Video game recommendation and review!

[cobychuck]

Since we've got one going for movies, I figured why not start one for video games.  After all, entertainment in this job is a must to keep your sanity. (or at least a small shred of it)  Anyway, I guess I'll get this rolling.
    I am currently playing Psychonauts for the XboX.  The game starts in a phychic summer camp and a boy who ran away from home to try and become one of the worlds elite paranormal psychic investigators known as Psychonauts.  I'm not very far into the game but so far the game has been excellent.  The story has been well orchestrated and gameplay is simple, a feature which is greatly helping me not throw the controller across the room.  Anyway this boy, Rasputin, only has a few days to get as far into training as he can because the camp has called his father to come pick him up.  So far I have the power of pyrokenesis. (Fire!)  Things are supposed to go horribly wrong when something from the lake steals all the kids minds and Raz has to go find them all, journey through their psyche and put them back where they belong.  Since I haven't yet reached that point, I can't tell you if the game stays true to its form so far.
    I got Shadow of the Collossus for Christmas but haven't really had a chance to play a whole lot.  The graphics are amazing though.  The world in which this takes place is well rendered and the music to accompany gameplay is like watching a good movie.  It fits the feel and mood very well.  If anyone has played this I would appreciate a little input on whether or not you liked it and why.  I would also like to know where you can save the game at.
    That's all I got for now.  There will be more to come I'm sure.

[cobychuck]

There's definetely something to be said for the older video games.   Hell, I got started on the Atari 2600 and I haven't been able to quit since then.  Granted, I was like 8 and the 2600 had been around for a while by that point, but it was still a lot of fun.  Tank Wars was always my fav.  Other than that, I don't remember a whole lot of the games.

[cobychuck]

Okay, there has to be more people out there that play video games, whether it be platform games or computer games.  Well, there is a section for online games, but that's not what I'm looking for.  Come on people, throw me a frickin bone here.  I'm crying out for recommendations!  I must feed my addiction!  But I can quit anytime, I swear.
    Okay, I know this game may be a little old for a few people.  Granted its only about 2 years old.  I just got Enter the Matrix yesterday and played a little bit of it.  So far the gameplay is smooth and the story is going good.  There are live video clips (courtesy of the W brothers) mixed with cinematics.  For the action where time slows down they have what is called the focus meter, so you can only do so much before it runs out.  It's very helpful to sort out a few enemies before they overwhelm you. 
   Granted that's not much of a review but I haven't finished the game yet.  I'll probably just update each post as I play, so keep looking in if you are curious.  Or actually post something.  Hey, there's an idea!

[Thraxas]

Sorry. I just don't play as much as I used to. I preordered an Xbox 360, but I'm still waiting on it. Other than the occasional PC game, I just don't play that many games anymore. I barely even know what games are currently out. 

[cobychuck]

Well, when you do get your 360 and get a chance to break it in, let me know how you like it.  I'm leaning toward the PS3 right now, but I don't want to cut my options off completely.  Put up a review of the system.  I'm sure a few people would appreciate it!

[Thraxas]

Well, when you do get your 360 and get a chance to break it in, let me know how you like it.  I'm leaning toward the PS3 right now, but I don't want to cut my options off completely.  Put up a review of the system.  I'm sure a few people would appreciate it!

If Microsoft ever bothers to ship it, I might do that.

[cobychuck]

If Microsoft ever bothers to ship it, I might do that.

    Leave it to Microsoft to screw up.  That is pretty bad when they can't get you a preordered console.  Hope you get it soon.  I know how frustrating it is to order something so you can get it as fast as possible and then it takes forever to get there.  Like two day express shipping.  Oh, it got to Vegas in two day, but I didn't see it for another month after it got here.  I assume that you've checked on the status of it and have raised holy hell to get them to send it to you.  What line of BS have they been feeding you to explain their stupidity?

[Thraxas]

I'm not dealing with Microsoft directly. I preordered the console at my local Electronics Boutique. Microsoft screwed all of the retailers with the Xbox 360 release. All of the retailers got and have been getting smaller shipments than was expected. I'm not going to fuss over this. I'll get it when I get it. Getting a game console is low on my priority list. I have more important concerns that require my attention.

[cobychuck]

    Oh.  Well, uhh, yeah.  I guess that puts a kink in my little rant there.  Oh well, blame Microsoft anyway.  It makes me feel better even if it doesn't directly affect me.  At any rate, good luck with that.   

[Thraxas]

Oh, don't get me wrong. I totally blame Microsoft. They competely blew it with this 360 nonsense. I just worked out most of my frustation that first week or so after the release date. I just don't feel the need to give myself a heart attack fretting over it. I got enough problems as is.

(That plus I enter that EB on a regular basis. I don't want to piss them off and get banned from the store.)

[cobychuck]

Okay, I have to put a little thing in here about my Psychonauts entry from the beginning of this string.  While the games is very interesting and indeed quite fun, it is also short.  By the time I am done, I will have put a max of 20 hours into this games.  I'm used to something more like 40-50 hours of gametime.  So if anyone here wanted to play it or had made a recommendation based on my review, you may want to take a bit to think about that.

 

[cobychuck]

Saying random things to keep the subject near the top!

        

[Thraxas]

Still no Xbox 360. I've been playing WoW for a while, but it's starting to become boring.

[cobychuck]

Okay, I don't have any recommendations or reviews right now, as I have other issues to deal with at the moment.  I'm still working on Enter the Matrix, and am stuck in the airport trying to shoot down a SWAT helicopter.  I have Shadow of the Collossus and Rygar waiting once I'm done with that.  I think once this WAPS cycle is over, I'll probably be playing more and have something new to write here.  Until then, I hope that maybe some of the new members might have a few recommendations to post.  I'm always looking out for a good game! 

 

[Thraxas]

Just quit WoW, and just recently won an auction for an Xbox 360. Waiting for the UPS man...