Nice restrictions you put on there, but it looks like R&C3 is going to take that spot soon enough. It is currently ranking higher than GTA:SA.

Yeah, but I figured it was common practice to not count new games until they had lots of reviews, and to not count the older systems (nothing against those classic games of course).

I just wanna say something about a comment earlier. Someone said that "halo killer" was coined by stupid journalists.

Sorry, but that's totally wrong. The "halo killer" comment came from the developer itself. The stupid journalists just passed it on to us. If you've ever watched the news you would know that stupid journalists are just passing on the news to you.

The biggest difference between the 11 o'clock news and game mags and sites is that game mags and sites end up reviewing what was once news and giving you their OPINION. None of these people is the final word on ANYTHING.

It's pretty tiring to see people complaining about reviews all the time. Most say they never trust such and such with reviews but you waste your time discussing it. Just like you and me have the right to like or dislike a game, so do stupid journalists. Their job is to give you their view.

There are many places to look for reviews. Best thing to do is look for a reviewer that seems like they have your tastes and go by that. If not then don't worry about reviews at all. In the end no one is holding a gun to your head telling you to buy or not to buy a game because of a good/bad review.

SteelgearX

I pretty much always trust Gamespot.

I'm right here.


Source please? When and where was this said by the developer that it was a Halo killer. All I've seen lately are mags repeating that statement like a bunch of parrots. The only time I read "Halo killer" was in EGM.

No one said anything about the 11 o'clock news so since we are nit picking I should have been clearer about WHICH journalists I meant. And as far as gaming sites go its a 50-50 some are trust worthy and others arent. Some even make you pay to read their soapboxing opinions, and their own rediculous theories like its REAL news. Great thing about opinions is that you can chose to agree or disagree. But when a game that i have VERY strong NEGETIVE opinion about (read: Dead or Alive) is praised as being "perfect" over something new I have a very real problem with that (read: Im voicing my opinion).


Welcome to the internet, I am rightfully sorry that my views dont see eye to ey...err post to post with yours. On your upper right hand side of this page is a large X button. If my views upset or offend you please press the X and have a nice day. I get the feeling you may be a struggling journalist or like myself your expressing your opinion and thats fine, but telling someone not to say how they feel over the internet is like asking Jessica Simpson to think, and her sister to really sing. Again I'm losing focus, and honestly I respect video game journalists...I just dont agree with them like 90% of the masses do...sad isnt it?

Wow Billy I never thought of it that way. I hate to break it to you but my tastes are varied. No one can really pin point what games I like or dont like. I get crap from all sides..friends...co workers...random jerks at work. I admit I have a tendancy to go fanboy sometimes (read: River City Ransom, Castlevania:Lament of Innocence Soul Calibur 2, Street Fighter..etc etc etc) but then who doesnt right? Sure no ne is holding a gun to my head, but look at the reactions people have when they diss the almight Halo and tell me Im not overreacting. Hell look at Fable, game of the month? For a 8 hour game? Project EGO indeed.

And while Im on the subject I do have to worry about reviews because I work for a video game store. This is shocking but I CANT PLAY EVERY GAME. so I use reviews as a footnote to what is good or bad based on when, if, or how Im able to screen games before I sell them. I know that sounds crazy but I want to have SOME integrity at work some people count on my opinion.

Thank you for posting hope you enjoy your stay.\

-zero

zero, off the subject here, but I'm curious since you work in a video game store and talk about having integrety : Do you or your co-workers get instructed to always push the stategy guides on people? Every time I'm in Gamespot or EB I see some damn clerk informing anyone who buys a new game that they'll need the strategy guide. I always tell them "Thanks, but I have the internet", but I always feel bad for the parents and grandparents who get tricked into getting those guides because they think it's necessary.

Yes.

And some people don't have the internet still

Source please? When and where was this said by the developer that it was a Halo killer. All I've seen lately are mags repeating that statement like a bunch of parrots. The only time I read "Halo killer" was in EGM.

Ummm... EGM IS YOUR SOURCE! Had you read the article they mentioned having the quote coming straight from the developer. It was meant to get attention, which it did. If you still don't understand that, why would a magazine say it's a Halo killer when they've never played it? Not even a demo. Hell, at the time of the article they hadn't even seen the game. The game had just been announced... look it up.



Great thing about opinions is that you can chose to agree or disagree. But when a game that i have VERY strong NEGETIVE opinion about (read: Dead or Alive) is praised as being "perfect" over something new I have a very real problem with that (read: Im voicing my opinion).


Well, then, we will agree to disagree. I in no way think DOA:U is perfect but it is a great fighting game. I play and have them all, including Tekken, SC2, VF4, and DOA3. Been playing all of them since each respective series began. DOA has come a long way, and at least they're trying to innovate. As much as I absolutely love all the other series I just mentioned, they are getting a little stale. A little flash never hurt anyone. Killzone on the other hand hasn't proven anything yet. If you like it, fine, but don't chastize the media because they don't share your enthusiasm for the game.



I get the feeling you may be a struggling journalist or like myself your expressing your opinion and thats fine, but telling someone not to say how they feel over the internet is like asking Jessica Simpson to think, and her sister to really sing. Again I'm losing focus, and honestly I respect video game journalists...I just dont agree with them like 90% of the masses do...sad isnt it?


Nope, I have nothing to do with journalism, just a normal joe shchmo gamer. I'm just stating my own opinion. People whining about bad reviews of games they like is like... dumb. Not to mention that 7.5 isn't exactly a bad review. All it means is that it's a good game, but it's not the type of game that will smack you in the face with its brilliance.





And while Im on the subject I do have to worry about reviews because I work for a video game store. This is shocking but I CANT PLAY EVERY GAME. so I use reviews as a footnote to what is good or bad based on when, if, or how Im able to screen games before I sell them. I know that sounds crazy but I want to have SOME integrity at work some people count on my opinion.


This seems kind of contradictive. If they want your opinion and you haven't played the game, then it's not exactly your opinion, is it? Let them look it up themselves or tell them about the review. I worked at Electronics Boutique for 2 years in one of the busiest stores in the company, so I know what it's like. If you say you don't trust reviews then why should your customers trust you when you're going by those reviews to sell them games?

All I'm saying is that you should have an open mind about this stuff.

Yes we're instrcuted to do so, but I hardly make it an issue to PUSH . If they want it great..if not then eh who cares right?

In truth I read the blerb "Halo killer" as told by Quarterman not the developer. And truthfully I think mags give the scores they do to draw attention, negetive or positive. Truth be told it is up to the person who BUYS the game that makes the final choice, I just find it funny that people live by those reviews.

Innovative? I can download bouncing boobs and skimpy outfits til the cows come home (moo) doesnt change the fact that yes DOA is getting VERY stale. Killzone has a lot to prove to PS2 owners and Halo fans alike. Why? Because of blerbs like "Halo killer" I really dont care who said the developer or game journalists. Halo in a way ruined console FPS'. Why you ask? Because everyone expects more, and that not a bad thing but when a genuinely decent game like Killzone comes along it will get overlooked because its not a "Halo killer" What Im getting at is WHO CARES? Every FPS doesnt have to be Halo, but its annoying that just about everyone I run into always compares ANY FPS to Halo. Hell there are people that shop at my store who wont acknowledge great titles like Half-Life because of Halo. I'll chastise the media all I like because they have a direct effect on my job, and they make it harder for me to make sure people leave my store with quality, and not Sudeki (yes thats a jab at Maxim).

Yeah well people whining about people "whining" is like...You. Thank you for correcting me I shall now hang myself.

How am I contradicting myself? I said (here I'll bold it) so I use reviews as a footnote to what is good or bad based on when, if, or how Im able to screen games before I sell them. So if EGM, Game Informer, or GamePro give say, Billy Hatcher (GC) a 6.0(EGM) a 7.0 (Game Informer) KNOWING full well that about maybe 40% of my guests read those mags(hell my store gives out subscriptions to EGM,XBN, and OPSM) I take it upon myself (read: Im not paid to do this) to either rent the game, demo it in the store, or in some cases stay an extra hour off the clock when Im done closing to see for myself. I can then tell my guests what a mag said, and what I personally think, then because I work at Game Crazy I let them demo it for themselves about 9 times out of 10 they leave happy, informed, and glad they spoke to me. So no my friend you DONT know what its like. I dont trust reviewers (read: Game Informer's score of 6 for Paper Mario 2) but I do keep an open mind which is why I have loyal guests.

Thank you, I'll be here all week be sure to tip your waiteress.

-zero

That happens everywhere... mainly because employees are graded upon how many items they're able to sell and show on the reciept to the home office. And, not that it's a bad thing, you do get a discount for buying it right then and there. Geez... do we go to your job and say, "hey, do a 1/2 ass job" because we're tired of you bothering us with what you're required to do? Watch Super Size Me...

Hahaha... "Halo killer" was muttered by the developers at E3 already... who said anything about a journalist making that up? I would know because I met the developers the 1st day. If you want the proof, I got a pic with them.

Flash of what? Boob? Nothing new about DOA: U with the exception that it has more games instead of one short game and one redesigned game. DOA3 did come a long way. DOA: U is nothing new to me.

I'm a game journalist. If I remember correctly (and I may be WAY off), I think PSM or OPM was the first to utter the "Halo killer" phrase OR it came from the IGN message boards where people were constantly talking about Kin when word first materialized of it. Whichever magazine was the first to show off Kin (what Killzone was originally called) screenshots was the one that uttered "Halo killer". I don't remember if it came from the developer or not off-hand, although I do remember the EGM quote.

I will say my co-workers on the site I write for that saw Killzone at E3 this year were not impressed and I've gotten the vibe from other magazines that they were not impressed either leaving E3. Could it be because Halo 2 was shown off to journalists? Could it be that the journalists had given into the words that Sony and Guerilla were spouting? Who knows.

I am pretty interested in seeing this game (I may get a review copy...don't know). I've played the demo and at least had fun with it, I reserve judgement for the final copy though.

If you compare it only to Halo or Halo 2 you're kind of doing a disservice to your readership because not everyone has an Xbox to go along with their PS2. Killzone was probably doomed to fail because of the internet and magazine hype generated around it. Hype that goes out of control can be quite bad for a game. Guerilla has not had the best track record recently (Shellshock: Nam '67 anyone?) and this was to be their shining moment. We'll see if that turns out to be true or not.

I'm not a big fan of IGN's writing style. They do have a few people that write well, but sometimes even those writers get caught up in the moment and give into their fanboy wishes (Hilary and boobies in DoA for instance). Anyway, that's enough from me for the moment. Only game I'm really looking forward to this week would be Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal.

^5 man, who do you write for? I'd like to read your stuff.

Chronicles of Riddick was a Halo killer - Killzone wasn't even as impressive as Area 51 (on the PS2, Area 51 had the best FPS control for a PS2 ever and it looked awesome) - the "Halo killer" thing is dumb anyway. There are lots of games better than Halo and if it's an issue of sales, there are lots of games that will outsell Halo (and killzone isn't one of them).

Regardless, I'm probably gonna pick it up - aside from some graphical glitches, it looks like it pushes the PS2 hardware past its limits. Amazing graphics... this game takes good screenshots.

The site is the WWW link above right by my profile icon.

Halo killer or not, whatever.

Red Faction 2 remains my favorite FPS for some reason.

GameSpot: 6.9

Cancelling Pre-order

Has anyone actually played the game yet?? I know we have all been reading reviews...but has anyone seen the game's problems for themselves. I don't understand how the demo was so awesome(according to what I have read) but the actual game sucks.


wlj

I will post a review within the next couple of days. Still going to pickup my pre-order, despite the terrible reviews. Though Gamespot's review looks to primarily be a solo-mission review, which I'm not buying the game for.

I have the game and I was playing it a little earlier tonight. Here's my initial impressions;

The game does boast some rather stunning visuals. I have to say that the environments are quite spectacular. The game world Vekta does feel like a war torn planet as you're advancing through it. The framerate does have a tendency to drop off now and then but so far it hasn't hampered my gameplay dramatcially.

The controls are a bit stiff. You have to tweak the sensitivity to find a setting that you are comfortable with. The control layout is pretty good. I haven't found myself fumbling for a button once yet. One thing that is missing though is a "lean" control. Why it wasn't included I have no idea.

Now as for the A.I. here's where it gets a little sticky. I have seen more than once the Helghast just standing around waiting for something to happen. My guess is that there are alot of triggered events. The best way to explain it is that if you are a certain distance from the enemy then he'll open fire. The A.I. isn't all bad though. I've seen the Helghast break into teams, take cover and regroup. So they aren't an "easy win" by any means. It's just getting them to move is occasionaly a problem.

The storyline and premise so far are very good. The Helghast are a separtist group who broke away from Earth and now have rebuilt an empire and are launching a war against the ISA colonies. The story gives alot more context to the action. Cutscense are well acted and don't sound forced or labored. The overall presentation is quite good. It gives you cause to keep playing the game to it's end.

Now if you pick up this game and expect it to be the best game you've ever played, you're going to be disappointed. But this is a good game overall. You have to also understand that I'm not the biggest fan of first person shooters. But I can say that once you're a couple levels deep into this game it becomes more enjoyable.

I don't know if some games are like that for other people. Sometimes you need to get deep into a game before you really start enjoying it. But I'm that way with a few.

So far I don't feel like I've been ripped off. And I think that's a good thing. The best advice I can say is to give it a rental and play with an open mind.

I agree with Captain Harlock here, and that was pretty much what I was going to post but hey you beat me to it! . The game is far from perfect, and it does have flaws but its nothing to cancel pre-orders or throw out of a window over (Penny Arcade are you listening?) I understand that in hype sometimes things are said and expectations are high, but I have to wonder will Halo 2 fall under the same judgment? Will it get a fair review, or just be given a instant high score because of what it is? (Fable can you hear me?). I feel as of late some games are being judged too harshly and some are just tossed a score just because. Again drawing comparasons to Halo is like comparing Ratchet and Clank to Pong...it just doesnt work. I still want to purchase this game, and from what I got to play at work Im still very excited.

-zero

Nice synopsis and review, Captain Harlock. I played the demo and found it enjoyable. I came away thinking that it had potential, and despite the online and magazine reviews, this is a title I won't mind picking up eventually. I suspect that the final product was rushed to meet the Christmas shopping season; with a few more months of polish (particularly with the AI and dialogue), it could have been an exemplary product.

Guerilla Games is working on a sequel, so there's ample opportunity to address the criticisms and suggestions put forth by reviewers and gamers, barring any time constraints.