Archangel3371 said:

Yeah I'd say they're fairly big. Not the best looking game ever but very, very nice. Lot of excellent little details and effects going on.

Cool!

I know Halo 3 was criticised for not looking like a next-gen game when it came out. So finally seeing and playing it, do you think Halo Reach is a true next-gen Halo game?

Those impressions you speak of are probably extremely biased. The only change that is really due to the PSP's limitations is the way the battlefields are now separated into 2-5 different self-contained areas which are only connected via flags, requiring you to capture a base in one area in order to open up the corresponding base in another area and deploy your units to it from there. Calling it worse however is just an opinion, not a fact, as it can add another layer of strategy. You still have different bases to take over within a single area of the battlefield requiring the same strategies as always but now you also need to juggle your limited number of troops in multiple different areas depending on the objective.In a basic skirmish for example you usually can divide your forces into 2 different areas in the beginning (though one usually doesn't have a flag so they're sort of cut off until you take over a base and link them) which makes the AI divide its attention as well, or you can just focus on one area, clearing it 100% before moving on to the next after taking over all the bases there (which means the AI can no longer spawn reinforcements there unless it takes over the flag that links there from another area), etc.

It may have been a change due to the PSP's hardware, but it's a change that feels like a solid design choice as well. Everything else that is different outside the graphics has nothing to do with the PSP's hardware limitations, it's just what they wanted for the sequel. I'll also disagree with people who say the story is "high school shit" as the bulk of the story and missions is a civil war (likely sparked by the motives of the forces in VC1 too, but I've not finished it yet), and your characters are in a military officers academy. Yes, there's some classmate-like drama but VC1 didn't lack in silly side stories and character interactions from what I've seen either. It still deals with themes like racism, friendship, trust and corny shit VC1 did and the cast is mostly charming aside from a couple of oddballs (including the main character, which I find good, but I can understand people hating him).

The main change I'd like to see (which probably isn't gonna happen, sadly) is for the classes to finally be balanced in a way that makes it a real strategy game so that the AI can use the same tactics you do in a fair manner, and not come with overwhelming numbers to make up for its mostly passive behaviour (outside bosses and other dangerous enemies, or outside chasing certain objectives). I also think it's silly you can just keep using the same unit with your CP, so that once you get your tank for example in a good position you can obliterate loads of enemies in the same round before they can retaliate. There should be more limits to their abilities, especially since the AI doesn't tend to abuse that system outside "boss" missions that are meant to be tougher (though the game's starting to be harder so I don't know, maybe later still it does do that). But even if it did abuse it, it just doesn't feel right. I'd welcome a more Advance Wars-like approach, making it primarily a strategy game and not so RPG-ish in how you defeat enemies using and abusing your best troops over and over. Either way though, they're great.

Sweet:

aspro said:

If you want to play the game buy the console.  It's like the people who wanted Dead Space Extraction for the HD consoles. Get over it, PSP's are like what $129?  I mean, once you get up to three exclusives that you want to play on a console, that's the time to quit your bias and buy the damn thing.

There are also people that you know want the best possible game. The best possible PSP game will never be as good as the best possible PS3 game. That is why these damn portable games that should be console games are annoying.

Dvader said:

There are also people that you know want the best possible game. The best possible PSP game will never be as good as the best possible PS3 game. That is why these damn portable games that should be console games are annoying.

So we should start whining how every game isn't a PC-exclusive and how every game doesn't have an 100 million budget and how every game isn't made by the top 5 studios meaning no games are the best they could be?

Agnates said:

Those impressions you speak of are probably extremely biased. The only change that is really due to the PSP's limitations rather than a decision by the developers for the sequel they wanted to make is the way the battlefields are now separated into 2-5 different self-contained areas which are only connected via flags, requiring you to capture a base in one area in order to open up the corresponding base in another area and deploy your units to it from there. Calling it worse however is just an opinion, not a fact, as it can add another layer of strategy. You still can have different bases to take over within a single area of the battlefield requiring the same strategies as always but now you also need to juggle your available troops among multiple different areas depending on the objective.You can go about things in different ways depending on the objective. In a basic skirmish you usually can divide your forces into 2 different areas in the beginning (though one usually doesn't have a flag so they're sort of cut off until you take over a base and link them) which makes the AI divide its attention as well, or you can just focus on one area, clearing it 100% before moving on to the next after taking over all the bases there (which means the AI can no longer spawn reinforcements there unless it takes over the flag that links there from another area, which it can't if you've already set up a defence there), or whatever else.

It may have been a change due to the PSP's hardware, but it's a change that feels like a solid design choice as well. Everything else that is different outside the graphics has nothing to do with the PSP's hardware limitations, it's just what they wanted for the sequel. I'll also disagree with people who say the story is "high school shit" as the bulk of the story and missions is a civil war (likely sparked by the motives of the forces in VC1 too, but I've not finished it yet), and your characters are in a military officers academy. Yes, there's some classmate-like drama but VC1 didn't lack in silly side stories and character interactions from what I've seen either. It still deals with themes like racism, friendship, trust and corny shit VC1 did and the cast is mostly charming aside from a couple of oddballs (including the main character. which I find good, but I can understand people hating him).

The main change I'd like to see (which probably isn't gonna happen, sadly) is for the classes to finally be balanced in a way that makes it a real strategy game so that the AI can use the same tactics you do in a fair manner, and not come with overwhelming numbers to make up for its mostly passive behaviour (outside bosses and other dangerous enemies, or outside chasing certain objectives). I also think it's silly you can just keep using the same unit with your CP, so that once you get your tank for example in a good position you can obliterate loads of enemies in the same round before they can retaliate. There should be more limits to their abilities, especially since the AI doesn't tend to abuse that system outside "boss" missions that are meant to be tougher (though the game's starting to be harder so I don't know, maybe later still it does do that). But even if it did abuse it, it just doesn't feel right. I'd welcome a more Advance Wars-like approach, making it primarily a strategy game and not so RPG-ish in how you defeat enemies using and abusing your best troops over and over. Either way though, they're great.

I'm not reading all that, but I know what you're trying to say. But this is NOT just about gameplay. It's about presentation and the advantage the PS3 has over the PSP.

People loved the first VC not because it was just a good strategy game but because of the unique and beautiful art style. The cut scenes were wonderfully animated in real-time with a masterful watercolor pallete that felt like a painting come to life. It's that artsy stuff that the game is renowned for and that's what the fans want to see again, not just advancements in the gameplay.

I'm not faulting the PSP game at all. I enjoy it myself, but it's still not the same. I played VC1 and it's one of the most beautiful games I ever played. You can't do that stuff on the PSP. So it's not bias at all.

I think you're missing the point here, Agnates.

The new Yakuza game is a zombie game!

Brilliant!

Yesterday, some random guy said on Twitter that he'd heard a rumor that Yakuza Of the End is a zombie game where zombies have run amok on the streets of Kamurocho.

It sounded pretty far fetched, but it's actually for real. Screens from Famitsu have leaked out, and the streets of Kamurocho they show the streets of a destroyed Kamurcho crawling with zombies. And well dressed zombies too -- it looks like "they" (I don't know who "they" is) got to the hosts.

The screens show Japan's self defense force being deployed on the streets of Kamurcho. But they're no match for the party-loving zombies of the neon city who in one shot appear to be grouping together to pick up a tank.

Or you "should" be glad there's a worthy sequel at all instead of another dead franchise thanks to HD costs and underperformance?

@aspro, tldr? that's the short version

I don't think I'm missing any point (maybe you are since you didn't read my post? I dunno), all I see is primarily PS3 gamers who want every game on their preffered system. There's no reason a third party company needs to show any sort of console loyalty. I mean, Vader here would apparently be happy if the games were the same and just didn't have "2" and "3" in their title so he could label them "spin offs" which is just crazy. VC1 didn't do great on PS3 before the price slashes, let's be glad the franchise continues at all. Maybe they'll give home consoles another shot later, maybe they won't. I often say I wish a game was on another system I own but I don't try to justify it as anything more than a personal preference by claiming a company should do it for other reasons... And I tend to say it for ports, ie, not something with so much extra cost as a full new game with new graphics etc would have.

aspro said:

1. Japanese install base.

2. Poor sales on PS3.

3. Strong sales of VC2 on PSP in Japan.

An effort to make money, thats good for the company. But the fans that did buy the game have every right to be upset that the game went portable.

Dvader said:

The new Yakuza game is a zombie game!

Brilliant!

Yesterday, some random guy said on Twitter that he'd heard a rumor that Yakuza Of the End is a zombie game where zombies have run amok on the streets of Kamurocho.

It sounded pretty far fetched, but it's actually for real. Screens from Famitsu have leaked out, and the streets of Kamurocho they show the streets of a destroyed Kamurcho crawling with zombies. And well dressed zombies too -- it looks like "they" (I don't know who "they" is) got to the hosts.

The screens show Japan's self defense force being deployed on the streets of Kamurcho. But they're no match for the party-loving zombies of the neon city who in one shot appear to be grouping together to pick up a tank.

It's a good thing I shan't be on the podcast this week. Because I'll honestly say nothing but a big ol' FUCK YOU to Sega.

Seriously, Yakuza & Zombies? NO.

Though I don't mind the VC3 stuff. As long as it isn't filled with generic anime bullshit like VC2, I'll be happy.

Dvader said:

The new Yakuza game is a zombie game!

Brilliant!

Yesterday, some random guy said on Twitter that he'd heard a rumor that Yakuza Of the End is a zombie game where zombies have run amok on the streets of Kamurocho.

It sounded pretty far fetched, but it's actually for real. Screens from Famitsu have leaked out, and the streets of Kamurocho they show the streets of a destroyed Kamurcho crawling with zombies. And well dressed zombies too -- it looks like "they" (I don't know who "they" is) got to the hosts.

The screens show Japan's self defense force being deployed on the streets of Kamurcho. But they're no match for the party-loving zombies of the neon city who in one shot appear to be grouping together to pick up a tank.

Yeah, that's pretty insanely interesting!

Wonder how it'll be. Hope it's not just a zombie hack fest but it'll be fun like RE4.