I came to this game's forum because I was hoping hearing the GB squad's sudden interest in the series would make some people more aware of its existence. I recently completed 999 (I own every major game released since August and dropped them all after two hours of 999) and I'm about halfway through Virtue's Last Reward.
It was forced down my throat by a friend so I finally got a hold of a DS and the game. It absolutely blew my mind. It ranks very high with the best stories I've ever experienced. After much internal debate on how to do this, I described it to a friend as "creating a 5th wall and then breaking it." Hopefully anyone who has seen all the endings understands that comment.
Regarding the design choice to force you into seeing the bad endings and things like that: I HATE games with multiple endings. I think it's a cop out and a waste of time. Once I'd reached two endings in 999, I almost put it down because I thought that was such a dumb idea. Having seen them all, I will say this: just keep playing. If you want to know why (minor spoiler that will likely make you want to play the game) ...
The "true" ending explains and justifies both why you had to go through all the other endings AND why this is a DS game. Trust me. It matters.
Also, I apparently don't know how to use the spoiler block.
I hate the gameplay and "music" in Rez and I don't enjoy the playing part of Audiosurf. However, listening to what they said on the Bombcast, it sounds like a game I'd love. I'm into skill-based shooters like Stardust HD and Geometry Wars and they like to describe this as having "no skill cap...like an e-sport." Of course, then they said there was a demo and they were wrong about that. So yeah...
I actually agree with a lot of DesertDog's points, but my overall issue with Aris, his comments, and this entire situation doesn't really have anything to do with the implications of yelling "rape that bitch". The problem for me is with the fact that online video game players (and by extention, most young men) just can't seem to find a way to express dislike, displeasure, or happiness in a way that isn't crass. Obviously, MvC players aren't saying they want to see the player rape Phoenix, but that's beside the point. Is it really impossible to express your feelings about that character or game without going to extremes?
I get that it's a heat of the moment thing and it's acceptable in the community. I'm a black man who grew up in Detroit. I listen to rap music (certainly not exclusively but very frequently). I enjoy black comedians. I'm subjected to the word "nigga" all the time. I have made a conscious decision not to use it, and I NEVER struggle to express comradery or friendship using other words. In fact the only time it's ever difficult is when I'm quoting a song or a good joke. As a side note, I also play several fighting games competitively.
My point is this: I don't buy the argument that it's fine to say something just because it's a common occurrence within a community. If your position boils down to "Well everyone else I'm around fails to come up with better ways of expressing their opinions so I too will fail," you need to man up.
@gringbot: Just wanted to second your comment about how easy it is to get games on the cheap nowadays. In 2008, I lost my job and decided if I was going to make it through the year playing games, I would have to stop buying them at full price. Since then, and without resorting to buying used from Gamestop, I've had a backlog at least five games deep. Discounts happen far more frequently today than any other time in gaming history. Just as an example, I live in Michigan and in most stores, you can get Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Rage, Dead Island, Dark Souls, and Battlefield for under $40 brand new. It's just a matter of being patient and keeping your ears open.
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