OOTM 4-29-02

[Anubis]

Post Comments on today's OOTM here.

[hiv]

Is Sof 2 that exciting? I still have a lot to say against FPS in general, I don't see any serious evolution from Wolfenstein 3D to todays products (excluding multiplayer), but maybe it's just me.

[Anubis]

I'm talking purely MP here in regards to SoF2. And even that depends on who you play with. I happen to be lucky enough to play on a private server with a bunch of serious gamers who will work together as a team, take & give orders, actually use tactics. Combined with a little bit more "give" than CS plus fun grenades, balanced weaopns, good net-code, and excellent level design, the MP experience is very good.

There is something wonderful about watching a team of real people move together in 2 by 2 cover formation down a flight of stairs. The game rocks, but only if you have serious people to play it with. The few times I have been on pub servers it has sucked. With pub servers you get people who can never get the idea that it is teamplay and not deathmatch. I wish Raven would take out the scoring system for indivduals and only leave team scores in. Oh well.

[hiv]

Maybe my mind is too peacefull, I really can't get absorbed by such games, whilst it looks like you would dump real life anytime for a good play of Sof2 http://www.gamershell.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Anubis]

Nah.. I love riding my bike too much to stay indoors all the time. Either that or I spend the rest of my free time working out. As far as gaming goes I am a jaded cynic. There are very few game worth my time or money. SoF2 is one of them, JK2 barely was. I can't rember the last game I purchased before that...RtCW I think, and before that...GTA3 for my PS2. I attempt to only play excellent games, it's all I have time for in my schedule.

[hiv]

and GTA3 offers that freedom of gameplay someone talked about, or it's just another good game?

[Anubis]

GTA3 is good because it offers the opportunity to have emergent gameplay. ie: It is a virtual arena with set rules, populated by permanent AI characters who have set patterns and reactions. Combined with a large environment and numerous 100+ missions it offers very open ended gameplay. This also lets a gamer decide how they want to solve puzzles. This is very important for a immersion in a game. Most importantly it does it all with the illusion of non-linear gameplay. While it seems you are free to do whatever (and you are), to progress the story further one must complete certain missions. GTA3 is a very well constructed game that many companies are going to emulate in the future. NOt the actual style or genre but the manner in which the game is constructed and designed.