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I think Im about halfway through Rage, and I have learned

http://officialrageinc.webs.com/rage%20avatar.png

I think I'm about halfway through Rage, and I have learned three things.

* Don't trust game demos.
* Don't trust gamers.
* Don't trust reviewers.

I played the demo and decided to skip it, but decided to buy it on a whim and I am having so much fun with this game. Apparently the PC version was buggy as hell at launch, but I have yet to see a single bug.

I know one of the big complaints people have is that the graphics weren't great, but honestly I've been blown away by the graphics a few times. If you zoom in on a wall it's going to look bad, sure, but in general gameplay the environment is fantastic.

The AI is pretty good, the enemies will react to changes in the battle.... Read All I think I'm about halfway through Rage, and I have learned three things.

* Don't trust game demos.
* Don't trust gamers.
* Don't trust reviewers.

I played the demo and decided to skip it, but decided to buy it on a whim and I am having so much fun with this game. Apparently the PC version was buggy as hell at launch, but I have yet to see a single bug.

I know one of the big complaints people have is that the graphics weren't great, but honestly I've been blown away by the graphics a few times. If you zoom in on a wall it's going to look bad, sure, but in general gameplay the environment is fantastic.

The AI is pretty good, the enemies will react to changes in the battle. Some will charge you in desperation, some will flee. If things aren't going well for them, they'll fall back to regroup. They do tend to fall into somewhat predictable routines at times, but the varied enemy combat types keep it fresh.

The gunplay is excellent. It's an id game, so that should come as no surprise.

There are some downsides though. It seems like it tried to do too much. The racing mechanics aren't that great, and racing is forced on you at least a couple times in the game. Often the game feels more linear than it lets on, but I don't mind linear. For some reason, a few updates ago they decided to disable console commands, making this the first id game I can remember where you can't turn on god mode. I guess that's good or bad depending on your view of it, but I always liked to go on a rampage run after I'd finished a game, turning it up to nightmare difficulty and having a rocket-fest. Certainly not a show-stopper, but a strange decision from Carmack and Co. The story is probably the worst offender-- truth be told, there's very little story to it. Some games don't need story, but this one could have benefited from it.

Overall the game reminds me of a mix of Half-Life 2, Borderlands, Fallout 3, and Motorstorm, and in a very few cases it does better than these games, but trying to do too much they may have spread themselves thin. It never achieves the greatness of any of those games. It's fun, tons of fun, but it didn't quite gel into the perfect storm of post-apocalyptic greatness they were shooting for.

I don't know. It had years of development and a lot of hype, so I assume it was bound to get criticized more heavily than normal, but I think this is a fantastic game that is overly criticized, often for unfounded reasons. It isn't everything it's cracked up to be, but it's a ton of fun, and I can see myself replaying it years from now in the same way I do the early id games.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/11/2012 at 02:10am

For me, you got it on the best platform, the PC. I pre-ordered this on the PS3 and was disappoint. The PS3 version does have spit-screen Legends of the Wasteland which is awesome to play with friends though. That said, the single player wasnt great as it took way too long to save and death was way too costly with so much save game load time. Since I suck at twitch shooter controls on controller, it was hard to kill guys and do well at the PS3 copy.

I played it on the PC and it was like a much better game for me. I could shoot people, quick save existed and loading didn't take forever. The graphics looked better and everything. I know they spent quite a long time on the PS3 copy and it reviewed well but in my experience it wasn't as good as the PC version.

That said, the game is fun but I think my expectations were too high for it to meet them all. Its a great game, no question, but my initial console experience and a few other niggly things left me liking it but not loving it.

Still haven't beat it yet, but its fun to play it off and on through time. Graphics look fantastic on the PC too.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/28/2012 at 09:50pm

You beat Rage yet? I still have yet to do it as I am playing it a little bit at a time.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 05/29/2012 at 01:25pm

Haha, nope. Diablo 3 happened.

I was starting to get a little bored with it, though. I got to Subway Town and realized this was going to open up into an entirely new map that I had never seen yet, that I needed to race for a new car, etc etc... I feel like the game should be ramping up to a finish, but it's stepping backward to stuff I've already done in a different setting.

I guess it's just a pacing problem. After I have some time with Diablo 3 it will probably feel fresher.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/29/2012 at 02:06pm

Yep. I'm in Subway town too and I have the same thoughts. Thing is I clocked 14 hours on my game to Subway town and it feels like it should be the end but it's not. Plus it's only been 14 hours and I've done everything I could.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 05/29/2012 at 02:13pm

Yeah, I felt the same way. Going back to Diablo 3, because I find it hard not to think about it lately, pacing is damned important. The pacing in Diablo 3 is so amazing. Rage making you kinda start over to a point is really, really not.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/30/2012 at 01:27am

I agree. Kind of want to say more about Rage, but I am not sure how to approach it. Its the game I want to love but have a hard time expressing it.

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This Weekend is a open beta stress test weekend for Path of

This Weekend is a open beta stress test weekend for Path of Exile... So maybe you can curb your Diablo 3 anticipation...

Here's what they said:

----

Want some dark RPG action this weekend, with all-new features and tons of flexibility?

We're opening up the Path of Exile Beta to everyone this weekend, May 11-13, so that we can stress-test our servers in preparation for entering Open Beta.

The last public weekend in March was a huge success and attracted a total of 47,000 players. We're keen to try to push that limit! There's a list of frequently asked questions about the public weekend here: http://www.pathofexile.com/publicweekend/

This week, we announced the Shadow, our... Read All

iD Software is celebrating Wolfenstein 3Ds 20th birthday

iD Software is celebrating Wolfenstein 3D's 20th birthday today. As such they are releasing it for free on a few platforms as well as dropping the prices for a few other game packs on Steam:

How to Play:

Play the game in your browser now for free:
http://wolfenstein.bethsoft.com/

Download the game now for free on iOS:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wolfenstein-3d-classic-platinum/id309470478?mt=8

Wolf Pack for $3.75 (75% off of Steam) — includes Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Spear of Destiny, and Wolfenstein 3D:
http://store.steampowered.com/sub/418/

id Software Super Pack for $49.99 (50% off) — includes so many games, you should just visit Steam to get the lowdown:
... Read All

Travis Admin wrote on 05/10/2012 at 03:42pm

Oh man... stupid Steam sales. I can't afford to keep saving so much money.

Travis Admin wrote on 05/10/2012 at 03:48pm

Since I already bought RAGE, I'm not sure if I can justify this. I have a little over an hour to decide. Decisions, decisions.

Travis Admin wrote on 05/10/2012 at 03:52pm

And why isn't the new Wolfenstein included in the id super pack? http://store.steampowered.com/app/10170/

If it were, this would be a no-brainer.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/10/2012 at 07:45pm

I wondered that myself. They did it with Raven and maybe them and the publisher couldn't work something out?

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/10/2012 at 07:45pm

Nabbed it on the iPhone. Picked it up on the PS3 before the newest Wolf was released.

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MWAAHAAHAAHAAHAA!!!!

MWAAHAAHAAHAAHAA!!!!

Wondering if one should buy this. You know, I dont entirely

http://www.splitreason.com/Product_Images/d344fd7c9d73.jpg

Wondering if one should buy this. You know, I don't entirely mean me, you know its for someone I know. He is a big dork and loves this stuff.

Thoughts?

My friend likes Ninja Turtles AND Mario. Too much awesome in one shirt? Possibly.

http://www.splitreason.com/product/ign/1234?utm_source=gplus&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=ninjatroopasGP

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 05/09/2012 at 05:38am

That is pretty rad.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/09/2012 at 03:19pm

I think so.

Timogorgon Member wrote on 05/09/2012 at 08:19pm

Do you think all of them except Raphael will still walk off the edge of a cliff?

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/09/2012 at 08:38pm

Yeah, they look like Koopas in Halloween costumes.

Tungsten wrote on 05/09/2012 at 11:22pm

That guy looks like Eric Bana

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/09/2012 at 11:25pm

SPOOOOCK! And your right, he does look like Eric Bana.

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I have so much Diablo news I am going to break it out into a

I have so much Diablo news I am going to break it out into a few posts over a day or so. The above linked video is a 5 minute recap of the Diablo story till now. If you are interested in a 50 foot view of Sanctuary and the sordid history of Tristram and why you shouldn't build your city right next to the place you imprison one of the main prime evils, check it out!

Blizzard recently blogged a Diablo 3 launch day preparation guide:

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/5338015

They are missing some off my Diablo 3 prep list:

1. Come up with a good fake illness to call in to work with.
2. Stock up on dollar store 5 hour energy(the real ones are expensive yo!) for the 16 hour blitz... Read All

Chowda wrote on 05/09/2012 at 07:56pm

Level all the classes to 60? I'm going to need to forge a doctors note...

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/09/2012 at 08:37pm

:) I NEED TO LEVEL THEM ALL IN 48 HOURS!

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/09/2012 at 08:37pm

I wonder if that's possible. Like how many hours to max level? Power leveling wasn't allowed in the beta so it's normal grind. Hmmmm.

Chowda wrote on 05/09/2012 at 09:49pm

I just hope it takes about as long to complete as Diablo 2 in a normal run-through. Without power leveling or giving uber gear it was a decent amount of time to finish, especially on 3 separate difficulties. I would be fine with it taking a little longer as well.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/09/2012 at 09:50pm

I agree, long games that don't drag are fun.

hardeyez wrote on 05/09/2012 at 11:59pm

don't forget perma-death hardcore... or did they remove that in d3?

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/10/2012 at 01:30am

Hardcore characters are included :)

Chowda wrote on 05/11/2012 at 03:43pm

It's too bad you have to unlock hardcore. I'd rather play HC from the beginning.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 05/13/2012 at 03:51am

Wikipedia says you unlock hardcore after level 10. Hopefully that's how it goes!

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In the totally awesome news camp, looks like PixelJunk is

In the totally awesome news camp, looks like PixelJunk is having a 5th anniversary sale. Today until May 15 they are selling Racers, Monsters, Eden and Shooter for $1 each! PixelJunk Shooter 2 and SideScroller are both half-off for $5.

Looks like a good excuse to pickup PixelJunk Monsters as I loved the demo and never pulled the trigger on the full game.

You going to pick any of these up?

I picked up Uplink as part of a Humble Bundle. It reminded

http://www.ambrosiasw.com/assets/images/faqs/uplink_dupes.png

I picked up Uplink as part of a Humble Bundle. It reminded me of the "Hacker War" type games I played on the BBS'es of yore back in High School. The premise is that you are a hacker and start with a few bucks and take on assignments to hack systems and get money to upgrade your computer to hack into more difficult systems. I guess all that to say is that its a text based computer hacking RPG. And... its fun.

I created an account and the tutorial allowed me to make a few hacks easily enough. I found the UI of the game to be a bit confuzzling a few times. Its not hard to navigate after you figure it out. The game UI is essentially a re-visioned Operating System UI similar... Read All

State of The Ghost: 2.0

State of The Ghost: 2.0

A semi regular list of things happening on Cheerful Ghost. Served up with an extra dose of rad-sauce.

New Faces on Cheerful Ghost:

In the last few days our community size has increased by 15% and Google tells me that the amount of new users on the site VS people that come back all the time is now a 50/50 split. That means for every two people that come to Cheerful Ghost one of them has never come to the site before.

I recently added a new feature to the site to help bring more people to the community as well. On the main home screen there is a button "Invite Your Friends" that you can use to easily send invitations to join Cheerful Ghost. I upped... Read All