February 11 – February 15

Section: 

First up, a note regarding our recently ended Call for Writers. I don't know if I just called really loudly or what, but you guys responded in a big way. As if that wasn't enough, a lot of you ended up writing some really good drafts. The reality is that it's going to take a while to read, sift, discuss and make some decisions. And, to be honest, we're probably not talking about having things done in the next week or so. It might just be a little bit longer than that.

This is obviously a good problem to have, but I wanted to provide you guys fair warning. My intention is to make sure I respond to every draft, and as much as possible I'd like to have something constructive to say, but I'm going to ask for your patience through that process.

As far as the week goes, while we don't have the wide wealth of exciting games for this set, we still have more than what we were seeing in January. I heard a recent criticism that Aliens: Colonial Marines looks too much like a traditional shooter which kind of misses the point of what made Aliens great. It's a concern I share, though I usually like what Gearbox does, particular with Borderlands — I just try to forget that they ultimately got stuck with Duke Nukem — so I'm skeptical but hopeful. After all, a chance to go back to LV-426 in the immediate aftermath of the movie Aliens is at the very least an intriguing proposition.

So, I'm giving Colonial Marines my nod as game of the week.

PC
- Aliens: Colonial Marines
- Impire (download)
- Ys I & II Chronicles+ (download)

Xbox 360
- Aliens: Colonial Marines
- Omerta: City of Gangsters

PS3
- Aliens: Colonial Marines
- Alien Breed (PSN)

Vita
- Alien Breed (PSN)
- Ecolibrium (PSN)
- Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken (PSN)

3DS
- PES 2013
- Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed

Comments

I'll take a chance on the Rocketbirds release and look for some feedback on Alien Breed as well. That leaves you in charge of playing space marine.

Ugh... I had high hopes for Colonial Marines, but based on some of the game footage I watched today, it look's like it's more Duke than Pandora. I'll wait until I see some reviews come in, but so far I'm feeling good about not jumping on the pre-order.

Why is the PS3 the only platform not bolded? Shouldn't that be the Vita?

Minarchist wrote:

Why is the PS3 the only platform not bolded? Shouldn't that be the Vita? :)

No, that'd be the Wii U. No need to bold it if you don't have to write it at all.

[sadtrombone.wav]

Was thinking about Omerta, but it is getting trashed in the reviews so I'll pass. Looks like the wallet is getting the week off.

Original "Amiga-style" Alien Breed on the Vita...that sounds mighty tempting.

3 games for the Vita, and I'm tempted to get them all...

Aliens Colonial Marines is this week? Great! It was supposed to be Dec 31, then I thought they changed it to Mar 31, so it's good to get it before I thought. That said, it is SUPPOSED to finally be the next evolution in Left 4 Dead gameplay, at least in the asymmetric team v. team genre, BUT so little info has been released about the objective modes that I'm scared it will just be a forgettable team versus a la Aliens Versus Predator, not the incredibly awesome objective mode game like Aliens Online. Time to start looking for reviews to see if I should pick it up.

Only thing I'm curious about is Impire, although I'm a little wary of the Dungeon Keeper "spiritual successors" after Dungeons failed to impress me with its demo a couple years ago.

Paradox, right? So I'll wait and let the 3MA crew confirm or deny its UI being impenetrable.

Oops on Aliens it sounds...

Keithustus wrote:

Paradox, right? So I'll wait and let the 3MA crew confirm or deny its UI being impenetrable.

Paradox is only publishing. Regardless you should probably wait and see.

garion333 wrote:

Regardless you should probably wait and see.

Gotcha. Looks like the same tactic for Aliens: Colonial Marines. I've been watching the news feeds for it for years and years, but now that reviews are in, looks like either a Skip or a Try When $15.

Yeah, the consensus seems to be the new Aliens game is a turd. That makes me sad. This was on my must-buy list pending halfway decent reviews, and it didn't even manage that.

Impire's out already? For some reason I thought it was going to be a fall release. Color me excited, since Dungeon Keeper 1/2 and my wife's favorite games. I might be able to sneak in an extra Valentine's day present to her

Edit: Got it as a Valentine's day gift. She's ecstatic!

Consensus munshenshus...?... I'll see if this Aliens game is crap with my own two thumbs.

ccesarano wrote:

Consensus munshenshus...?... I'll see if this Aliens game is crap with my own two thumbs.

As a person who enjoyed Metroid: Other M, Dante's Inferno, and the remake of Alone in the Dark, I endorse this kind of see-for-yourself attitude. Metacritic scores are an aggregate of reviews' opinions, not of your own opinion.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
ccesarano wrote:

Consensus munshenshus...?... I'll see if this Aliens game is crap with my own two thumbs.

As a person who enjoyed Metroid: Other M, Dante's Inferno, and the remake of Alone in the Dark, I endorse this kind of see-for-yourself attitude. Metacritic scores are an aggregate of reviews' opinions, not of your own opinion.

I'll give you Alone in the Dark but the other games were rated well above the 43 or so Aliens is getting.

ClockworkHouse wrote:
ccesarano wrote:

Consensus munshenshus...?... I'll see if this Aliens game is crap with my own two thumbs.

As a person who enjoyed Metroid: Other M, Dante's Inferno, and the remake of Alone in the Dark, I endorse this kind of see-for-yourself attitude. Metacritic scores are an aggregate of reviews' opinions, not of your own opinion.

The remake of Alone in the Dark is a game I'd like to revisit for a more in-depth analysis one day. The game is fascinating in a game design perspective, though in terms of good ideas and bad ideas. So much that should have been left on the cutting room floor.

I still want to make a meme out of "I don't have your stone! And f*ck YOU ANYWAY!", too.

Wait and see mode on Aliens: Colonial Marines for me :/

Ecolibrium is in theory a game I never before realized how much I want, but their implementation leaves me wanting I think.

I'm thinking Elysium should retroactively choose a different GotW. A:CM is getting almost universally slammed.

MeatMan wrote:

I'm thinking Elysium should retroactively choose a different GotW. A:CM is getting almost universally slammed.

But is it Star Wars Kinect bad?

(Ys I+II was robbed!)

I think the remake of Alien Breed is my pick of the week. I loved the '93 edition, and this looks like a very faithful return to form -- something the previous "new" Alien Breed games never quite captured.

I've been watching tons of multiplayer ACM and have finally decided to give them my money. The power and fun of well-upgraded xeno play is too tempting, even though the campaign is such a train wreck.

System Shock 2 on GOG surpasses all of these. It is known.

It is known.

Elysium wrote:

It is known.

So say we all.

MisterStatic wrote:
Elysium wrote:

It is known.

So say we all.

But... brain... two... different...

::geeksplosion::