Video Games

The original Deus Ex was better story-wise and I also felt that the level of freedom was higher. If you liked it though and are up for a slightly funnier take on the genre (i.e. open ended games) try Fable. Just played through it as a goody two shoes and it was really fun. Plan to go back and try it as an evil wizard to see what happens. It is a bit like Morrowind but more structured.for a real twist to the shooter genre try Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy. Rather than guns, you have all sorts of special powers like telekensis, remote viewing and can set up all sorts of really hilarious situations depending on how you play it. But the boss battles suck.Just ordered my copy of Halo 2...looking forward to dying and reloading

quote:

---

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin",

---

This is the only one I played. Did not like it because stealth was not enforced enough. Screw up your hit, get spotted? no problem, you can take about 50 shots and a grenade in the pants and still keep going. I think the game would have been way better if they had made more of a penalty for running and gunning like Splinter Cell or Thief.

I did not find Fable too short as Loudmouth did. But then, I prefer a good game that is short than a long repetitive game. And since there are a lot of good games, rather have them short so I can try them all I also usually feel bad if I am evil in a game. In Star Wars KOTOR I threatened to kill the shopkeeper who had the protocol droid (who turns out to be an assasin droid) because I did not have enough money to buy him. His pleading response actually made me feel bad so I reloaded and spent an hour trying to get enough cash so that I could just pay him. In the end, I ended up playing an almost 100% good character. Since most of the characters are faily unresponsive in Fable (unless you flirt with or throw up on them), I am curious to see what happens when you act like a sociopath in the game....like a good old bolt of lightening in the head when someone say "You sure don't look like a chicken chaser to me"

I had the advantage that I did not really follow the hype or the development process. So my expectations were not so high. For that reason I think Halo2 will be a disappointment because I did follow the development hype.

They will have a run for their money. I figured I would be totally disappointed with Halo 2 since it was so hyped. I am into the second chapter and it is awesome so far. The enemies are really smart and there have already been several jaw dropping surprises..even in the middle of a pitched battle ( note to self, letting jaw drop in pitched battle = having to reload after my death sequence ) .
If Starcraft wants to compete, they will have to outdo Halo 2..and from what I have heard, Half-Life 2 as well.Of course they could just do a "Duke Nukem Forever" and work on a game they have no intention of ever releasing.

I got swamped with work so I have not beaten it yet. I am almost there though since I am the Arbiter heading into the Flood infested ruins and the other Elites asked me if I know what I am doing...must say, the difficulty level is really high this time...I played the original Halo on Legendary and got through no problem...I am playing on Heroic this time and there are a few spots I barely made it through....though I found a nice little glitch that made me laugh. You know those strange bridge things on the Halo world that you have to jump on to go from one tower to the next? I was being chased by a huge number of Elites and grunts and just jumped on the tranport..it started moving and I looked back and the Covenant were firing on me...a few elites got a little over excited and started falling off the edge...I thought it looked kinda funny.

I will try it on Legendary after I finish..I heard it is almost a different game because of the AI differences.Cortana's mumbling is a huge problem since she always starts telling you what to do just as dozens of enemies attack you...you clear the room and then have no idea what is coming next or where to go. Same problem with marines and other dialogue...if you try to listen you get fragged...one thing I thought would just be a stupid trick is ghost jacking...but stealing Covenant vehicles while they are riding them is hilarious

really? I tried running away a few times on levels that were hard and almost always got capped by a cloaked elite with a sword or a sniper...a few times I ran off a cliff or whatnot. Most levels are pretty well designed so that running away is not an option...and the snipers are really really accurate.How many Halo players thought the Scarab levels were cool? I thought that was one of the best series of levels I have ever played.

Oh yeah..meant to ask, I am wondering if it is just my Xbox that is acting up or whether it is a Halo 2 problem. When I walk in closed quarters i.e. corridors or courtyards, the master chiefs footstep echoes precede the sound of his footsteps. Its like the sound guys programmed it backwards. It can be really annoying because I will walk somewhere and it sounds like a bunch of Covenant are running towards me.