Wick

The Adventures of Shuggy is pretty fun. There's a great amount of puzzles, taking the form of different types. Worth checking out if you like those types of games.

pinata242

Played a bit of Magic 2012 last night. It's not doing anything wildly different than its predecessor, but how could it? The presentation is way better, it runs faster, and it's satisfying to once again be able to unlock cards and see new decks.

The first duel is tough. Mostly because you only have two decks to start with and the "Stone" deck you're up against can get really powerful, really fast. Once you get through it, though, you can take that deck and move on in the campaign. Once I got Tezzerret's artifact deck, I tore through my next opponent. Of course, I toyed with him and buffed my army up to a point where I got him down to -318 health.

The campaign is linear but not as linear in the first game. After the first duel, you choose who you duel next, but you must beat both of them before moving on to the single option after that. That repeats 3 times until the end. So, it's the same basic structure, but at least you can duel the other mini-boss if you're stuck on one.

The 15 puzzles/challenges are integrated into the campaign and archenemy modes and become available as you progress. So far I've only done the first 4 labelled "Easy" and they were indeed easy. Probably because as the challenge is loading it tells you how to play with/against certain card attributes (trample, regeneration, double strike, equipping, etc) and, sure enough, when you play that's what you have to do to pass it. I imagine they'll get tricky like the last game, but not yet.

I haven't tried removing cards from any deck yet because I really don't have enough new cards in any to worry about 60 vs 62. Also haven't tried Archenemy mode yet because it was the last thing I unlocked (you need to complete at least two campaign duels to access it).

Other than that, I didn't really notice many changes from the first game. It's prettier and more streamlined, but it plays exactly the same so you should have no problem jumping right in if you've played the original.

I can't wait to try out the online co-op or even battles, if anyone is interested.

xmiyux

I have yet to beat the last guy. His deck is kind of crap. For instance, the last attempt I made he went first and his turn went:

Island, Mox Sapphire, Mox Sapphire. Tap all three to cast some spell where each player chooses a card in their hand to put into play for free. He puts into play an indestructible 11/11 artifact creature. My turn. I play a swamp.

It was garbage.


That being said, I do like the game and am happy with the purchase. The decks though seem a little plain. For instance there are none that focus on hand/deck/land destruction. I really liked the blue/white deck from the previous game that was creatureless (more or less) and just ground down their deck. It gave a very different feel. None of that here.

superfro

Fuckin' Moxes.

pinata242

Wait, what? Last guy? You already tore through it? Damn, son! That's impressive.

BTW, I love that indestructible 11/11 creature

xmiyux

Yeah I took that first green deck and beat unlocked all but the last deck with it. The last deck (basically the guy before the main boss) I couldn't beat with the green deck and had to switch to the red burn deck.

So far my favorite deck has been the all black vampire one.

Liver&Onions

It's reading parts of threads like this that make me wish I wasn't into videogames.

starman9000

Outta here jock!

Liver&Onions

UncleGramps

Don't hate on Magic nerds! They let regular video game nerds like us feel superior.

Liver&Onions

Shit, good point Gramps. As you were card game fuckos!

superfro

Don't you have a city to drive up to and help destroy?

Liver&Onions

The sad part is, I made a joke yesterday at lunch time that if I left then I could make the riots.

superfro

Well...all you had to go on was history. Fucking idiots.

You don't see no MTG riots though. Or if you did they'd be done in like 90 seconds cause everybody would be winded and sweating profusely.

pinata242

Fixed.

Shagrath

Looks like the XBLA games for this week are going to be Trenched and Lucha Fury.

EDIT: I was wrong on pricing. Trenched will be 1200, and Lucha Fury will be 800.

Michael Corvin

Apparently I lied:

Shagrath

Also, looks like the DOTW will be Popcap stuff (at least in the UK), according to AceyBongos.

50% off most stuff, and 75% off Bejeweled Blitz.

Kedrix

What is Lucha Fury? Mexican Wrestling perhaps? I still haven't cracked open my copy of the AAA game that was released last year I believe.

Shagrath

Looks like it's a side scrolling beat-em-up.

pinata242

If this ends up being true for US, you all need to get it. It's really fun once you let it grow on you. My $10 was well-spent, for $2.50 it would be a god damned steal.

Decker

I'd buy it for that. But not for much more. It didn't exactly thrill me.

Decker

Joystiq put up a review of Trenched. Sounds fun and deep, but I'm not a big tower defense fan and might wait on this to see how Toy Soldiers 2 turned out. I can't really see myself getting both. Then again, if this demo is awesome, I just might. Double Fine is turning into a really exceptional XBLA development studio. (Now the Sesame Street Kinect game, on the other hand...)

pinata242

... is not meant for you.

Decker

I doubt my five-year old has $50 saved up for it, however.

BTW Maj Nelson just confirmed the the DOTW will be Pop Cap games. No word on pricing or games though.