Video Games

It's a bit hard to get used to Metro 2033 after playing Bioshock, nothing can top that in term of storyline.

The storyline of Metro 2033 so far is still very interesting, it's just feel lacklustre in comparison to Bioshock.

HUDless gameplay is the future for creating more realistic games.
Also has full 3D gameplay for those with the compatible screens, need a somewhat hefty PC to play the thing aswell.

Tell me about it, all the unessessary shit around the screen in CoD4 multiplayer. It all goes in hardcore mode, but still, do we really need to know how close we are to leveling-up mid-game? No we don't, big ugly orange bar across the bottom of the screen!

The good thing that Metro 2033 learn from Half Life/Bioshock is to not have cut-scene, and when they did, it's still in first person mode, and the player still doesn't speak.

I used to love Final Fantasy and stuff like that and still like the idea of 'em but I seriously cannot commit to that type of stuff anymore. This is why left 4 dead was the greatest thing ever cos I could play it for 10 minutes or 2 hours depending on how angry my missus was getting. Enjoying the Just Cause 2 demo and looking forward to Apb on the PC.

I'm very much the same right now. But I've bought them all since 5 (even 11), couldn't not buy this one. I tend to just play non-stop on my days off then not touch it during working days. FPS games will always be the easiest pick-up and play ones for me, just when there's like 30 mins spare before a lecture you can fit in a couple maps on BC2.

Okay I've finished playing Metro 2033.

I have mixed feeling about it, the HUDless screen are something I love about the games and actually make everything easier surprisingly enough, health aren't that hard to figure out since there isn't one, just the amount of damage you'll recieve = longer time to recover (a much better option methinks), the whole playablitiy of it rock, even thought it's hard to kill enemies at time with the home-made weapon, oh and I love the shadow.

the storyline, naturally is lacklustre in comparison to Bioshock (last games I've played), and it doesn't feel complete, there's still a lots of stuff I don't know about, and the ending left me with doubt, feeling that I've come all that way just to do this? especially when the impression I got was that there'll be a twist in the ending that should be more complex.

Another note - story based on the metro and you don't get to drive a train? bah!

still worth playing though, the last two games I've played recently were Half Life 2 and Bioshock, so that'd explain why I find the story to be lacking despite coming from a novel.

Half Life 2 is by far one of the best games series ever created. I cannot (I've said this before) wait for Episode 3, especially after that nail biting end to Episode 2 which left you in the lurch.
Will it be 2010 or 2011 or even 2012. I hope soon. It's taking too long already.
Of all the games I've played, nothing compares to the playability of Half Life 2, I can't really put my finger on exactly what makes it so special and stand out so much.
There's an attention to detail no other game comes close to in terms of involving the player in every part of the game. It's like the gamer was stitched in to every plot line, mission and accomplishment. At no point in the games did i feel i was some kind of passenger whilst the game manufactures showed off it's 'awesome graphics' or 'amazing' CG scene.
Valve show excellence in the gaming world and I'm a big fan as you can see :)
Gaming =biggest waste of time ever, but i love it. Shame on me.

Me too. I've played HL2 rather late (just 2 years ago), which was lucky because I get to finish Half Life 2 and Episode 1 just in time for Episode 2, and able to experience the entire Half Life 2 series up to Episode 2 (and the computer is plenty powerful enough to play it).

Episode 3 is going to take forever, right now there's hint that Portal 2 is going to be released this year (according to Value, toward the end of 2010) but even more rumour that Episode 3 is going to be released in mid- 2011 instead, and possibly renamed as Half Life 3, highly doubt that mind.

The closet games that's as good (if not better - it's subjective after all) as Half Life is Bioshock, it's a different kettle of fish of course, but the storyline of Bioshock is overwhelming, it did fill in the gap between Episode 2 and 3.

Oh Dylan, have a butcher at this;

http://www.neoseeker.com/news/13263-portal-update-contains-hints-to-sequel-and-half-life-2-ep-3/

Bioshock after the initial 3 hours playing warm-up time, was the closest to HL2, i agree.
Either way the next installment of HL2 will be mind blowing, or at-least that's what were all expecting and hope for.
The build up over so many years (must be 10 years, shit im getting old !) to this final part has to be worth it. At the end of the day, the story, which you feel involved in, has to have a spectacular finale.
I just remember the mind blowing time when HL2 came out, it was just so many millions of times better than anything else at the time and i think that initial impression stayed with me and will remain i suppose, unless Valve becomes some middle of the road game churning whore like a lot of others.

i have to add though, Tomb Raider still remains one of the best too, since it's kept roughly in line with what it always was.

Oh Dylan, have a butcher at this;

http://www.neoseeker.com/news/13263-portal-update-contains-hints-to-sequel-and-half-life-2-ep-3/

do not want to watch and spoil the surprise, yes I'm that sad.

in that case, you could spend all night checking the Half Life 2 wiki as there's some nice gem in there about the development of HL2, especially scenario that didn't make it in the final version.

e.g.

http://half-life.wikia.com/wiki/Half-Life_2_original_storyline

Am I the only one who did not like HL2 at all? Admittedly, I only played it this year(and still haven't finished it cause I cba) but still...

I just feel playing it that I am pointlessly rushed from A to B to C with little explanation and nothing in the way of varying gameplay. Sure, the scenario is pretty interactive and quite a lot of the areas are very well designed. Enemies are challenging and some areas require a bit of thought to get through. Still, I find the game being all about "Hey Gordon, you have to meet some other people at some other place, go through this enemy infested area to get there!" and then as soon as you arrive there is about 20 seconds worth of plot development before "Omg Gordon, you're not safe here run this other place and meet some other people, go through the next enemy infested area to get there!" and then rinse and repeat. Add a few gimmicks for variation (ie: team mates or gravity gun puzzles).

I don't find the game to be as tight or innovative or immersive as its predecessor and the whole thing feels as if though loads of thought was put into the actualy game mechanics and developing huge areas while neglecting the storyline and the actual gameplay.

Am I the only one who did not like HL2 at all? Admittedly, I only played it this year(and still haven't finished it cause I cba) but still...

I just feel playing it that I am pointlessly rushed from A to B to C with little explanation and nothing in the way of varying gameplay. Sure, the scenario is pretty interactive and quite a lot of the areas are very well designed. Enemies are challenging and some areas require a bit of thought to get through. Still, I find the game being all about "Hey Gordon, you have to meet some other people at some other place, go through this enemy infested area to get there!" and then as soon as you arrive there is about 20 seconds worth of plot development before "Omg Gordon, you're not safe here run this other place and meet some other people, go through the next enemy infested area to get there!" and then rinse and repeat. Add a few gimmicks for variation (ie: team mates or gravity gun puzzles).

I don't find the game to be as tight or innovative or immersive as its predecessor and the whole thing feels as if though loads of thought was put into the actualy game mechanics and developing huge areas while neglecting the storyline and the actual gameplay.

Not the only one. I just tried playing it a couple months ago and had the same impression as you. It just didn't grab me and began to feel all too repetitive after a couple hours.

I think we are in the minority, though.

Am I the only one who did not like HL2 at all? Admittedly, I only played it this year(and still haven't finished it cause I cba) but still...

Some like it, some doesn't, I personally find the story very gripping yet still enjoyable to play.

how far were you along with HL2?

I enjoyed HL2 but not the 'storyline'--I can't for the life of me work out why these things are treated like high literature in some quarters. The 'characters' are as one-dimensional as they come--it's basically a shoot-em-up with some frills. For me, it was all about playing through it and then revisiting some areas I enjoyed, like the large bridge--I thought that was designed really well. I also enjoyed one or two places in Episode 2.

I loved HL2. The storyline was just right for moving the gameplay on, which is all it needs to do. Storylines in games are usually pretty contrived anyway.

I completed Bioshock yesterday, onwards to number 2. Did anyone else find the final fight really easy? I was a bit disappointed to be honest.

oh completed batman arkham asylum last week on 360. awesome game - was like being in a movie and the way the storyline developed and the various big baddies and set scenes reminded me of Metal Gear Solid (ps1 original)

highly recommended for weeks rental from Blockbuster for £6

what was that game i saw advertised where you choose options like those interactive novels. I always thought that'd be a good idea in a game

what was that game i saw advertised where you choose options like those interactive novels. I always thought that'd be a good idea in a game

Heavy Rain. It's PS3 only.... i have it and it's pretty great so far (only about 2/3 hours in)

how far were you along with HL2?

Got to the point where I had to break in to a big government building which has the laser shooter thingy on top. Think I fucked up though... there was a door that when you went in would activate loads of turrets and kill you very very quickly. I got annoyed and chucked something inside with the gravity gun, but now the door is closed and won't open and I don't think I can progress any further.

Ho hum!

I completed Bioshock yesterday, onwards to number 2. Did anyone else find the final fight really easy? I was a bit disappointed to be honest.

The end fight of Bioshock 2 is even easier. Didn't use more than 3 FAKs or 2 hypos... Slightly dissatisfying.

I enjoyed HL2 but not the 'storyline'--I can't for the life of me work out why these things are treated like high literature in some quarters. (...snip...)

You didn't strike me as a video game person oliver... Glad you liked half life 2 . The original game got me into gaming. Not for the narrative but more for the immersion and ecapism.It;s considered an watershed game in terms of how the the (trite) narrative unfolds without cutscenes so maintaining the player involvement. For a good story I read a book or watch a film.

In terms of video game development the medium is so young and it's hard to predict where gaming will be in say 10 or 20 years. We're in the black and white silent era (compared to film) so much more fun, innovation and ideas and eventually some good stories (i hope) to come...can't wait.

Heavy Rain. It's PS3 only.... i have it and it's pretty great so far (only about 2/3 hours in)

Anything like that for the PC?