Drgon is getting a PS3

[DarkDrgon]

Welp, as the title says Im thinking about picking up a PS3. I found a bundle at best buy thats a 250GB system with Uncharted 2 for $350. Is that a good deal? what other games are a must have?

[bluestarultor]

Sounds good to me.

I'll say that a couple must-haves are Folklore and Flower. Both are great games that make great use of the SixAxis.

Nier is also very good if you can stand a game that's nothing but depressing. It very much takes the stance that happy endings are for girls and the music alone puts me in a blue funk whenever my brother plays it.

White Knight Chronicles is also great and I don't get all the hate for it. Severely underrated.

I'll finish with Assassin's Creed II. If you liked the first one in any way, shape, or form, you'll love it. Or if you haven't played it, pick up the sequel anyway.

[Seil]

Folklore? ...I'd rent it first. I thought it was... different than what it was.

Anyways, I have terrible taste, (apparently) but I'd go with Dark Sector, Mirror's Edge, Metal Gear Solid 4, Grand Theft Auto 4, Killzone 2, God Of War 3, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Fat Princess and all the other ones I own because they're great.

[Nikose Tyris]

inFamous is a must have in my books.

Arkham Asylum was the best Batman game I've ever played.

Spiderman: Web of Shadows is amazing if you just like the freeroam aspect of spiderman games.

Saints Row 2 > Grand Theft Auto 4. GTA4 has 'rules' 'structure' and focuses on storyline.

Saints Row 2 blows shit up as best they can, as much as they can.

[Viridis]

I'd recommend the Ratchet and Clank serious but I'm a terrible, terrible fanboy.

[Nique]

Fat Princess is LOADS of fun.

[DarkDrgon]

Shoulda mentioned this, but Im switching over from a 360. UPS lost mine in the mail when I sent it in after it got the RROD, so I had GTA4, Assasins Creed 1&2, and mirrors edge.

I'm planning on picking up infamous definitely, and Arkham Asylum if I can find it used

[Kim]

Folklore had some good ideas, and enjoyment of the game varies a lot, but I'd say only buy it if you can find it on the cheap.

Nier is twelve hours of boring mediocrity spiced up with some decent moments and made bearable by the excellent characters, followed by eight hours of some of the best writing I've seen in a game. During those eight hours, the dialogue is excellent, the story is emotional as hell, and the music is just perfect.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Sounds good to me.

I'll say that a couple must-haves are Folklore and Flower. Both are great games that make great use of the SixAxis.

Nier is also very good if you can stand a game that's nothing but depressing. It very much takes the stance that happy endings are for girls and the music alone puts me in a blue funk whenever my brother plays it.

White Knight Chronicles is also great and I don't get all the hate for it. Severely underrated.

I'll finish with Assassin's Creed II. If you liked the first one in any way, shape, or form, you'll love it. Or if you haven't played it, pick up the sequel anyway.

ORR, if you want some actually good gmaes, go with anything Seil said. Particular emphasis on God of War 3 (and maybe the GoW collection of the first 2 games as well) and Killzone 2 (though the multiplayer has gone to hell now).

inFamous is of course a must.

The Orange Box if you've never played it.

The first Uncharted is also really good.

Wipeout HD and the Fury expansion from the PSN for any and all racing needs you may require.

Borderlands too, if you enjoy fun.

Heavy Rain is also quite good, but you may want to just rent instead. It's not particularly long or replayable.

Transformers; War for Cybertron is also a great game.

There are plenty others, but those should do for now.

[bluestarultor]

Folklore had some good ideas, and enjoyment of the game varies a lot, but I'd say only buy it if you can find it on the cheap.

That's actually really easy at this point, too. I picked up my copy for like $20 at ShopKo, which is less than half the cost it was at launch. If you find a store that still carries it, chances are they're practically giving it away.

I'll admit your mileage may vary, though. The style isn't for everyone and the gameplay is a mix of button-mashing and using the SixAxis in frankly the best manner I can think of ever having seen (it's really involving), but that doesn't excuse the button-mashing.

It might take a while to get into it, but if you let it, the game will suck you in.

[Azisien]

Since I didn't see it mentioned, Valkyria Chronicles.

[Kim]

The village stuff dragged on and the gameplay got repetitive, were my main problems with it when I played it back in the day.

[Donomni]

I'd recommend the Ratchet and Clank series but I'm a terrible, terrible fanboy.

Ditto(Also fixed, but that's me being a PEDANTIC ARSEHOLE).

And, assuming you don't have a 360, Brütal Legend, because Tim Schafer is goddamn Tim Schafer.

[Seil]

And, assuming you don't have a 360, Brütal Legend, because Tim Schafer is goddamn Tim Schafer.

Rent it first. It's not what the trailer promised.

But Psychonauts is awesome. Buy about eight copies and give them to your friends.

[Kim]

Schafer is an excellent writer, but the gameplay suffers a tad in his games. In Psychonauts things got a little too... grindy, at one point. In Brutal Legend, many people's first inclination is to play it like a real time strategy game, which makes it hard. If you play it right, the game becomes too easy. That and the world is too big. Just my two cents.

[Solid Snake]

If you're getting the second Uncharted with the PS3, you need to get the first Uncharted and play it first.

Also: Valkyria Chronicles. Screw all the rest of that shit, get Valkyria Chronicles and get it now.

Finally: Red Dead Redemption is rather good, too.

[Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope]

inFamous is a definite.

GTA4 plus the expansions

Assassin's Creed 2 (such a fanboy)

3D Dot Game Heroes.

[greed]

Eh Dot Game Heroes is okay. But only if you're a fan of old school stuff and feeling like an extended, beautiful nostalgia trip. The gameplay is pretty much ripped directly from the NES era. I'm happy with that because I was in the mood for such a nostalgia trip when I bought it, and I got it cheap. I'm not sure it's worth full price honestly.

Personally never cared for GTA4, it bored the shit out of me. Saints Row 2 is infinitely superior as far I'm concerned for pretty much the the reasons Nikose already outlined. But also that GTA4 focused too much on being something it's not (which is to say artsy crime tragedy) and put too much stock in realism. When frankly realism is boring in crime sims and Rockstar just can't write well enough to do a game as serious as GTA 4 tried to be. San Andreas and Vice City are what they're capable of and what they should stick to. GTA 4 was like watching the results of Michael Bay and Guy Richie trying to co-direct The Godfather. Saints Row 2 on the other hand revels in what it is and is all the better for it.

Valkyria Chronicles, Saints Row 2, inFamous and Assain's Creed 2 are all pretty much must buys though.

[DarkDrgon]

I had GTA 4 on 360, so there is no way I'm buying it again. I played Red dead redemption, and liked it. not enough to spend $40. right now I have enough cash for the above bundle+ 2 games, 1 of which is already infamous.

Anyone know any good Jrpgs for PS3? preferably something thats not FF13

[Solid Snake]

Anyone know any good Jrpgs for PS3? preferably something thats not FF13

Valkyria Chronicles

Valkyria Chronicles

VALKYRIA CHRONICLES

Everyone guess how many times in this very thread I will scream at the top of my lungs, "You must buy Valkyria Chronicles!!!!"

Also seriously it is only $20 and there is absolutely no excuse for not buying it.

[Kim]

I haven't played it for forever and a year, but I remember Eternal Sonata being pretty great, even if the plot was impenetrable.

[DarkDrgon]

Valkyria Chronicles looks... interesting. the gameplay seemed odd, how does it actually work?

[bluestarultor]

Valkyria Chronicles looks... interesting. the gameplay seemed odd, how does it actually work?

It's turn-based strategy (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/724-Valkyria-Chronicles).

[Solid Snake]

It's turn-based strategy (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/724-Valkyria-Chronicles).

Dude, you linked to that Yahtzee dude on Zero Punctuation.

I mean, you linked to the worst possible person to listen to in regards to an opinion on Valkyria Chronicles.

...This is the guy who thinks NieR's music sounds like elevator music. NieR's. Goddamn. Music.

Have you listened to NieR's music, by the way? It sounds like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrV_9GHlpVM&playnext_from=TL&videos=FIairdSGzfw

ATTENTION YAHTZEE: THAT IS NOT ELEVATOR MUSIC. UNLESS YOU HAPPEN TO BE TRAVELLING ON A VERY CLASSY ELEVATOR.

...You see some time ago I came to the conclusion that if this guy seriously hates on games like Valkyria Chronicles he's pretty much just exaggerating nitpicks for the sheer sake of trolling. You know, as opposed to doing anything productive with his life.

[EVILNess]

Valkyria Chronicles is indeed rad, and if all of your game interaction with Sega has been via Sonic Team then you are in for a splendid surprise!

3D Dot Game Heroes is also pretty fun, it plays like the original Zelda with some Link to the Past thrown in. It's a great big fan wank, but it is a good fan wank with nice solid gameplay. Also, it's like only 40 bucks new, which I think was a bold move by Atlus.

Demon's Souls is hard. HARD. It's a neat game though. I would say rent it but you are very unlikely to find it for rent. Still, one of the best hack and slash dungeon crawlers in the last 2 or three years.

Final Fantasy XIII is... well it's Final Fantasy XIII. I would recommend renting it definitely. I didn't like it, but I gave up halfway through the 20 hour tutorial.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope International is also a decent game... if you can get past the extra heaping serving of CLICHE. Still, the PS3 version is the one to get.

Infamous and Uncharted 1 are pretty much the staples of any blooming PS3 library. Get them first.

I would also pick up at least a $50 PSN card.

[bluestarultor]

Dude, you linked to that Yahtzee dude on Zero Punctuation.

I mean, you linked to the worst possible person to listen to in regards to an opinion on Valkyria Chronicles.

...This is the guy who thinks NieR's music sounds like elevator music. NieR's. Goddamn. Music.

Have you listened to NieR's music, by the way? It sounds like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrV_9GHlpVM&playnext_from=TL&videos=FIairdSGzfw

ATTENTION YAHTZEE: THAT IS NOT ELEVATOR MUSIC. UNLESS YOU HAPPEN TO BE TRAVELLING ON A VERY CLASSY ELEVATOR.

...You see some time ago I came to the conclusion that if this guy seriously hates on games like Valkyria Chronicles he's pretty much just exaggerating nitpicks for the sheer sake of trolling. You know, as opposed to doing anything productive with his life.

As a note, I despise Nier's music because the loops feel too short and they seriously depress me. I hadn't been so miserable in years trying to go to sleep as when my brother insisted on playing that thing all night, but then the entire game is pretty much designed to be as depressing as possible. Normally I don't care if he plays games at night because he's a third-shifter and I'm used to it, but when he was still working on that one, it made me want to take a razor and slit... the HDMI cable.


Also, God, chill. Yeah, he hates JRPGs. He's incredibly overt about it. I posted the video because it has entertainment value. If you can't laugh at a good rant just because you disagree, you need to step back and reconsider your sense of humor. Hell, with FF13, a game I really like, I absolutely hated his review... because he didn't rip into it enough. The biggest disappointment for me was there were tons of valid things to eviscerate it over and he just didn't.

Step bag, take a paper bag, and breathe.




Final Fantasy XIII is... well it's Final Fantasy XIII. I would recommend renting it definitely. I didn't like it, but I gave up halfway through the 20 hour tutorial.

If you make it through that, I'd almost say the game is well worth it. Almost. People complain about it being one long hallway, and they're largely right. Then you get dumped into a wide-open world, and by God did I ever miss that hallway. At least with the hallway, you have a clear objective, even if that objective is just to reach the other end. Once you gain your freedom, the only thing you can do is take sidequests and grind for hours on end. For hours, and hours, and hours. I'm the type who normally grinds my party to no end and steamrolls through the entire game, but the open world is big enough to house an entire game in its own right and gives you basically zero reason to keep going because there's no visible goal anymore past the realization that for 100% completion, there are over 100 missions to kill stuff and that there are enemies that will one-shot your party as babies that you're presumably supposed to train up to killing as adults.

So basically, it's an okay, if flawed, game, that drives you down a one-way street until you fly off a cliff and end up forced to explore the entirety of the afterlife to earn your way to the other side and continue your merry travel.

[Kim]

Also, God, chill. Yeah, he hates JRPGs. He's incredibly overt about it. I posted the video because it has entertainment value.

Yeah, but when someone asks "What's the gameplay like?" posting a link to a completely useless reviewer who is inherently biased against the game just because of its genre seems counter-intuitive. It'd be like asking Solid Snake if you should get an FPS. It just doesn't make sense.

If you can't laugh at a good rant just because you disagree, you need to step back and reconsider your sense of humor.This comes a bit too close to insulting/rude in my book. Just throwing it out there that you probably could have worded that better.

As a note, I despise Nier's music because the loops feel too short and they seriously depress me. I hadn't been so miserable in years trying to go to sleep as when my brother insisted on playing that thing all night, but then the entire game is pretty much designed to be as depressing as possible. Normally I don't care if he plays games at night because he's a third-shifter and I'm used to it, but when he was still working on that one, it made me want to take a razor and slit... the HDMI cable.As much as I disagree with this opinion, this probably isn't the best thread to discuss Nier's music. If we actually need to, I started a Nier music thread earlier today, but I'm not sure we really need to.

[Solid Snake]

As a note, I despise Nier's music because the loops feel too short and they seriously depress me.

Dude, have you listened to the entire Nier soundtrack?

Because there are plenty of songs on the Nier soundtrack that do not sound remotely depressing.
In fact, there are several songs on the soundtrack that are downright uplifting.

Here, let me link you a few. I promise you they will not make you want to slit anything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dixqze8eAM&playnext_from=TL&videos=NdYWNfLcBGc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsclMDDgNGY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5mPCthvieI&feature=related

Also, even despite a subjective distaste for depressing music, you should still retain enough objectivity to view NieR's soundtrack for what it really is: some of the most insanely gorgeous, emotionally cathartic Celtic-inspired medieval fantasy music you've ever heard.

The fact that the sad songs can depress you is a testament to the music's power. But stereotyping NieR's soundtrack as universally depressing does it an immense disservice.

Also, God, chill. Yeah, he hates JRPGs. He's incredibly overt about it.

Okay. Let's say, for grins and giggles, that I hate all First Person Shooters.

If I'm a halfway decent reviewer, I can still put aside my personal biases against FPSes to actually review FPS games on their own merits. And if a great FPS does things extraordinarily well within the context of its genre, I should still grade it well.

Great reviewers don't let their subjective preferences interfere with their reviews. Hell, your point about FF13 proves my point. If Yahtzee was a halfway decent reviewer he'd give jRPGs like Valkyria Chronicles decent scores (even while conceding his own subjective hatred of all jRPGs,) which would then enable him to better differentiate "good games he just happens to dislike" -- like Valkyria Chronicles -- from absolutely objectively horrific games like FF13.

In other words, a less brazenly biased perspective would actually enable Yahtzee to use his hysterical sense of humor to critique the legitimately glaring flaws of FF13 in the way you'd prefer him to.

Finally, my apologies, but I don't think I need that paper bag. ;)

EDIT: Just to clarify, I do not in fact subjectively hate all FPSes.
Most of them, yes. But there are a few out there I enjoy.
(...Like the original Playstation's Medal of Honor.)

[bluestarultor]

I'm just going to step out of this before tempers flare, but as a note, yes, Nier's music is pretty. I appreciate that. But when I'm subjected to it looping over and over and making me wish that we'd never heard of the game like the rest of the Internet seems not to have judging from the lack of any info out there for the sake of my own sanity, I think I reserve the right to say I don't like it.

You can argue emotional impact all you like, but making me a nervous wreck for two weeks straight isn't a GOOD emotional impact.

[Solid Snake]

I'm just going to step out of this before tempers flare,

I'm kind of curious as to why your temper would even be flaring. I mean, I'm not remotely upset. I'm just extraordinarily confused as to how your claim against NieR's OST is that "the music is too depressing" when not all the music on the OST is depressing. Some of it is actually very much the opposite of depressing. It takes away from your point because you're generalizing the entire NieR soundtrack to be something it's not.

It'd be like if I were to claim I hated a band because all their music was heavy metal, and then that band came out with a jazz CD of perfectly competent, upbeat '50s era big band style swing music and I said "Nope. Still hate their music. I hate anything Heavy Metal."

[Kim]

Ah, if Disgaea 1 and Disgaea 2 are anything to go on, you really, really, really ought to play Disgaea 3. Disgaea is my favorite SRPG series ever.

[bluestarultor]

I'm kind of curious as to why your temper would even be flaring. I mean, I'm not remotely upset. I'm just extraordinarily confused as to how your claim against NieR's OST is that "the music is too depressing" when not all the music on the OST is depressing. Some of it is actually very much the opposite of depressing. It takes away from your point because you're generalizing the entire NieR soundtrack to be something it's not.

It'd be like if I were to claim I hated a band because all their music was heavy metal, and then that band came out with a jazz CD of perfectly competent, upbeat '50s era big band style swing music and I said "Nope. Still hate their music. I hate anything Heavy Metal."

Fair enough, I'll bite. Simply put, I found the ratio of depressing stuff to not-depressing stuff to heavily favor the depressing stuff in-game. Maybe my brother just stuck to depressing areas too much, but the lasting effect, combined with the fact that if anyone is ever missing, it means at least one death and sometimes more, lead me to dislike the game because it depresses me.

Hell, even in Nonsie's thread, he classifies it as sad music, so I'm not alone in recognizing that.

Nier is a game that I classify as a great game. It has beautiful music, a fantastic voice cast, decent gameplay, a share of its own special humor which is masterfully written, and internal consistency that's at least above average in the market. On the other hand, while all the pieces are great, the assembly of them tears my heart out, throws it on the floor, and proceeds to bash it into a paste with something resembling a dead puppy. Possibly because there is one in one of the missions. And then bringing the medicine back that it had in its mouth is pointless because the old man who asked you to find it died in the five minutes or so it took to make the round trip.

I mean, damn, I want to like it for its voluminous merits, but the game pulls that crap all the time. And a lot of the music reflects that.

[Azisien]

Great reviewers don't let their subjective preferences interfere with their reviews.


I dunno, this is untrue on at least two fronts. First, nobody can ever remove their subjective preferences. Nobody that I know of reviews games using some kind of rigourous scientific analysis, and even science has its subjective elements so shit.

Second, I find the most entertaining (is that synonymous with great or does great only mean reviews from Dojo?) reviewers to be the ones that have big subjective views and flaunt them, Yahtzee among them, and subsequently tear into games hard.



However this is all a massive tangent that's somehow covering up the point that DarkDrgon should be buying Valkyria Chronicles?

[bluestarultor]

I dunno, this is untrue on at least two fronts. First, nobody can ever remove their subjective preferences. Nobody that I know of reviews games using some kind of rigourous scientific analysis, and even science has its subjective elements so shit.

Second, I find the most entertaining (is that synonymous with great or does great only mean reviews from Dojo?) reviewers to be the ones that have big subjective views and flaunt them, Yahtzee among them, and subsequently tear into games hard.



However this is all a massive tangent that's somehow covering up the point that DarkDrgon should be buying Valkyria Chronicles?

I really don't see why anything would need to be covered up. All I did was post a humorous review reinforcing that the game is an RTS with no comment on its quality, as I've not played it. Then Snake got all defensive and subsequently got all defensive about me saying I thought Nier's music was depressing despite the fact that I'd recommended the game in this very thread.

That's why I suggested Snake chill.

[Solid Snake]

I really don't see why anything would need to be covered up. All I did was post a humorous review reinforcing that the game is an RTS with no comment on its quality, as I've not played it. Then Snake got all defensive and subsequently got all defensive about me saying I thought Nier's music was depressing despite the fact that I'd recommended the game in this very thread.

That's why I suggested Snake chill.

That's...a very one-sided way of viewing what happened.

Look, I'm not going to aggravate this situation further by trying to toss in my interpretation of what went down, because it's equally one-sided and equally biased, but the sheer fact that I wouldn't should in turn suggest that you shouldn't, either.

Honestly. That just feels rather low.

[DarkDrgon]

i still have no idea what the gameplay of Valkyria Chronicles is.... from what I can see, it goes from turn-based strategy to something like Dragon Quarters battle system.

This is still a top contender for game #2, Im going to rent Nier to see how I feel about it.

are PSN points really worth it? i remember XBLA being mostly useless except for braid and a game with Zombies in it

[Azisien]

It's also not an RTS. :ohdear:

[Kim]

This conversation is terrible. Treating Yahtzee's opinion about jRPGs as valid is stupid. Blues recommended Nier despite not liking the music. Good on him. Let's move on.

I don't know if you're into platformers at all Drgon, I might have missed that, but if you're a Megaman fan at all, you should check out Megaman 9. It's worth every penny.

Also, I'm pretty sure you can play the PS1 classics on the PS3? I don't have one so I can't confirm it, but if you can you should get Vagrant Story off PSN. Vagrant Story is awesome.

Also, no, seriously. The Disgaea games are distilled SRPG awesome. Grindy as hell, but it's the only game where you can become an honorary member of the Prism Rangers so yeah.

[DarkDrgon]

eh, im picky about platformers. I've never been a huge fan of megaman.

[Kim]

eh, im picky about platformers. I've never been a huge fan of megaman.

Fair enough.

Also, I'd give FFXIII a rent. The gameplay is actually really fresh and fun once you've finally unlocked all of it, there's at least one decent character, and it's not the worst plot the FF series has seen. I mean, it's flawed to hell and back, but it's certainly worth renting before forming a final opinion on it.

[bluestarultor]

As a note, yes, you can download select PS1 games from PSN and play them on your PS3. Heck, even your PSP if you have one.

Personally, I got FF7 again (Vista hates the PC version) and I don't regret it, and FF8 and 9 are also available. If I didn't already own both of them on disc, I'd be on them in a heartbeat. Easily the best $10 you can spend on a single title.

[Kim]

Heck, even your PSP if you have one.

I knew about the PSP, because it's how I played Suikoden. I just wasn't 100% about the PS3, and would rather say "I think" and be right than "It is" and be wrong.

[EVILNess]

are PSN points really worth it? i remember XBLA being mostly useless except for braid and a game with Zombies in it

Well, there is a lot of good stuff on the PSN, specifically the PS1 Classics (Yes you can NonCon). Most stuff has demos so just DL them and try them out. If you aren't convinced you would ever spend 50 bucks worth of PSN then go for the 20 dollar card. But that will be enough for one newish game, since they charge tax. The PS1 Classics run from 5.99 to 9.99, and the typical newer PSN game runs about 9.99 to 14.99.

Some PSN games I recommend: Bionic Commando Rearmed, Castle Crashers, Fat Princess, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, PixelJunk Shooter, Puzzle Quest, TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled, Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment (It's so-so),

Some PS1 Classics I recommend: Wild Arms, Wild Arms 2, Suikoden, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Dino Crisis, Resident Evil 1, 2, and 3, Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9, Final Fantasy Tactics, Grandia, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, MediEvil, Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, Spyro the Dragon, Syphon Filter, and UmJammer Lammy

Also PROTIP - Make a European and Japanese PSN account. Go to google and find some random address and input it. You can have multiple accounts saved and it allows you to get exclusive deals and some games are not available in certain areas (Like Vagrant Story, its only on the Japanese and European store) Don't worry though, the games aren't region locked.

[Daimo Mac, The Blue Light of Hope]

Hey EVILNess, can you gift games to other people like in Steam?

[Azisien]

I second Pixeljunk Shooter on the PSN front, that stuff is goooood stuff.

[EVILNess]

Hey EVILNess, can you gift games to other people like in Steam?

Nope. Unless they added it recently and I missed it, which is unlikely.