Darn it...just as I was getting that together, IGN puts up their review of Final Fantasy XII. Oh well, looks like FFXII deserves a post all by itself anyway. Final Fantasy XII (PS2) http://ps2.ign.com/articles/741/741991p1.html Spoiler 9.5 from IGN, 94 at Metacritic. 1UP just put up their review of the game, also giving it a 9.5.
those are great games. but to me, it's all about Medieval total war 2. can't wait to shoot down all those French knighst with my long bows. hehe
Which one? AFAIK, Gamespot gave a higher score to Live 07 on the PS2, PSP and on the 360 than the scores IGN gave (though they were all <7.0 scores I believe). That said, I don't particularly like IGN's reviews either (most recently, their reviews of Kingdom Hearts 2 and God Hand). If it wasn't for the fact that Gamespot can't review EVERY new release, I probably wouldn't even post IGN's reviews. But I need another reviewer because of that fact. 1UP is the only other major reviewer I can think of, but some of their reviews suck too (especially the written parts, which might only be 2-3 short paragraphs, even for somewhat major title). For comparison, I did throw in 1UP's score to hopefully show that IGN didn't screw up this review (1UP's reviews of God Hand and KH2 were much different)...not to mention that IGN's score does reflect pretty much the same scores that FFXII has been getting based on the Japanese release. That's going to be one crazy month.
well I definitely prefer Gamespot to IGN myself too, but I didn't really see anythin wrong with IGN's KH2 and GH reviews KH2 really is too f'in easy, and God Hand's control scheme and especially camera really do suck ass
For KH2, I guess I just didn't like seeing them give a 9 to KH and a 7.6 for KH2 when (IMO) KH2 vastly improves on everything KH did (I liked KH, but not sure if it deserved a 9). Granted, I think the person who reviewed KH didn't review KH2 (and vice versa), but their score is still quite a bit below the average score it had been receiving from other sites. Personally, I didn't have any big problems with the combat or how easy it was...though it is a RPG and not a game like Devil May Cry, so I might have been more lenient on the combat than I could have been. I haven't played God Hand personally, but I seem to recall those who have played it just trashing the IGN review for its inaccuracies. IGN gave the game the lowest score out of all the reviewers that reviewed the game that I'm aware of (next closest gave it almost 30 pts higher out of 100 than the IGN score, and the average is more than 40pts higher than the IGN score for the game). Again, not saying both games deserved a 9.x from IGN, but IGN certainly saw something (or didn't see something) in those games that the majority of all other major reviewers (Gamespot, 1UP saw (or didn't see)...which is a bit strange IMO.
I've been playing the marvel game all weekend on the PS2. Seriously, the nerdiness in this game is off the charts, they mention some pretty obscure stuff in here that even the biggest geek wouldn't recognize some of the cameos or references. Tons of characters to choose from, and lots of levelling up to do. Graphics are a step up from X-men and the cut scenes are impressive. Voice work could have been better, but activision made sure that every part of the marvel universe was in the game.
Most of you guys probally didn't know, but it didn't matter anyways. Toys R Us is taking pre-orders for the Wii/PS3 tomorrow morning. THeir also selling the TMX Elmo dolls if any of you guys need/want that. I visited two TRU and they already have people waiting on the PS3. I might go by later (4-5am) and wait in line to get a couple of TMX Elmo dolls and pre-order a Wii. Oh well...I was hoping to obtain another PS3 pre-order but the Wii will do. Their selling two TMX Emo's per person and have 6-8 PS3 and 20 Wii pre-order per store. Whats absurd is, you could pre-order the PS3/Wii and buy 2 Emo dolls all on one visit.
What Toys R Us stores did you go to? I was planning on getting there at 6am for the PS3 pre-order. Damn. Phukin nerds!
I don't really care what the reviews say. Tales of the Abyss is the best rpg on the ps2, imo. The only issue I have with it at all is loading times and the overworld map, neither of which are enough to really detract from the rest of the experience. FF12 will outshine it graphically, but that's about it.
Well, if nothing else, it wouldn't hurt to buy both, especially since there are some good deals for both games. Seems like for just a little more than the price of an average next-gen game, you can get 2 great RPGs for the PS2 (arguably the 2 best RPGs on the PS2...and I guess all current-gen consoles): http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5013229 (Tales of the Abyss for ~$30 @ Walmart.com) http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Sear...l+Fantasy+XII&searchSection=All&go.x=0&go.y=0 (FFXII for ~$38 @ circuitcity.com, also $38 at Fry's this week IIRC). 2 GOTY candidates for the price of one...sort of.
TotA just offers things ff12 doesn't is all. Live action > waiting for a guage to fill up. Also like the characters and the way they're developed as well. Tales series just has a totally different presentation than the ff series, similar to Grandia, another set of games I enjoy. I got to spend some time with the retail version recently, and ff12 has great graphics(duh), any doubts I had about the story were wiped away, and I like the level up system(modified version of sphere grid). Not sure how truly engaging the characters are yet, but if it passes there too then it probably will be my fav ff of all time(not counting tactics). But that still doesn't change that I find the battle system clunky, but not without depth. I like Matsuno games. Still not sure when I'm actually going to get the game. Might take advantage of that sale RC mentioned, but I'm not sure.
So has anyone played the new Splinter Cell for the 360? I am also getting intrigued by this FEAR game.
I'll try to get it posted on Wednesday or Thursday (when November starts up). One thing I was thinking about was whether or not to include the launch games for the Wii and PS3. There will be a LOT of games coming out next month, but a lot of them will just be launch titles for those two systems (20+ games under PS3 or Wii section, not counting multiplatform games like COD3 or TH, as well some of the lesser-known launch titles for both like Blazing Angels). I was thinking about leaving those sections empty for November, and linking to the PS3/Wii launch threads or maybe thread(s) specifically made for the launch titles for one or both systems. IOW, just for November, I might try to keep this thread still about PC/360/PS2/PSP/DS/etc. games, and not PS3/Wii games quite yet. That might give me some more time in case some games get delayed too. If I'm not mistaken, Gamespot is listing a ton of PS3 games coming out on November 17th or around there, but there is absolutely nothing coming out at the end of November or December (except for Live 07...but yeah, still nothing). Might be easy for a game like say FEAR for the PS3 to be delayed until the beginning of December (might also avoid the Resistance craze....assuming there is one). The downside to this is that we might have 3+ threads being updated every week (sorry non-gaming BBS members), although that would probably be happening anyway.
