| 21 APR 2011 at 4:07pm |
DonaJourneyman
Posts : 801
Joined: 19 MAR 2005
Status : Offline | I finished Portal 2 the day it was released. Woohoo for gaming marathons. My eyes are bleeding...
It's a great game, can't wait to try out co-op :B
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| 21 APR 2011 at 6:58pm |
XerNosamSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 339
Joined: 3 SEP 2007
Location: US, California
Status : Offline | I've been happily plugging away at Mafia 2.
Though it does very little to encourage exploring the large, gorgeous and detailed city, the story and gameplay itself are very well done. The cover system and shooting mechanics are spot-on, while the driving portions make me feel like I've down half a bottle of Makers Mark - I can't seem to make it from Point A to Point B without crashing into something [smiley=smiley.gif]
The protagonist, Vito, is a likeable guy even though he's willingly going along with all the shady dealings associated with the groups he runs with.
The city itself is so crazy cool to look and and explore, but it's empty of easter eggs and things to do outside of the story. That's a disappointing element to the game, as there is SO much potential and desire to go off the beaten path to fart around.
I'm liking it as much (if not a bit more in some ways) as GTAIV.
Playing: Skyrim: Dragonborn/Dawnguard; Torchlight 2; To The Moon; Far Cry 3
Finished: HomeFront; Far Cry 3; Dishonored
Always Playing: Half Life 2
Looking Forward To: BioShock: Infinite
Reading: BioShock: Rapture; SW: Revan
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| 21 APR 2011 at 8:21pm |
CrisGerSchattenjger
Posts : 2548
Joined: 28 APR 2007
Location: US
Status : Offline | Are you free to drive anywhere you want to as in Mafia 1? i hope so, i really look forward to seeing that world... sorry the plot is limited but I am very intrigued by that game engine they developed and have improved over the years ..it can handle an amazing number of independent operations and actions.
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| 22 APR 2011 at 12:27am |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | Yes, and the city is a bit more interesting this time around. There is also a little bit more to do (you can buy clothes, paint/fix your cars & rob stores). The city is still only a mission hub at its core though.
Currently trying to finish Ultima 7 again. Let's see if I can do it this time.
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| 22 APR 2011 at 12:28am |
XerNosamSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 339
Joined: 3 SEP 2007
Location: US, California
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By CrisGer (21 APR 2011 8:20pm)
Are you free to drive anywhere you want to as in Mafia 1?
Hey Cris - depending on where you're in relation to missions (usually at the beginning before things start going down) you can drive around anywhere. The entire mapped is unlocked from the start, unlike GTAIV where parts are blocked until you progress through the story a bit.
And like I said, it's gorgeous - and the "America Circa 1940's - 50's" theme is very well done. I tend to be a sightseer in games like this, so I've been spending a ton of time doing just that.
Playing: Skyrim: Dragonborn/Dawnguard; Torchlight 2; To The Moon; Far Cry 3
Finished: HomeFront; Far Cry 3; Dishonored
Always Playing: Half Life 2
Looking Forward To: BioShock: Infinite
Reading: BioShock: Rapture; SW: Revan
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| 22 APR 2011 at 3:37am |
CrisGerSchattenjger
Posts : 2548
Joined: 28 APR 2007
Location: US
Status : Offline | Great to hear thanks for the info ..i love that part of Mafia I, the city is huge and you can even drive out into the country on quite long drives....so i would love to see the more updated version with the improved graphics..thanks a lot..I will have to grab this game soon.
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| 22 APR 2011 at 5:59am |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1477
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By krexfoster (21 APR 2011 6:58pm)
I've been happily plugging away at Mafia 2.
Though it does very little to encourage exploring the large, gorgeous and detailed city, the story and gameplay itself are very well done. The cover system and shooting mechanics are spot-on, while the driving portions make me feel like I've down half a bottle of Makers Mark - I can't seem to make it from Point A to Point B without crashing into something [smiley=smiley.gif]
The protagonist, Vito, is a likeable guy even though he's willingly going along with all the shady dealings associated with the groups he runs with.
The city itself is so crazy cool to look and and explore, but it's empty of easter eggs and things to do outside of the story. That's a disappointing element to the game, as there is SO much potential and desire to go off the beaten path to fart around.
I'm liking it as much (if not a bit more in some ways) as GTAIV.
There are things to find throughout the city, playboy magazines :-*, authentic ones as well from that era.
The driving (I played with the realistic drivign turned on) felt great to me. The cars of that era could feel quite different compared to the cars we drive today, in terms of the mechanics of them and technology at that time.
The weather affeccts them as well, in teh first part of the game (when it's snowy) the cars "slide" around a lot cause of it, as well when it rains later on. When it's not raining it's not nearly as slick/easy to slide around on.
I enjoyed Mafia 2, the setting was wonderful, cars were fun to drive, and some of the characters were great (like Joe).
However it becomes very apparent that the game was rushed, corners were cut from the story and you'll notice it as you play.
I mean:
Spoiler AlertYou get home from the war, see your mother/sister, etc and then they basically disappear in the storyline and you never once see your mother again and your sister only once for a small story mission, and that's it.
There were major plans for story arcs that were cut from the game, along witha whole side-quest system (hence why some npc's tell you to see them for jobs, which NEVER appear because they aren't in the game). Along with the whole "country-side" part of the world (like the first game had) that was cut out but the data is still in there.
It just felt like the game was butchered, not nearly given the time to be finished and rushed out the door. It's fun, but I wish I hadn't paid full price for it when it came out.
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| 22 APR 2011 at 2:10pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | Currently downloading: Portal 2!
Let's just hope that my graphics card don't overheat due to its wonky fan...
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| 22 APR 2011 at 4:43pm |
CrisGerSchattenjger
Posts : 2548
Joined: 28 APR 2007
Location: US
Status : Offline | Fnord iSpoiler Alertf the files are still there then it is possible indeed likely that the community will mod them out as they did for Mafia 1, that is too bad, that was a really nice part of Mafia 1.
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| 22 APR 2011 at 7:55pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | *blinks* Where did this day go?
The good news was that Portal 2 was a great game, probably objectively better than the first game, and that my graphics card did not overheat.
The sad news is that I'm done with Portal 2
Portal 2 lacked the "wow" factor of the first Portal, due to it being a lot more of the same thing, but it was a bit more refined and a lot longer (about 3 times as long, I think). I would be surprised if Portal 2 does not win at least a few awards at the end of the year.
Cris: We will have to see. A lot of Mafia 1 fans were not very happy with Mafia 2, so there is a risk of the game suffering too much fan hate to actually receive a restoration patch or similar.
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| 22 APR 2011 at 10:57pm |
CrisGerSchattenjger
Posts : 2548
Joined: 28 APR 2007
Location: US
Status : Offline | Fnord I saw that on the community forums for the Mafia series..they were not happy with the limited options and loss of some of the promised content. Some of the best mods came for Mafia I some years after it was released..i hope to put up a pack of them on my archive soon, there was one that was quite remarkable that greatly enhanced the textures and even gave a european theme to the coutnryside including changes to the road signage and cars... so i will remain hopeful we maybe can bring some of the unfinished work to light.
Update: Here is the mega mod for Mafia I in case anyone is interested:
CoLD Mod Mafia 1:
http://www.gamefront.com/files/20253979/MAFIA+1+CoLD+Mod.zip
it is hard to find these days and the site that supported it is long gone but hopefully preserving it will help.
I will have to carve some time to play the game soon, but i have some paintings i have to do first and an article to finish. Gee, where did the week/month go..it is now April almost May ...not to speak of Day lol. glad you are keeping happy with many games. Portal i have never tried...may have to check it out sometime..i still have Two Worlds 2 and Mass Effect 2 to do.
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| 23 APR 2011 at 1:19pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | The first portal is incredibly short, only 1½-3h long, the first time around (depending on how comfortable you are with the puzzles), but it was also an incredibly innovative game, so if you find the time, give it a try. Playing through Portal with commentaries gave me a new appreciation for game design and the use of graphical cues to draw attention to certain region (both Portal & Mirror's edge use a similar clean art style, with highly contrasting colours to make sure that you notice important elements).
Argh, I'm stuck in Ultima 7 I have visited Minoc, Cove, Britain & Paws, done all the sidequests that I can find. Now the fellowship wants me to go into a dungeon filled with dragons, but my party can't really handle them.
Fnord I saw that on the community forums for the Mafia series..they were not happy with the limited options and loss of some of the promised content. Some of the best mods came for Mafia I some years after it was released..i hope to put up a pack of them on my archive soon, there was one that was quite remarkable that greatly enhanced the textures and even gave a european theme to the coutnryside including changes to the road signage and cars... so i will remain hopeful we maybe can bring some of the unfinished work to light.
Let's hope that the fans of the game are prepared to do that. I just fear that the developers/publishers managed to alienate their fans to such a degree that they won't pick up the torch.
*edit*
I had forgot to speak to a person at the very beginning of the game. But now I'm back on track, Jhelom is done (for now).
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| 24 APR 2011 at 3:25am |
XerNosamSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 339
Joined: 3 SEP 2007
Location: US, California
Status : Offline | ... and that's a wrap. Mafia 2 is over and done with.
Great while it lasted, but I'm disappointed that more use wasn't made of the wonderfully detailed city. I feel like I barely explored 1/4 of the map during the missions. Since there's no real activities available outside of the main story, driving around is pretty useless save for the pure enjoyment of sightseeing.
The end was rather abrupt, to say the least. The ending shootout was standard fare, and it all seemed anticlimactic.
Ah well, it was a pleasure to play during its brief time on my PC.
Now on to... eh, not sure....
Playing: Skyrim: Dragonborn/Dawnguard; Torchlight 2; To The Moon; Far Cry 3
Finished: HomeFront; Far Cry 3; Dishonored
Always Playing: Half Life 2
Looking Forward To: BioShock: Infinite
Reading: BioShock: Rapture; SW: Revan
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| 24 APR 2011 at 4:28pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | I wonder how well thought out the reward for "Forge of virtues" (the expansion for Ultima 7) really was. First it bumps all my stats up to their max value, and then it doubles Str (so it effectively gives you twice the ordinary max Str). It also gives you the best weapon in the entire game, plus a lot of magical armour, and thus effectively kills any form of character progression for the main character.
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| 25 APR 2011 at 8:07am |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16553
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | Well, just lately I've been trying to find another online game that I can play with companions.
So far I've tried LOTR but it is so complicated.... there are a million pop up boxes on my screen I can hardly see the person I'm trying to stab to death.... not sure if I'll master this one.
And Second Life.... odd place.... not really a friendly place like Uru.... went to a very nice tropical island today and found my avatar had been relieved of her bra, top, and knickers..... but was left with the boots and skirt which billowed in the wind leaving me bemused watching my avatar's naked bum.... [smiley=rofl.gif]
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| 25 APR 2011 at 11:20am |
Mr Innocent.Journeyman
Posts : 1317
Joined: 15 JAN 2008
Location: GR
Status : Offline | Hey Chris, this link seems to have a more recent version of the CoLD Mafia mod . I 've just recently bought the game on a steam sale and looking forward to trying it after having heard raves about it from just about anyone that played it.
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| 25 APR 2011 at 1:50pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | Caroline, why not check out an Ultima Online free shard? They are not illegal, unlike many other free servers for existing MMOs (although EA still don't like them), and the game is far more relaxed than any other MMO that I have ever played, focusing more on the social aspect than any other MMO out there, that I know of.
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| 25 APR 2011 at 6:06pm |
CrisGerSchattenjger
Posts : 2548
Joined: 28 APR 2007
Location: US
Status : Offline | Mr Innocent, that link seems to be a hidden sales scam, the mod is never available...or at least whenever I try to dl it says not available and i have to listen to GameFront sales pitches or fill out a survey. If you get it maybe you could share it with us.
Caroline, Second Life is NOT a safe environment there is a lot of griefing in there so i would advise against it. Plus the graphics really are not very good. Funcom is due to release a new MMO soon called Secret World that looks very high end... but I don't really know all the latest MMOs that much. Sorry URU is in such a turmoil with the new tools out and the divisions in the community and the d*** hackers that killed all the custom avatars for now so we cant have DRC or Bahro live until it gets fixed. Sadly often the best things in life attract the worst types of people and if anything Kills URU it will be a small group of 10 people who have tried to take it over for years...and may have succeeded now because Rand frankly just got tired out and the other people at Cyan lack the courage to defend the game from the exploiters. At least you got to see some of the fading tinges of the former glory.
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| 25 APR 2011 at 7:28pm |
HalcyonSchattenjger
Posts : 1653
Joined: 17 NOV 2006
Status : Offline | I agree about Second Life, although, despite the griefing and raunch, there are some really beautiful places to visit and wonderful people to meet.
I've been playing Fallout New Vegas, of course, and many of it amazing mods. Also, I've been playing Battlefield Bad Company 2, which is great fun. I've also tried Medal of Honor Limited Edition, which, for a noob like me, is fun, but Battlefield's characters (single-player) are far more entertaining and funny.
Oh, I'm playing Angry Birds, as well, but who isn't?
_________________
Exercise your vision.
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| 25 APR 2011 at 7:48pm |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | Empire Earth 2. Although I've played and Rise of Nations 1 & 2 and AOE 1-3, this is my first time with EE2.
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 25 APR 2011 at 8:12pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | And that was Ultima 7. I have to admit to using both a walkthrough and a very large map for navigation. The game is great, but also very frustrating, in particular if you forget to talk to someone at some point of the game.
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| 25 APR 2011 at 10:29pm |
markornikovJourneyman
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Posts : 1313
Joined: 28 OCT 2011
Location: BE, Antwerp
Status : Offline | thanks to this topic i wasted another afternoon in Second Life.
I completely forgot about it, but it still gets boring quickly.
Some areas are nicely made, but most of them are a mess and pointless.
And it seems that there aren't many people to be found in SL, a few years ago there were still a lot of people to talk to...
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| 25 APR 2011 at 11:48pm |
DonaJourneyman
Posts : 801
Joined: 19 MAR 2005
Status : Offline | Caroline, have you tried Guild Wars? I've been playing it very casually for the past 4 or so years and you can definitely get a lot out of the game without having to grind until you fall over from exhaustion. Visually, it's the most beautiful game I have ever played. Sometimes I boot it up just to visit a specific area, it's like going on a small vacation
It doesn't have a subscription fee and I believe you can download a trial from their website to see if you like it
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| 26 APR 2011 at 12:17am |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2759
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | Guild wars 2 will soon be released, and I would not be surprised if they close down the guild wars 1 servers a year or so thereafter (which reminds me that I have still not finished the eye of the north expansion for GW).
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