[riverwide]

preorders were very high, i've read. the mini episodes probably helped that a lot. I'm guessing there will be a few good add-ons and a 2nd season.

[riverwide]

Just finished episode 1. Took me about 90 minutes, but I was getting used to how it works. VERY cool.

[Mino_Dan]

You finished Episode 2 already?

[riverwide]

Mino_Dan, on 20 May 2010 - 02:46 PM, said:

You finished Episode 2 already?

I'm in episode 6. I just got the Tornado Wrangler achievement and i just stuck the clicker in the old woman. Now I'm writing the conclusion

[riverwide]

that was pretty much the end.

All Done

ground control to major tom.........

[Mino_Dan]

Its not a lake.....

[EricMontreal22]

Can't wait to play this, though I admit the fighting monsters bit looks boring to me (not my kinda thing--a friend who loved it did have the one criticism that those parts felt repetitive). I love how many people are comparing this to Heavy Rain even though they are utterly different types of games. I loved Heavy Rain, plot probs and all (reminds me I need to download the new missig chapter)

[EricMontreal22]

Probably already know about these--but they did a 6 episode live action prequel

[riverwide]

I usually hate first person shooters and have never heard of nor played Heavy Rain (is it a good game?) but I thoroughly loved this game. Maybe a bit too short and MAYBE a bit repetitive, but I was definitely satisfied with it. I'm going to pay it again this week on a more difficult setting to see how that goes.

[EricMontreal22]

Oh I can go on easy setting? LOL I think my friend bought it so when he's done he will lend me the game and console (I don't own a video game console--I know it's coming to computers but not till the Fall). That's what he did for Heavy Rain.

Eddie, my bias is I don't play a lot of video games, and endless action bores me--I'm way more into story, etc, which is why I loved all those classic Sierra adventure games (and am so excited for this Fall when Jane Jensen who did my faves, the Gabriel Knight games, has her new game Grey Matter out, even though it'll look terribly old fashioned to most modern gamers lol). But I've followed Alan Wake's making for... five years now? (Yes, it was announced that far back) and the story really appeals to me. SO I think I'll be able to get past all that stuff and enjoy it.

I loved Heavy Rain but it's very flawed--much like its designer's last game, Indigo Prophecy (aka Fahrenheit). Mino was extremely disappointed by it, so take our two differing opinions in mind. It's very story oriented, almost like a movie, and uses a different sort of control system which I love but many action fans detest. The problem, as Mino has said, is in the end the story and mystery has some huge holes. (as did Indigo Prophecy, though I think this improves on that).

Still the designer, Cage is trying for a new type of game here and I'm ok with his ambition sometimes getting the better of him, when he's honestly trying to connect with gamer's emotions. I think it's definitely worth experiencing (interesting, even the negative reviews seem to all say exactly that--that any serious gamer should try it for themselves). http://www.metacriti...s/ps3/heavyrain it has a metascore of 87 (vs Alan Wake's 83) but there are some very negative reviews from people who just didn't get it compared to the majority of glowing ones.

Interesting, Mino hated the dialogue I seem to remember, I thought it was good, though the actors are all European and their odd fake American accents can be distracting. But even the good reviews of Alan Wake I've read have said the dialogue can be often lousy--and Mino likes the dialogue

Anyway I said they'r enot directly comparable, but I get why many have compared them--out of big budget console games, both have been in the making for years now with much publicity, both are essentially horror thrillers which try to incorporate more character and story work into gaming, and try for something new.

[Mino_Dan]

Riverwide! On the bonus DVD of the limited edition is a audio/video commentary that can be installed to your 360 harddrive. When you enable it in the options menu you can replay the game with the commentary. Its a neat feature!

Didn't really like the "Bright Falls" prequel when it first hit the web but now (after playing the game) it makes much more sense. It also intersting to see that the live action actors in "Bright Falls" are the same actors that portrayed the characters in "Alan Wake".

I think I'll replay it on Nightmare too to get the missing Manuscript pages!

This post has been edited by Mino_Dan: 25 May 2010 - 07:28 AM

[Mino_Dan]

EricMontreal22, on 25 May 2010 - 06:21 AM, said:

Oh I can go on easy setting? LOL I think my friend bought it so when he's done he will lend me the game and console (I don't own a video game console--I know it's coming to computers but not till the Fall). That's what he did for Heavy Rain.

Eddie, my bias is I don't play a lot of video games, and endless action bores me--I'm way more into story, etc, which is why I loved all those classic Sierra adventure games (and am so excited for this Fall when Jane Jensen who did my faves, the Gabriel Knight games, has her new game Grey Matter out, even though it'll look terribly old fashioned to most modern gamers lol). But I've followed Alan Wake's making for... five years now? (Yes, it was announced that far back) and the story really appeals to me. SO I think I'll be able to get past all that stuff and enjoy it.

I loved Heavy Rain but it's very flawed--much like its designer's last game, Indigo Prophecy (aka Fahrenheit). Mino was extremely disappointed by it, so take our two differing opinions in mind. It's very story oriented, almost like a movie, and uses a different sort of control system which I love but many action fans detest. The problem, as Mino has said, is in the end the story and mystery has some huge holes. (as did Indigo Prophecy, though I think this improves on that).

Still the designer, Cage is trying for a new type of game here and I'm ok with his ambition sometimes getting the better of him, when he's honestly trying to connect with gamer's emotions. I think it's definitely worth experiencing (interesting, even the negative reviews seem to all say exactly that--that any serious gamer should try it for themselves). http://www.metacriti...s/ps3/heavyrain it has a metascore of 87 (vs Alan Wake's 83) but there are some very negative reviews from people who just didn't get it compared to the majority of glowing ones.

Interesting, Mino hated the dialogue I seem to remember, I thought it was good, though the actors are all European and their odd fake American accents can be distracting. But even the good reviews of Alan Wake I've read have said the dialogue can be often lousy--and Mino likes the dialogue

Anyway I said they'r enot directly comparable, but I get why many have compared them--out of big budget console games, both have been in the making for years now with much publicity, both are essentially horror thrillers which try to incorporate more character and story work into gaming, and try for something new.

Its true. I really enjoyed the writing. Alan Wake is not so heavy on emotion and more action-orientated. Some critics and players were a bit put off by the light-hearted humour in episode 4 and 5. Personally I think it worked; I guess I have to blame Joss Whedon for that.

There are some plot holes in Alan Wake too. Although I really wouldn't classify them as that. The whole thing is presented as mystery tv series therefore these plotholes are probably just Season 2 build-ups.

And Heavy Rain....I really tried to like this game but I can't get over the contrived and in places downright stupid plot. The killers identity was so cheap. Its almost an insult to the intelligence of the gamer.

[riverwide]

Eric, I think you'll like this one. I finished it 5 days ago or so and what I remember is the plot more than the gameplay. I mean, I remember playing the game, but when I'm talking about the game or remembering bits of it, it's the story/plot that I think about. There are 3 difficulty levels to the game: normal, hard and nightmare. Like Mino, I've been playing the nightmare for a couple of days just to get the rest of the manuscript pages but I haven't been too diligent with it as SMG2 came out this week!

[Mino_Dan]

I'm also playing Red Dead Redemption at the moment and I HATE IT.

[riverwide]

Mino_Dan, on 25 May 2010 - 11:44 AM, said:

I'm also playing Red Dead Redemption at the moment and I HATE IT.

I didn't buy that one. It didn't look great to me. Why do you hate it?

[Mino_Dan]

I can't really put my finger on it. It just doesn't grab me.

And the technical side is not that impressive either. It looks not half as good as the released trailers and the controls are just annoying. For example when you are riding on your horse you have to constantly tap A to keep it moving. And I can't really figure out the duel mechanics. Its also really stupid that the "tutorial" is on a semi free will basis. You have to do the tutorial missions but you can do them later in your playthrough. Which really doesn't make sense as you get your rifle and lasso in those missions. I'm really starting to hate sandbox games.

Oddly enough the game gets rave reviews.

[Paul]

No, cause it ain't out on the PS3.

[Mino_Dan]

Remedy posted this some days ago. Its NOT from the DLC!

[Mino_Dan]

Gametrailers got the official trailer for "The Signal".
http://www.gametrail...lan-wake/101251

The second DLC episode is going to be called "The Poet".

[Mino_Dan]

Downloading "The Signal" now. Wee, I'm excited.