The Playstation Vita Catch-All

ahrezmendi wrote:

Jealous of the case I already have? This word you keep using, I do not think it means what you think it means.

Inconceivable!

My ongoing Vita experience, 12/22/12 edition.

I picked up Little Big Planet because it was half price at Gamestop and I'd never played the series. As it turns out, most of what I'd heard was true, and the game's not for me. I'm a gameplay-first player and a cute aesthetic and UGC can only go so far. Trials Evolution does what it seems this game wants to do, but with a really engaging core mechanic.

I signed up for three months of PS+ to get the initial batch of free games, or to rent them anyway. The only one I've played so far is Wipeout. I like it, but it's kind of just more Wipeout, and the load times are as bad as I'd heard. Next up is Gravity Rush. I already know I like it mechanically from the demo, we'll see how it holds up over the full game. Another series I've never played is Uncharted, but I've watched my old roommate play plenty of it. While it isn't the kind of thing I'd buy a PS3 for, I'll give it a fair shake once I'm done with Corpse Party and have enough space on my memory card to download it. 3GB

Wait, Corpse Party! Yeah!

I'm really impressed with this game. I never, ever would've believed a portable game could be scary. Or something that looks like an early SNES game. But they pull it off with aplomb due to excellent sound work. The music and VO are just top notch. The gameplay is somewhat bare-bones but it never gets in the way of the game's appeals - atmosphere, narrative, and dread. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for something totally unique. A tolerance or affinity for Japanese sensibilities is required, though.

With the credit from selling MLB and LBP (and a 360 game) I bought Ragnarok Odyssey. I know the game had a less than stellar reception here and most places, but I really like XSEED as a publisher and wanted to see what they took a chance on. I've been pleasantly surprised at the flow of the combo system, especially the elemental branches as a mage. The challenge is also refreshing.

The game does seem to try and approximate the Monster Hunter experience and unfortunately falls short in one key area - you have to make a new character for each class. There aren't classes in MH per se, but each weapon type plays about as deep as a class on RO. As such you can adapt your character to whatever you feel like playing without losing any ground, which isn't the case here. Still, a decent combat system goes a long way with me, so I'm sticking with this one for a bit.

Still haven't played AC3:L.

Yeah, Corpse Party is awesome. I'm pretty much sold on the sequel whenever that comes out.

Don't overlook Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack -- I played through it, start to finish, over the last 2 days. It's FANTASTIC!

The touch controls really make the game shine...

merphle wrote:

Don't overlook Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack -- I played through it, start to finish, over the last 2 days. It's FANTASTIC!

Yeah, I'll give it a shot but I've tried similar games and they didn't do it for me (Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, Fluidity).

Edit: was thinking of another game at first.

Mr GT Chris wrote:

Yeah, Corpse Party is awesome. I'm pretty much sold on the sequel whenever that comes out.

Can't remember if I commented on it, but I was really impressed with my initial time with CP. I stopped playing because I didn't know how to progress, but they crafted a great atmosphere.

I'm still shocked that Corpse Party was a Game Maker game.

I was going to suggest you try some of the community levels for LBP, a lot of them show more creativity than the core game levels, but I see you already sold it.

Mutant Blobs Attack is one of my top 3 games on the system, and I'm really looking forward to Guacamelee because of it.

ahrezmendi wrote:

I was going to suggest you try some of the community levels for LBP, a lot of them show more creativity than the core game levels, but I see you already sold it.

I did, the mushy mechanics still ruin it.

Digging Mutant Blobs after three levels, though. Aside from the humor being kinda played ("all your _____ belong to us" is done, guys).

Man persona 4 golden is amazing. Easily my number 1 on the system.

merphle wrote:

The touch controls really make the game shine...

I'm okay, but not thrilled with the touch controls. The tilt levels can absolutely take a hike though, ugh.

Overall I really dig the game though.

Just finished Uncharted. It felt like Uncharted, which is probably the highest praise it could be given. I enjoyed it, but most of the touch controls could have been done away with.

For people with an EU account: They're giving away four minis (Velocity, Breakquest, Wizorb, Canabalt) on their facebook page if you share/like/tweet: https://www.facebook.com/SonyPlaysta...

wahwah wrote:

For people with an EU account: They're giving away four minis (Velocity, Breakquest, Wizorb, Canabalt) on their facebook page if you share/like/tweet: https://www.facebook.com/SonyPlaysta...

I foolishly tried this with a US account, but it didn't work. Taking one for the team, just so nobody else has to go through the pain of actually logging into Facebook.

I just tried that with a UK account, and it doesn't work. It says that the code that it provides has already been redeemed.

merphle wrote:

Don't overlook Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack -- I played through it, start to finish, over the last 2 days. It's FANTASTIC!

When you're right, you're right.

The game is great. I too beat it over two days. It is hands down the best Vita-specific game I've played yet, and I've tried most of the heavy hitters. The last two levels were perfect, but I really would've liked some DLC or something.

merphle wrote:

The touch controls really make the game shine...

You're wrong! I dunno, I didn't like the touch controls much. They run into the "fatty hands in the way of stuff I need to see" problem, particularly in the rare occasions where multitouch is needed.

I don't think it'll crack my GOTY list because it's kind of sparse and the tilt specific levels really aren't fun, and there's a short mandatory tilt part that isn't quite as obnoxious. Still, great game.

Dear lord, Nfs most wanted, gold. Just amazing, words can't describe.

So I decided to pick up MGS:HD collection for my Vita since the sale is nice and I've always been curious to try the series. While doing so, I see Unit 13 is on sale as well and that it's relatively well reviewed by users around the web. Have any of you tried it? I guess I could use some enabling or disabling.

I haven't played it, but I've seen a lot of people on this site give it praise. I'm sure they'll chime in soon enough.

mateofalcone wrote:

So I decided to pick up MGS:HD collection for my Vita since the sale is nice and I've always been curious to try the series.

Well, it's very unfortunate that version doesn't come with MSG, but you should know one pivotal thing before you begin MGS2: Yes.

Yes, it's totally insane. Yes, you can skip all of Jack and Rose's conversations. Yes, they are truly that terrible and some of the most insufferable dialogue I've ever had the misfortune of encountering in a video game. Yes, the same goes for Emma and Otacon. Save yourself the disappointment, it goes to crazy places but still manages to be totally flat. (What a terrible waste of Jennifer Hale) And yes, at the end, it's the game, not the drugs you're on.

Yeah, I'm on the fence with Unit 13 too.

Based on the demo and the videos I've seen, Unit 13 always felt too claustrophobic. The only reason I'd consider picking it up would be if I was in dire need of some co-op. My time however is being spent elsewhere.

I really like Unit 13. Small maps, multiple objectives types, sometimes strung together in a longer mission. It's more hardcore than I was expecting; even the missions flagged as run and gun will punish you if you go in at full tilt. If you want a military-esque shooter, it's the only game in town (BLOPS counts as a stain on the Vita's catalogue, nothing more), but really isn't a bad effort.

The Soul Sacrifice demo came out for Japan last week, so I went through the process of playing it, a process I don't recommend. Others have gone in depth with it, and more than I can, so I'll just give my impression of it. Don't think of Monster Hunter. It doesn't play like it, and its structure is quite different. It's a bite-sized action game that seems to have a good amount of character customization for the things that you'll be using in battle. I didn't use the systems enough to know if I'll like it, but nothing felt off for me. Most of the combat felt good, but the character does feel a little slow, from the default speed to the "weapon" attack animations. The frame rate notably dipped once, but overall I was glad I tried it firsthand.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost...

Game play starts around 6min.

I finished all the single player missions in Unit 13 and while it's got limitations, I really liked it. I'd still love to do the co-op stuff if anyone's interested.

I did receive a Vita for Xmas after all and have been able to spend a little time with it the past couple of days. It truly is a wonderful piece of technology, and I'm all in on it like I did with the PSP (I signed up to PS+ today), but I hate feeling like I'm playing a system that is already on it's way out. Regardless of that, I'm certainly not going to let it hamper my enjoyment of the platform.

I went through the Google doc spreadsheet this morning and sent out friend requests to each name (though there were a couple that bounced due to their request settings). Looking forward to eyeballing the top scores like I did on the 360 (especially pinball).

Great, it'll be good to have a new challenger on the pinball games, since no one else seems to play them on this platform that much. My scores are relegated to vanilla Pinball Arcade, and The Paranormal, Sorcerer's Lair, & PvZ tables for Zen.

Has anyone found a "drop proof" case? I took this on my train ride today and it was rainy and I was feeling like I should have something more substantial covering the system while it was in my hands.

Oh emm gee. I just got my Waterfield Vita case, this thing is SUPER SLICK! So much easier to use than the FEB case, thinner, and the materials are top quality. Worth every penny, highly recommended.