August 20 – August 24

Section: 

Transformers: The Fall of Cybertron is the video game that I feel, in some ways, like I've waited 30 years to finally have at my fingertips. Or at least, that's the impression I have from the trailers and previews. If this team wanted me to look at their game and remember countless hours spent in the backyard as my box full of Transformers waged war across a verdant landscape under the hot Dallas sun, then let's just call that mission accomplished. I'm just hoping someone can really do Transformers right, though I honestly do not know exactly what that means. It's one of those "I'll know it when I see it" things, I guess.

Anything to tear me away from Orcs Must Die 2, I suppose, which I've now sunk an inexplicable 50 hours into. While happily at the top of my friends leaderboard on the vast majority of maps, I am still crawling after that achievement to beat level 50 on endless mode. I have, to date, made it only to level 45.

Also, coming this Saturday is the early access to Guild Wars 2, though the game doesn't officially launch until next week. While I'm excited to play GW2, there is also some increasing part of my gamer-self that dreads yet another MMO launch weekend spent competing with countless other players for precious spawns among overcrowded zones. Mind you, it's not enough of an issue to stop me from playing, because if there's anything you can say about we MMO players, it's that we are gluttons for punishment.

Also this week, Dark Souls makes the big jump to PC and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive proves yet again that you just can't get rid of CS. If it's been too long since you've been AWP'd by a filthy camper, then here's your chance to relive that special hell. Headshot!

PC
- Dark Souls: Prepare to Die
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (download)
- Galaxy on Fire 2 Full HD (download)
- Jagged Alliance: Crossfire (download)
- The Trouble With Robots (download)
- Thirty Flights of Loving (download)
- Tiny Troopers (download)
- Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
- Wooden Sen'SeY (download)

Xbox 360
- Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (XBLA)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure HD Ver. (XBLA)

PS3
- Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (PSN - $15)
- Deep Black (PSN)
- Retro/Grade (PSN)
- Gungrave: Overdose (PS2 Classic)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure HD Ver. (PSN - $20)
- Legasista (PSN)
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty HD (PSN)
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater HD (PSN)
- Way of the Samurai 4 (PSN)

Vita
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty HD (PSN)
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater HD (PSN)

3DS
- Vector Racing (eShop)

DS
- Abyss (DSiWare)

Comments

Dark Souls on the PC should be interesting. If the port is decent, I might buy it again.

If you've never played it before, buyer beware that early speculation that the technical port is shaky and it uses GFW for the multiplayer aspects. Wait and see.

Seems like a pretty good week. Signs that fall is right around the corner.

Yeah, I'm interested in possibly double-dipping on Dark Souls, but I'm awaiting final impressions of how well the port turned out. I'm mildly disappointed that it's restricted to 720p resolution, but if the performance improves enough with good hardware then I can accept that.

Transformers for me, because I am a 34 year old child. The last game was a decent enough shooter, and I need a nice brain dead game to match my plan to enter a vegetative state for the next two weeks whilst on leave from work.

spider_j wrote:

Transformers for me, because I am a 34 year old child. The last game was a decent enough shooter, and I need a nice brain dead game to match my plan to enter a vegetative state for the next two weeks whilst on leave from work.

Are the cars going to strafe in this one too?

Definitely double dipping on Dark Souls if the port is ok. I don't want to wait another few months for the DLC to come out on consoles.

Already have double dipped on Dark Souls.
"Rumors" are that it is not a good port though - with locked resolution, locked FPS, and despite of these, bad performance.

You forgot to mention that my birthday is today. You always forget!

SallyNasty wrote:

You forgot to mention that my birthday is today. You always forget!

Game(r with Job) of the Week!

IMAGE(http://hmongza.com/uploads/monthly_02_2010/post-5868-126526277031_thumb.jpg)

Shadout wrote:

Already have double dipped on Dark Souls.
"Rumors" are that it is not a good port though - with locked resolution, locked FPS, and despite of these, bad performance.

I've heard "rumors" going both ways, so I'm desperately hoping the ones you speak of are the wrong ones.

And happy bday Sally

In an effort to save money and catch up on my pile, Transformers: War for Cybertron will be my last game of the year. Until I see what Black Friday sales have in store, of course.

In some ways, it's the Transformers I wanted the movies to be. In others, the dialogue is a reminder of just what God awful sh*t I was willing to put up with just to watch transforming robots shoot the Hell out of each other.

GW2!!! Double dip on Dark Souls. Interested in Way of the Samurai 4 and Legasista. It's Christmas!!!

While I'm excited to play GW2, there is also some increasing part of my gamer-self that dreads yet another MMO launch weekend spent competing with countless other players for precious spawns among overcrowded zones.

Been on blackout with GW2? This shouldn't be an issue as everyone is working together for the "quests". See:

And this: http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/...

Believe the hype!!!

Certis wrote:

If you've never played it before, buyer beware that early speculation that the technical port is shaky and it uses GFW for the multiplayer aspects. Wait and see.

Ack. Was really looking forward to finally experiencing the series, but I guess I'll wait for impressions now. Blah, stupid reality getting in the way of my enthusiastic idealism.

Can't decide if I'm double dipping for Dark Souls or just getting the DLC on PS3. If PC I'll be waiting for fall/winter Steam sales I guess.

Is this the first week where downloadable titles outnumber retail by a significant margin, or is it just that pre-holiday slow period?

Also, happy birthday Sally.

Wooden Sen'SeY seems pretty good. I'll have to check it out.

Other than that, DkS's Prepare do Die is interesting but I will wait until the DLC releases on consoles to check it out properly. Seeing as I already own the 360 version of the game and whatnot.

Montalban wrote:
Certis wrote:

If you've never played it before, buyer beware that early speculation that the technical port is shaky and it uses GFW for the multiplayer aspects. Wait and see.

Ack. Was really looking forward to finally experiencing the series, but I guess I'll wait for impressions now. Blah, stupid reality getting in the way of my enthusiastic idealism.

The console versions are not technical masterpieces either. The artwork and visual design are gorgeous to behold, but the framerate dips can be very frustrating.

GFW as the matchmaker is a big red flag though. Steamworks would have been a better choice. Although...

Isn't GFW now integrated with XBL?

That might make it more attractive. If XBL players can join your game as well, it should be fine. I had plenty of co-op and pvp moments during my Xbox Live play sessions.

Thirty Flights of Loving. Crazy name, but a quick Google search finds some pretty high praise:

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/03/06/th...

Haven't heard of any games doing 360-PC cross platform.

Now PS3-PC, yes. Steam was with Portal 2, and it was awesome.

garion333 wrote:

Been on blackout with GW2? This shouldn't be an issue as everyone is working together for the "quests".

Also, there is no competition for gathering nodes, all nodes are phased for each player and when it comes to loot rolls, forget em, as each person gets their own phased chest in dungeon runs or dynamic events.

kazooka wrote:

Thirty Flights of Loving. Crazy name, but a quick Google search finds some pretty high praise:

http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/03/06/th...

That's a great review/overview of Thirty Flights (I didn't notice that was out this week). I think $5 is a little more than I'd be willing to pay ($3 would be more appropriate) if I hadn't gotten it out of the Idle Thumbs KS, but it's clear a lot of love/effort went into it. Definitely recommend playing Gravity Bone first. The two games aren't directly related, but GB does a great job of informing the "experiencer" about what to expect in Thirty Flights.

There's some additional thoughts from Thumbs fans in the Idle Thumbs catch-all.

Going to be a busy week after about a month of bugger all - Darksiders just unlocked (finally) here this morning and already pre-purchased Dark Souls PC. Probably going to grab Transformers as well if the PC port holds up.

Stele wrote:

Haven't heard of any games doing 360-PC cross platform.

I believe Shadowrun was the first attempt.

Quintin_Stone wrote:
Stele wrote:

Haven't heard of any games doing 360-PC cross platform.

I believe Shadowrun was the first attempt.

And pretty much the biggest noteworthy attempt. No one else wanted to be latched onto the "PC requires Vista" thing, I think. Or just didn't want to bother? I dunno.

I'm a bit nervous about the Fall of Cybertron PC port as they weren't originally intending to do one. It seems like only a short time ago that they announced that it would be on PC so I'm a little leery of the quality of the port.

Has anyone unlocked it on Steam yet?

Garden Ninja wrote:
spider_j wrote:

Transformers for me, because I am a 34 year old child. The last game was a decent enough shooter, and I need a nice brain dead game to match my plan to enter a vegetative state for the next two weeks whilst on leave from work.

Are the cars going to strafe in this one too?

They were hover cars. Duh.

I really liked the last Cybertron. I plan to grab this soon-ish.

I'm not in the market for a new title, but man that Transformers: FoC demo hella-impressed.

I'll be all over it when some time frees up in my schedule.

Also sports one of the better/best trailers I've seen all year if you idle at the menu screen for a bit.

Thirty Flights of Loving. Totally missed this was coming out this week. Awesome! Idle Thumbs love to all and to all a good night!