Metal Reviews

Well, I dunno...I don't play trad RPG's either and I love Oblivion. I think I might be more tolerant of them now, but I used to not be able to stand them, at that was the case when I started playing Oblivion. The thing is that even though it's a huge RPG, the combat system isn't turn-based; if you don't know what that is, it's when you tell your character to do a move and then he does it, and then the enemy will do a move, and then your character will do a move, and so on. You actually fight in Oblivion, which made the task of creating and leveling up a character 1000X more fun.

That said, I don't know if you'll like it . Even though the combat system is fun and exciting (unlike most trad RPG's, IMO), the scope of this game is so huge that it's really not something you can just "pick up and play" from the start. That's my only gripe with this game, that after the intro thing they just kind of drop you in the world with nothing to do--you have to take some time to figure things out. For a non-RPG player, though, I would say that Oblivion would be a good place to try things out.

As for Mass Effect, it's another RPG that actually has a fun combat system, although it's third person shooter as opposed to first person sword fighting. I'd say Mass Effect is an equally good RPG for non-RPG'ers to play, maybe better than Oblivion. Even though Mass Effect is fucking huge is as well (hell, you've got the whole universe to explore), from the start it's MUCH more linear and fast-paced than Oblivion, where you can basically do whatever you want.

Gears of War is a great third person shooter with an awesome cover system that makes the game. You should like it.

Orange Box is great fun as well...it's a great value with three great games in one package--Half-Life 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2. Team Fortress 2 is one of the best online games out right now. I think you'd really enjoy this one as well.

Funny that I actually have all the games that you're talking about...

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions guys!!

I was out yesterday and I picked up a used copy of Mass Effect and Perfect Dark Zero. I then stopped by BestBuy last night with my gift cards and I picked up The Orange Box + F.E.A.R. ( First Encounter Assault Recon). I'm sure I'll pick up Gears Of War soon enough. So between the games I bought and the ones I gave my wife for Christmas (Assasin's Creed, Lost Planet, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Rock Band, and Overlord) I'm sure we'll be quite busy for a long time.

Oh yeah and she gave me Halo 3 for Christmas too.

Damn, not a bad collection of games ;)

Thanks. We're sitting here playing Overlord right now. This is a cool fun game. There's nothing like controlling minions and slaying halflings!!

I've heard about it. How does it compare to Dungeon Keeper?

It's nothing like it. Overlord is kind of like an RPG, but a bad one. It gets pretty boring after a while, but that's just my experience. Dungeon Keeper on the other hand is one of the best strategy games ever, I just wish DK2 would work on XP.

I don't have experience with Dungeon Keeper so I can't really give you a comparison at all. Overlord is hack and slash plus you can control these little hordes of "minions" that run around with you. We just started the game yesterday and we have tons more to play yet. The little guy who runs around with you and gives you instructions literally looks like a blue evil Yoda. It's just a fun game. It's nothing that I would describe as complicated at all.

I started Mass Effect yesterday as well. That one is killer.

after loving Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones, i got the rom for "plain" Fire Emblem, also for tha GBA, and i quit less than halfway through. i was used to being able to buy stuff i needed on the world map and accessing the supply convoy anywhere. in FE you can only buy stuff in shops in the actual battle maps and to take stuff from supply you have to walk to the merchant, which blows.

Went shopping around for Rock Band today, couldn't find it...

I cant stop watching that damned kid in your sig. Its hypnotizing.


Anyways, I bought The Darkness awhile ago and I think its amazing. I turned the auto aim off and the controls aren't all that hard to get used to. Its a little hard right now though, but maybe thats me being all newbish with FPS games.

I was going to buy a used copy of that last week. It looks cool. I read the comic book when it was popular in the 90's. I talked to the guy in the store. He said it really didn't have much to do with the comic book. How true is that? The premise of the game still seems great though.

Mike Patton does the voices of the snake thingies.

Been mainly playing Link to the Past on the Wii VC and Guitar Hero III- as soon as I figure out what my system code is (anyone have any tips?), anyone up for any online?

I've been throwing down on Harvest Moon DS in between classes. Working on spreadsheets and graphs for optimum money making with certain amounts of land. It's becoming something of an obsession.

The harvest moon you played on my DS?

I really have no idea. Not much of a comic reader. The game is great though whether it follows the comic or not. The game's biggest flaw is its controls and thats a problem when its an FPS but I was able to get used to it, I've heard some people just say its unplayable, about 3 people now in fact. I dont think it is though, just try for yourself, its great. I got it brand new for 19 bucks on boxing day too making it so much sweeter

I too think the controls are horrible, it's really hard to aim, and I'm generally good at FPS games. Still, the game is worth playing simply because of the great atmosphere and environments.

Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising again. this game rules, but can be fiendishly dificult sometimes, eh?

How was FE overall? I've played Sacred Stones and I loved it despite some problems. I didn't know there was another FE game for the GBA though.

the "plain" FE came first.

it's very similar, the only difference that i noticed was the supply thing:
- you can only buy stuff by actually having the unit move into the armory/vendor during, and said unit can only carry up to 5 items, the rest is sent to your merchant if you have one. there is no "world map", at least not at the stage that i quit playing, you move automatically to each level so there is no "visit store" command.

i ended up sending someone to the stores just before completing a level and stocking up on vulneraries and weapons and the like.

- there's the merchant, which is a bit like the supply convoy but different - it can be accessed by anyone, but you have to be standing next to your merchant (who sets up a tent in each level) to take/give items.


you can manage items before each battle just like in SS, but that's the only thing the system has in common with Sacred Stones, as you can see.

if you don't find it that big a deal then you'll like Fire Emblem.