Blogging the experience of gameplayhttps://www.gamelog.cl/gamers/GamerPage.php?idgamer=534https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3057GAMEPLAY The game has just continued to get better. The intensity of the car chases just increase the more you do it, so it just keeps getting more and more fun. I’ve also finally started customizing my car, and it is very addicting. I love saving up my money to buy the best parts to increase my car’s performance. The races are getting more challenging and it is definitely keeping me coming back for more. The different types of races are fun, but they do start to feel the same after a while. I’m disappointed to see no drifting or drag racing so far. I’m still interested, but I’m not sure how much longer it will last. However, I do want to unlock the really good cars still to come. DESIGN This game is fun, but it definitely needs some tweaking. Parts of it feel like the developers tried too hard in some categories and not hard enough in others. For example, the story is really bad and really unnecessary. I preferred the older games that just had menus in between the races. I am really not interested in these characters, and that is mostly due to the bad writing, acting and strange use of video. The lack of drag and drift races(at least so far) is very surprising to me, as these were my favorite types in the older games. The types of races they do have are just too similar. The things the developers did do right were the graphics, game play, and customization. The racing is fun and the controls are tight and simple. The game looks good, and so do the cars. I’ve never been a big car guy, but this customization is very addicting. Plus, you can take your cars to online races and show them off. That’s awesome. However, I don’t know how long it will keep my interest due to the lame story line. Next time, the developers should work more on variety and trying to keep it's players interested.Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:21:22 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3057&iddiary=5721https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3057SUMMARY Need for Speed Most Wanted is a racing game which focuses on illegal street racing and car customization. GAMEPLAY So far I am really enjoying this game. I don’t play many racing games, but I’ve always liked Need for Speed Underground, so I bought this game used for 17 dollars, and I’m pretty happy with my purchase. The first thing I noticed were the very corny and out of place cut scenes. Instead of having rendered 3D characters, they use actual video for the cut scenes. I don’t like this at all, it seems really out-dated. Plus, it doesn’t help that the writing and acting is horribly corny. But once you get past the cut scenes, you have a really nice racing game. The first few races were pretty straight forward. Then, I got to roam around the open ended world and start chases with cops. The cop chases are very fun. It is very satisfying to drive right under a water tower, knock out it’s support beams, and have it topple all over your pursuers. So besides the lame story line, I’m having fun so far.Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:06:48 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=3057&iddiary=5716https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2779GAMEPLAY So I've played a bit more and after some more exploring, I've realized just how huge this game is. Not only is the starting city big, but once you play through the missions in this city, you move out into the country, and then into the other cities. I love just driving around the huge countryside aimlessly. I love the feeling of discovering something very discreet in this huge game. The voice acting and story just get better. Twists and turns keep the story interesting, and the writing can be really funny. The missions can be either really fun, or super frustrating. Having to win a race in a low-rider to progress the story can get very frustrating. These cars are the most sensitive things I’ve ever seen. You touch anything and the car freaks out. Many times I’ve been feet from winning, and then something pops into view and freaks the car out. Other than these small annoyances though, the game remains fun. The system of having to eat and work out definitely adds another layer to the game. You can get caught up just trying to make your character look cool. DESIGN The design of this game has a few flaws, but the vastness and scope of it kind of makes up for them. There are some missions that are frustratingly difficult and that is mostly due to the lacking controls. Driving and everything can be fun, but combat in most forms is very clunky and not that fun. Shooting degrades to auto targeting and holding X. And melee combat is definitely lacking. They tried to add some moves to improve the old combat in other GTAs, but it is really tacked on and doesn’t add much. However, the story in San Andreas is the best yet and the game is one of the biggest games I’ve seen. Even after the story is over, there are still collectables, races, secret vehicle missions, and the ability to just mess around. The story is where the game shines. The great voice acting cause the characters come to life. You begin to truly believe them. When major characters betray you, you actually feel betrayed. The designers were very ambitious and did make a great game, but they focused so much attention on the story and game world, that they forgot to fix a lot of the problems that the previous games had.Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:21:15 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2779&iddiary=5216https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2773Umm, this was supposed to be GTA: San Andreas, not sure why it changed to Shadow of the Colossus. The rest of my assignment is under Grand Theft Auto.Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:04:23 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2773&iddiary=5209https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2779SUMMARY Grand Theft Auto San Andreas is a third person action game. You play as the gangster CJ in the fictional San Andreas in the early 90’s. You play in an open ended world where you can complete missions which involve killing, driving, tagging, and stealing for your gang. GAMEPLAY So when I started the game, the first thing I noticed was the great voice acting. Not only are there great no-name actors, there are also big names like Samuel L Jackson lending a hand. The voice acting really brings these characters to life, despite the lackluster graphics. The second thing I noticed was the great early 90’s setting. The music, the slang, and the clothes all bring me back to my childhood. Then I actually got to play the game. I immediately noticed that it played just like older GTAs, with a few additions. Riding bikes is really fun, being able to bunny hop and zoom in and out of busy streets, can make get-aways extra fun. And they finally added the ability to swim. It could be smoother, but it’s a major improvement. The missions early on hook you with the great acting and engrossing story line. You return home after years to attend your mother’s funeral. You quickly get mixed in with your brother and friends, and you are quickly trying to bring the hood back together. It really captures the conflict of the early 90’s well. I have a lot more to play, but I’m sure the story will just get better. Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:02:49 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2779&iddiary=5207https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2773SUMMARY Grand Theft Auto San Andreas is a third person action game. You play as the gangster CJ in the fictional San Andreas in the early 90’s. You play in an open ended world where you can complete missions which involve killing, driving, tagging, and stealing for your gang. GAMEPLAY So when I started the game, the first thing I noticed was the great voice acting. Not only are there great no-name actors, there are also big names like Samuel L Jackson lending a hand. The voice acting really brings these characters to life, despite the lackluster graphics. The second thing I noticed was the great early 90’s setting. The music, the slang, and the clothes all bring me back to my childhood. Then I actually got to play the game. I immediately noticed that it played just like older GTAs, with a few additions. Riding bikes is really fun, being able to bunny hop and zoom in and out of busy streets, can make get-aways extra fun. And they finally added the ability to swim. It could be smoother, but it’s a major improvement. The missions early on hook you with the great acting and engrossing story line. You return home after years to attend your mother’s funeral. You quickly get mixed in with your brother and friends, and you are quickly trying to bring the hood back together. It really captures the conflict of the early 90’s well. I have a lot more to play, but I’m sure the story will just get better.Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:50:16 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2773&iddiary=5190https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2533GAMEPLAY I've played the game a bit more, and the game is still pretty good. The graphics are even better than I originally thought. The first couple of levels are pretty dark, and it looked pretty good, but then I played a level in the daylight and it looked amazing. The game is as immersive as ever. No cut scenes necessary, action is happening around you all the time. It gets pretty intense sometimes. The difficulty has gone up a bit, but not in a bad way. Yeah, I've died a few times trying to clear a room, but instead of not wanting to play anymore, I just started thinking more tactically and got through it. I'm having a lot of fun and hope to play more of this game. DESIGN The design of this games definitely connects the player to the experience. The level design is linear, but it is constructed in a way to make it feel bigger. It looks like you can go anywhere, even if you really can't. Stuff is always going on around you. Planes flying over head, soldiers constantly running around shooting and being shot at, and tanks rolling in the distance. You always feel like you are in the middle of a battlefield. The combat is just the right mixture of fun and realism. You can die easily, but if you take cover, your health recharges. It makes it fun, but intense. Nerves can definitely rattle as you're being shot at while being blinded by a flash grenade, and your comrades screaming to do this and that. This game definitely hooks you and makes you want to keep playing. These designers accomplished the important goal of affecting players. Sat, 09 Feb 2008 01:13:18 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2533&iddiary=4784https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2533SUMMARY Call of Duty 4 is a first person shooter set in the conflict of the middle east. You play as a soldier completing various tasks. GAMEPLAY So far, this game is very immersive. I was a fan of the original Call of Duty on the PC. It is one of the most immersive WWII shooters I've ever played. From the very beginning, this game makes you feel like you are actually there. The very first level included me escaping from a sinking ship. It was pretty intense. Later, I played as a political leader who is taken hostage. You do nothing in this level but look around you. Then you get shot in the head. I was shocked. It was so realistic and jarring. I couldn't believe the developers took it that far, but it is definitely effective. The difficulty so far is not so bad. My biggest problem is being used to Halo 3 controls and throwing a grenade whenever I mean to reload. Other than that, it's really fun. I love throwing enemies' grenades back at them. The controls are pretty fluid and the graphics are really good. So yeah, I want to get back to playing soon.Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:55:02 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2533&iddiary=4769https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=1997OK, maybe I was a little harsh because it was built up too much, but my arguments remain valid.Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:26:34 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=1997&iddiary=4414https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=1997GAMEPLAY OK, so I have played quite a bit more of this game, including the multiplayer, and I have to say, not much has changed. I'll agree that the multiplayer is alright, but it's nothing that would hook me for any long stretch of time. And oh boy did the single player piss me off. So, I've already talked about the difficulty of the game. Now I realize it's not the controls at all, it's the unforgiving nature of the game. I cannot beat the second level on easy. First of all, it took me a while to even get to where I was supposed to be going because of the lack of direction. No map, no compass, no hints. So, I finally make it to this final room (which is supposed to require some decoder, even though the guy who gives it to me is only there half the time, and I can open the door without it), and I meet up with my partner. We are supposed to destroy some tanks or something. I walk into a door, and boom, the level is over. Apparently this unmarked door is the exit to the level and I just failed for leaving without completing my mission. No signs or anything warn you this is the exit. That pissed me off. So after starting the whole level over and getting to the final room again, I am barraged with an infinite amount of bad guys. I mean infinite. I had no idea where to go or what to do, I just killed wave after wave of bad guy until I randomly shot some container and found out it (and others like it) was what I had to destroy. Of course before I could destroy them, I died. So, I start over and I walk into that final room prepared this time. I start setting the bombs on these containers before the bad guys even get there. Figure I would make a quick get away. I hit my watch detonator and... FAIL. Apparently my partner thought that the best course of action was to stand by the containers we had to destroy. He was caught in the explosion. I tried the level one more time, and thought I actually had it, when I died right as I was exiting the level. At that point I put it down and vowed to never touch the game again. DESIGN So, why did I hate this game so much? I'm pretty sure I've narrowed it down. The game is way to unforgiving and offers you no direction or story at all. The majority of the time, You are thrown into the level just barely knowing what to do. I know I had to destroy a dam. Why? I have no idea. Did I? No I ended up just having to destroy the alarms. Huh? What the game needed was some sort of compass or minimap or something that helped you keep track of where to go and what to do. The game is downright unfinished. Objectives are unmarked and goals are ambiguous. And then when you finally figure out what to do, You usually die and have to start the entire level over again. Is it too much to ask for a checkpoint? The multiplayer was fun, but not fun enough to excuse the horrible single player campaign. But even it was unfinished. Does it show you how many kills are needed? Does it show you how much time is left? No. Again, you are left walking around, not knowing what is going on. Overall, the game felt unpolished, mediocre and downright frustrating. It's game engine may have been innovative, but that doesn't make it fun.Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:00:48 CSThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=1997&iddiary=4016