Top 10 Games of 2008 That I Didn’t Play

As each year goes by, it feels like the number of good games released over those 12 months just keeps rising. This year was no different. I would argue that it saw a bigger increase than previous years largely because of the influx of quality casual and indie games. I think nearly every gamer missed out on a game they planned to get because they didn’t have the time, or saw yet another awesome game and just didn’t have the resources to cop it. I was definitely a victim. I’m closing out the year with empty pockets, plenty of great games, and a stupid-long list of games I really wanted to play and didn’t.

This is the top 10 games from that list:

10. Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy

Why I wanted it: It was a movie-licensed game that didn’t suck. Bonus: I actually liked the movies.

Why I didn’t play it: It just barely missed the must-buy list. It got some decent reviews, but something about buying a game where the title includes a full name that isn’t Tom Clancy or Sid Meier made my stomach turn.

9. de Blob

Why I wanted it: Who can resist a fun platformer where the plot centers on putting a smack-down on conformity? Not to mention, their marketing blitz blind-sided me a couple of times in the backfield.

Why I didn’t play it: I must confess–I have been neglecting my Wii. I won’t let myself buy another Wii game until I finish “Zelda: Twilight Princess” and “Metriod Prime 3: Corruption.”

8. Soulcalibur IV

Why I wanted it: “Soulcalibur” has made a healthy impression on me with every game since the original was released for Dreamcast. Ivy’s Snake Sword and Maxi’s Nunchucks (I am a huge Michelangelo of TMNT fan) sealed the deal pretty much every time. A little hint of Star Wars doesn’t hurt either.

Why I didn’t play it: Lately I just haven’t had the urge to play fighting games. Seems like those Street-Fighter-II-Turbo-at-birthday-parties-and-sleepovers glory days have faded. Plus, fighting games just aren’t the same when your opponent isn’t in the room with you.

7. Dead Space

Why I wanted it: I always wanted to be trapped on a dark space station with limited ammo and vicious creatures, who would love to rip my body into nice happy meat chunks…

Why I didn’t play it: WHAT!?!?! I am not scared to play this game…

6. Ninja Gaiden II

Why I wanted it: Ninja + Speed + Buckets of Blood = Fun

Why I didn’t play it: This is the first (but not last) game on this list that I am truly puzzled about. I think I just didn’t have 60 bucks to shell out when it was released. [Continue Reading]

My First Metal Gear Solid 4 Moment

Hideo Kojima has taken a stand.

He has triumphantly stated through his work, you will play my game and like it! I don’t care how long you have to wait in-between sequences for loading and narrative.

Snake’s new catch phrase is fittingly “Kept you waiting, huh?”

The official website for MGS:4 is a travesty by web 2.0 standards. Mocking your long wait before you can view important content.

I believe he’s probably taking a quiet stab at the masses who have increasingly become impatient with the world. In a must have now mindset and sensibility, he’s chosen to serve you a dish slow cooked. Will you be patient (a mainstay of this stealth series) enough to enjoy what it is you are experiencing?

Presentation has always been what separated the Metal Gear Series for me and a whole lot of other gamers. The same can be said about Square’s Final Fantasy series. You may not agree with the story, or the characters, or locale, but you are certain of a quality well put together product. And for my now $65 – $92 (Special Edition) I’m glad a developer has chosen to give me something of quality.

You may have already guessed where I’m going with this post. But let me tell you, I am a FAN of the series. I luv it. I own every single US released version (and special edition releases). It is with great sadness that I begin my journey that is what promises to be Snake’s last stand.

It is now 2:38am and I have to go to bed, so I made the mistake of saying to myself. Let me just see how it starts…

Well first of all, that took a bit longer than I had anticipated. I was aware of the install required to play the game, but I wasn’t aware that my roommate’s PS3 (20 gig day 1 version) was basically full! I was politely told that there wasn’t enough free space. Hmm never got that error from my XBOX360 that I’ve played dozens more games for, but I digress.

After deleting the installs for games I shall not mention. I started the MGS install. Which was a brisk 14 minutes long…

(view some of the tidbits that snake gives you while smoking a stogey *actually a few)

After the install… Hitting start throws you the hell off.

You are treated with something absolutely unexpected. At least for me. When it comes to games/movies I really care about. I don’t watch trailers, I don’t read previews, I want to experience everything first-hand without any prejudices.

What happens when you first hit start is to say the least innovative, and if they are going to do what I think they are going to do it may be genius.

I also must note! This is also a ploy to hide the loading… wait why is it loading? Didn’t i just “install” the game for faster access? Oi!

I am then treated to the cinematic flair that has been Hideo. A beautiful sequence of images that play out as poetry on the battlefield. When I’m finally given control of Snake, I take a few steps and BAM the next cut scene … ok alright… given control again, take a few step and jig someone and then BAM another cut scene… at this point my eyes are getting woozy. Sleep is kicking in.

I kid you not. This was my first 25 minutes of “Gameplay”. I’ve come away not mad at all. I’m a Kojima nut, and I can without a doubt say what my eyes are beholding is nothing short of beauty. It is the best looking game on the PlayStation 3 to date. The animation of Snake may be stiff during play, but not at all during the cut scenes. The Gears show an “alive” type of animation that makes watching them move and search for “prey” fun. *note to self, stop using “quotes” DOH!

I intend to keep these diaries up as I attempt to plow through this game. I also intend to do it without giving away any specific plot points. I will be ultra vague, in an effort to not give away a spoiler. Play the game and you’ll know what I’m talking about. That simple. Everyone who has a PS3 at their disposal should play this game. This is what you all have been waiting for.

GTA? it only gets worse for you buddy. This is “Next-Gen”. Double DOH!

-DaveDaGamer

MGS4 – TIME SQUARE LAUNCH PHOTOS

Damn I’m tired … but not as tired as the first guy in line at the MGS4 NY Timesquare Launch event. Notable mention also include another gentleman in full blown SnakeEater Skullface outfit. Though he admitted it was a rush job, it pleased everyone to see that.

Minus having to listen to a mad gamer rant all night long about everything wrong in the world, and the world of gaming, it was still worth it. Almost everyone got a signed copy of the game. Gamers were seen bringing books, ps3’s, and even there homework. As for this TrueGameHead, he opted for a signing of the first MGS. It only gets better with age … and signatures.

One interesting part was just before Kojima came down for signing. It seemed as though he was either shocked by the crazed chanting of the crowd, or amazed by the constant yelling of “KO-JIMA! KO-JIMA! KO-JIMA!!”. It was kinda funny seeing him laugh at that but he graced use with his calm presence and held out, signing from 12:00 Midnight till 2:00 AM in the morning. My hats off to him for doing that.

Then there are the stories from the fans themselves. The guy in the front with the snake headband, standing all cool, stayed there since Monday. If you live in NY you know that it was almost 100 that day with insane humidity in the air. Ones who drove 40/50/100 miles from home, and others just trying to meet up with online buddies. In a thought, it was enough to wrap around a NYC block stretching from Broadway to Avenue of the Americas. No easy feat as this is one of the longest blocks in the city.

Snakes returns to Shadow Moses

Check this cool video of a familiar place we all come to love from the MSG series. Now snake makes a return in the Guns of the Patriots check out the video of the stage that started it all in its next-gen glory.

Limit Reached – Kojima makes Sony Commercial Dated!

Yea, you heard that right, looks like MGS4 is serious about being the Magnum Opus of 2008. QJ.net reports that Kojima and the would be Fox Hound members of Konami were able to fill up the blu ray disc and still had other things to put in the game.

[Continue Reading]

Official – MGS4 Rings Death Toll for Snake

The Raven hating MG fans out there may be crying their hearts out at the official announcement that Snake will tell his final story in the MGS saga but they can be guaranteed to hear every nook and crany of his annoying voice when MGS4 dawns on PS3. Out with the old and in with the new, its the way of the world kiddies, get used to it.

Still, fans shouldn’t be disappointed as the game will receive reasonable treatment and take full advantage of the 50Gig storage that the PS3 media will provide. Most likely this may only appeal to audio/video-philes like myself. In a recent interview at E4All, MGS US based members said that fans shouldn’t just expect tons of cutscene dramas and but will get the uncompressed PCM audio treatment as well. A step up, if your recievers [or 4000$ TV's can handle it directly] can handle those types of signals, that may be appreciated by a those of us who have gone that far with our game rigs. Oh, as a reminder, do get your hands on those new HDMI 1.3b Specification cables since we’re talking HD components. No, it’s not cheap, as an 8FT cable hits the $200.00 barrier easy. Trust me, it makes all the difference until the next best thing comes out. It’s tough knowing that my $20.00 HDMI cables no longer holds the bar, and in addition may actually be hurting my HD LCDTV. What’s 1.3b? Here’s a brief explanation -

General HDMI specification requires enough bandwidth to support all current HDTV formats; however, the HDMI version 1.3b specification increases its bandwidth to 340 MHz (10.2 Gbps) to support future HD display devices that could provide higher resolutions, Deep Color and higher frame rates. HDMI 1.3b provides the highest audio quality as it enables the full, lossless audio data of Dolby TrueHD to be transferred digitally to AV Receivers.

As if the Home Theatre world wasn’t expensive enough . If you’re an audiophile/videophile pick up these at your local electronics retailers.

More MGS Kojima Antics

Another video to brighten up your day. In all the issues of War, loss of human life, technological babbles, and idea of a time on Earth when the only thing that mattered was the size of your gun, Kojima finds a way to make you laugh. I guarantee you that all the seriousness that gamers give MGS may be futile against Kojima’s attempt at comedic satire. Sometimes you have to wonder if he is just trying to make something so serious look funny. Check it out.

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MGS4 – NEW ENEMIES REVEALED

And the only game ever to live up to untold amounts of hype continues to tantalize us with more footage. Below you will find new enemies, [bosses???] and just how terrifying they’ll be.

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