like reading the game has primitive AI, ever since I played First Encounter Assault and Reconnaissance I find bad AI leads to dull games. The topic is especially sensitive now that I'm playing XIII, which has really funny AI

As for what I've played most recently: XIII! That hit you by surprise eh?

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

I'm in the sanctuary now... the previous level had REALLY great level design! It looked beautiful with all the bushes, cliffs, fountains, sea, and a sunset, and it was fun to mash your way through bushes in some places And then swinging with the grappling hook on ledges while the sunset is staring at you, etc... good stuff!

[laffer]

I played the Jazz 3 proof of concept demo that was leaked.. too bad they never found a publisher for this game, it had potential

[Cerberus_e]

Finished XIII



It was a good game.

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

And the end boss wasn't easy either Good stuff.

[avatar_58]

Duke3D Co-op

[Micki!]

laffer, on Aug 12 2006, 02:39 AM, said:

I played the Jazz 3 proof of concept demo that was leaked.. too bad they never found a publisher for this game, it had potential
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Whaa..?! Jazz Jackrabbit 3..?! Didn't know ANYTHING about that..!

[Cerberus_e]

Micki!, on Aug 12 2006, 05:10 PM, said:

Whaa..?! Jazz Jackrabbit 3..?! Didn't know ANYTHING about that..!
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've played it as well, all I can say is: Some games are better left as sidescrollers!



It's just an incomplete leak, with boring AI, but it's stable enough (because it uses the Unreal engine). Ask Laffer on MSN or so to send it, I also want to send it if you want, but he has faster upload than me.

[Micki!]

Cerberus_e, on Aug 12 2006, 07:03 PM, said:

I've played it as well, all I can say is: Some games are better left as sidescrollers!



It's just an incomplete leak, with boring AI, but it's stable enough (because it uses the Unreal engine). Ask Laffer on MSN or so to send it, I also want to send it if you want, but he has faster upload than me.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nahh, i think the old 2D's are better anyways...
Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is pretty cool...

Anyways, i haven't been playing anything today yet, but i think it will be Dark Messiah Demo... It's very addictive...

[Cerberus_e]

I tried to play it. Here are the results:

So I had to clean up some diskspace before I could download (let alone install) it, so I finished XIII then uninstalled that. Took me an hour to download, then another 10 minutes to unzip it even though it's not smaller zipped than unzipped, then wait 30 minutes before it was installed. I tried to run the game but it took so long to load even the menu I tried to ctrl alt del out. Ctrl alt del didn't work, neither did alt+tab or win+l or any of my other shortcuts that I normally use to escape out of computer trouble. I had to reboot and try again. I saw I only had 300 megabytes free HD space, so I deleted the setup and tried to load the game again. Then it worked. Sure diskspace is something in my hands, but I blame it on the game because it shouldn't try to load when there isn't sufficient HD space present only to hang in the middle and don't let me alt+tab out or so.

I chose my native resolution, 1280*1024, as you can see, the prologue is truncated:



I went to 1024*768 instead, hoping to read the prologue, and yet again the prologue is incomplete:



I stopped caring and wanted to play, but it tells me to open the inventory by using key ..., ermm... which key exactly?



It didn't do that for me in 1280*1024, so I'll use that, then, and in 1024*768 I have no mouse in the menu, so that's even more reason to use 1280*1024.
By now, I discovered the prologue isn't cut off when I quit the game after changing resolution, just changing resolution and pressing "apply" SHOULD work, but this game has some bugs obviously...

I'll try to play now FOR REAL After I start the game and go through the loading time of the menu again, change resolution back to 1280*1024, and then quit and start the game AGAIN Looks like a fun game on first sight, though, but stability-wise it doesn't appeal to me

[Micki!]

Oh yeah, i forgot to mention the inase loading times...
But yes, there are bugs, but i blame the "demo" for that... It seems as i said before, that Arkane Studios has released a working, but early build of the game...

But the stuff you can do, the actual GAMEPLAY is awesome... You can throw objects, or kick them at enemies, or if you want, set them on fire first, then throw it, or burn the tip of your arrow, to deal extra damage (and even setting them on fire, when hitting thier head, while un-alarmed) there's so much you can do...

[Cerberus_e]

Dark Messiah of Might and Magic demo



I didn't think the loading times were insane. Then again, this is the Source engine, so it can malfunction for people playing on computers where it in fact SHOULDN'T malfunction, so it's possible it does that for you but not for me. And of course, the Source engine has to bully me again with its stuttering that kills the game

Luckily, I have experience with low framerate games and I know how much better a game can get when it runs faster. And considering this game is already great now, it has to be AWESOME if I can get rid of the stuttering. I also love the things you mentioned like kicking them off ledges etc That's why I hope the level design will remain as inspired throughout the whole game.



I put no one afire, though I imagine setting your arrows afire has the same effect as the fire-arrow spell? Only that when using the spell you don't need to find fire of course. Or is it still completely different?

The throwing is a bit difficult, as by the time he made that movement with his arms, the monsters sometimes get very close so the box flies over them instead.

Also, on the 3DR forums I read some people are playing with various classes, one said he played as a warrior, another as a mage or something from what I remember. Well, I didn't have the option to choose?

What is the blue bar to the right?

The graphics are very beautiful, especially for a game on the Source engine, but like I said, performance bullies me Does anyone know how to enable DirectX 8 mode? I know I shouldn't with my graphics card, but I don't mind sacrificing some advanced shaders as I don't notice much of a difference between DirectX 8 and DirectX 9 anyway... and hopefully the stuttering will be gone then. I know about the desktop shortcut parameters, but I heard you always have to recongifure everything then

[Micki!]

It's really a damn shame it's stuttering so much Cerb, but you'll love the game, i'm sure...

Anyways:

- To begin with, you start the demo with 6 Skill points, to upgrade yourself, to obtain new abilities...
But because you have such a limited amount of skill points, you can't get everything at once, but this adds replay value, so you can try something else...

You can for instance upgrade mellee weapon combat, so instead of only being able of swinging your weapon 2 times, then a little delay, you'll be able to make ynlimited amounts of hits in a row, and you can charge your enemies, while hlding down the fire key, and sprinting at them (of course release attack when approching the enemy) Enemies will get stunned by this, and you can disarm them, by charging your melee weapon, and hitting them... Or you can simply go beserk, after choise

But still, this required that you upgrade yourself before you can perform these advanced actions... Hold your mouse over an upgrade (or weapon in your inventory) to get more info about them

- You don't "choose" what to be as an option, but you choose within gameplay, meaning that you can start sneaking into the first couple of enemies, and slaugter the rest, or perhaps use the environment, or use your magic skills as a combo... The only thing holding you back, is the skill points, because you can't get a perfect assasin's abilites, if you want advanced magic tricks as well... (Freeze takes alot of skill points)

- The "Fire arrow" spell is very different from the regular arrow, set on fire...
Orcs and goblins (don't know about otehr enemies yet, obviously) are not that easy to set on fire with the Fire-arrow spell, instead, it has a slight impact to it, and you can throw several of them after each otehr, and guide them aswell... Normally i don't get to kill and enemy with it, but i get to weaken him, or "stun" him (making him dizzy of the blasts) in just enough seconds to perform a good attack on him...

Now, the regular "bow Arrows" are really cool actually, because it can kill an un-alarmed enemy with one shot in the head, if he's not wearing a helmet or something (Did it with the goblin you first encounter, and got his head stuck to the wood pillar he was standing next to )
You can also ready an arrow, and go towards any kind of fire, and make it burn... Normal hits will deal with extra damage, and hitting them in the head will set them on fire AND kill them, even if they are wearing a helmet (unlike regular arrows) but again, only if they aren't alarmed...

- The blue bar to your right is the mana-bar, it depletes when using a spell...
Fire arrow spell takes 2 mana per shot, and Freeze takes 7 per shot... Fire Trap takes 10 per "shot" but it's quite lethal and dangerous too, and very effective... Use mana potion to refill up to 100 mana (and you have 20 as maximum, so it will fully refill it)

- Next to your health bar, there is an Adrenaline-bar each hit you give an enemy with a weapon or spell (throwing objects and kicking doesn't count, and killing them by letting them fall off ledges doesn't give you anything either) If the adrenaline bar is full, you can charge a weapon, and it will be an instant kill... (try using daggers from a distance on an enemy while having full adrenaline, then you'll throw it to your enemies throat You'll automaticly get a negger dagger after this action)

Also, read on weapons, and spells info, about what adrenaline effect they have... Freeze for instance will freeze your enemies permanently, and you can shatter them with any attack (kick, Duke3D style )
You should read the other as well...

- If you see a rope, connected to some object, try cutting it/arrow it/etc and see what happens, it may trigger a trap Enemies will do the same on certain occations though

I think this is all you need to now...
I hope you enjoy the game alot, and that you get a new graphic card/PC sometime soon... YOu really should enjoy this game in it's full glory...

[ultra tree 85!]

Cerberus_e, on Aug 10 2006, 03:06 PM, said:

First time playing it? How did you like the catacombs? I really like the flaming zombie, and tthe part where you fight two very strong zombies while heads in the wall are breathing fire. Very cool, Indiana Jones style And the flames look nice too.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, it's my first time playing through the game. I think the catacombs were very cool, and I thought that the battles with the flaming zombies were awesome.

[Micki!]

I forgot..!

@Cerb, beware of the Full body awareness, and the bow... You can shoot yourself in the foot... THE FOOT!!

THAT is what i call detail into the gameplay... You should be able to shoot yourself in the foot in DNF aswell...

[Cerberus_e]

Thanks for the explanation Micki!! I knew about the upgrading, but I didn't know those guys on 3DR were giving it names themselves Many upgrades were unavailable though, because it's a demo. And you are right, when you put an arrow afire it instantly kills an enemy, he fell off the ledge for me I hope you can still put arrows afire even after upgrading to the fire spell.

And yes, when I see an arrow, I think of traps (I hope we'll get many new traps during the game, and that they aren't always recycling the same ones). I always get suspicious though, and I follow the rope to see if I'm not going to be caught myself

Another question, during gameplay, a box popped up saying there is something in the center indicating how stealthy I am... but I couldn't find it. Where is that?

I'm not getting a new computer anytime soon, it's just Source games that are maliciously performing. Other new games work fine. I just tried playing in directX 8.1 mode and I saw a lot of weird things, like boxes with a white line (diagonal) connecting two corners, when Im losing health or when I start the game and intro videos are supposed to be playing. The sound is still there, though, of those intro videos. But I played with medium quality textures in DX9 and it ran better than with high quality textures in DX 8.1. In fact, I don't notice much difference, performance-wise, between DX 8.1 and DX 9, when I put textures to medium, then. So I guess the stuttering will be gone when I put texture quality to low. It's unfortunate I have to do that (because the autodetection recommends high quality), but if it gets rid of the stuttering it's good for me. I can't try it anymore as I already uninstalled the game, I need the diskspace for the next game I'm currently installing I think you'll like it (and it's not Aliens versus Predator 2, no )

When does Dark Messiah come out? And is there ANY connection with previous games in the series? Similar Names? Characters? Locations? Objects? Weapons? Anything?

[Micki!]

Fire arrow spell and and arrow set on fire really are two very different things...
The only really thing they have in common, is the fire, and the "arrow" in the name... The effect of a arrow set on fire, is very diffferent than the spell...

The "hidden" bar is the crosshair like thingy in the middle of the screen... You can see that it can be filled with one out of four spaces, to indicate how well hidden you are...

If it's on 4, then the enemy can't see you, and you'll easily get away, even by hiding right in front of an enemy, as long you don't make any loud noises (sneak)
However, the bar can only hide you with the factor of 3, unless you upgrade yors stealth skills more...

Here's a very funny tactic to perform:

Stand right in front of a ledge, or fireplace, or SOMETHING lethal, and make sure you have the freeze spell... Make 1 enemy approach on you (you can also perform it with more enemies at once, but make sure they are heading right against you, and towards whatever lethal trap or ledge you stand in front...)

If the enemy is going right for you, freeze the floor right in front of you, and watch him slip into his death

Also, if you freeze an enemy , he'll only remain like that a few seconds (adrenaline mode makes it permanently though...) Anyways, when you freeze him, kick him to the ground, and when the enemy thaws up, he'll have to raise up... but be quick, and impale him before he get's to do that...

[EDIT:]
I reckon the release is sometime in September...

[Cerberus_e]

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth



"Warning: this game may alter gameplay, sound, or controls in a weird way at times. It's unlikely this is a problem with your game disk or sanity"

The game is very interesting... a mix between FPS and adventure, I've always wanted to play or even develop something like that. And the story starts out interesting.
The movement kind of sucks though... small FOV and jerky mouse-aim

[avatar_58]

Micki!, on Aug 12 2006, 02:45 PM, said:

Oh yeah, i forgot to mention the inase loading times...

It takes mere seconds for me.

[Cerberus_e]

Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth



Woah... this game possesses everything like I envision my perfect game. This game has good adventure elements, first person shooter elements, story, artistic direction... and it's scary too! It's very immersive. This game has a good chance to be my favourite game EVER! And it has no copy protection too Avatar this is a game for you! In fact, it's for everyone that appreciates the elements I mentioned!

[avatar_58]

Phait recommended it too. I don't have the money on me currently, but yeah I am going to get it eventually.

[Micki!]

Yeah, Call of Cthulhu is actually a great game...
However, i HATE the save system, and the ingame inventory screen is VERY low res... But that's really all... The enemies, and stuff is really cool...

I'd want something like a sequel, or alike, with up to date graphics... That would be great...
All my otehr new games however, took all the time away from me, so i'm still in the middle of this game, because i'm going through all knids of otehr stuff in other games right now

avatar_58, on Aug 13 2006, 01:30 AM, said:

It takes mere seconds for me.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, it takes 30 seconds, to +2 minutes... It's very annoying though, everytime i die, or when i load a new game, the sound starts stuttering, and after that, it finally starts to load...

I blame my "Broken" videocard for this though... It has this heating issue, making it much slower, unstable, and adds alot of graphical erros, and the screen tends to freeze in random moments...

I should get it replaced somehow...

[avatar_58]

I played some co-op rounds in Doom.

[Cerberus_e]

Splinter Cell 2: Chaos Theory



I only installed this game to test it out before I go to bed, so I only played a large part of the first level, but damn, this game looks to be so much better than the first! The graphics are better (of course! ) so that means better atmosphere/immersement, but it's not only that, the environments look also more interesting artistically, and there are autosaves! Which is great! Some control isues from the first game are fixed now, too (I'd accidently press the spacebar to climb up a ledge, because I'm used to that from Prince of Persia. Now I discovered the second game doesn't make you fall, but climb up, then ). So this game could be what I wanted from the first Splinter Cell! Especially the autosaves are wanted.

Only one annoying thing though, that "singleplayer/multiplayer/credits" application that pops up before and after I played the normal (singleplayer) game. Anyone who thought this would be helpful needs to get his head checked. Well, I managed to get around that application when I want to start playing by linking my shortcut immediately to the singleplayer executable, but it still pops up after finishing the game though Sure there has to be a way around it, anyone? Deleting a line in one of the configuration files or so?

[avatar_58]

Been playing Hexen lately. I'm on the 4th hub, although I guess the numbering depends on how you look at it.

[Cerberus_e]

Splinter Cell 2: Pandora Tomorrow



Seems like the autosaves were for the first level only

[Cerberus_e]

The Secret of Monkey Island

[avatar_58]

Hey you aren't doing so bad. Use any hints?

I'm also playing an adventure game recently - Trace Memory. The Nintendo DS is a damn fine prospect for adventure games and this one proves it.

Also been playing Tony Hawk's Sk8land.

[Cerberus_e]

The Secret of Monkey Island



The last screenshot is for you Avatar, so you know why I haven't touched a Sierra game yet

avatar_58, on Aug 18 2006, 08:45 AM, said:

Hey you aren't doing so bad. Use any hints?
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No I don't, why? It has been weeks since my last post about this game, you don't know how much I've been playing
To tell the truth, I haven't been playing much actually I played an hour yesterday and two hours today, or something. Before yesterday it was a few weeks ago, when I showed the screenshots, I got on the ship then.

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

I need to get the second rope, from the guy that is hanging there near the pond, I can't just take it, that's the weird thing in adventure games. but I can get the oar then, so I can row to the debris of my ship (which I hit with a stone ). I hope to find something there Toothrot can use to pluck bananas. Maybe I'll get his device to open the monkey head then

Of course, don't tell me anything

[Micki!]

FEAR Multiplayer, with the latest 1.07 patch...
That's some sweet stuff... I can't wait to add people i know to the friends list...

Everyone who hasn't got the full version of FEAR, but would like to play multiplayer, should really get the free Multiplayer game of FEAR, called "FEAR COMBAT"... It's really great...

However, the Singleplayer is so great, it would be stupid not to use money on that instead, to get both singleplayer AND multiplayer (well, then get the 1.07 patch)

[Cerberus_e]

Splinter Cell 2: Pandora Tomorrow