Zsciaeount

Thiago: you don't take me seriously just because I did not think that MGS4 was the masterpiece that everyone wanted it to be?  C'mon.  It's a decent game, but it has some real problems, mostly due to the fact that Hideo Kojima needs an editor. 

I have played all of the MGS games, and while the interruptions weren't as bad as MGS3, MGS4 had way too many cutscenes which came way too frequently, and which overstayed their welcome each time.  That's not to say that the visuals weren't amazing (they were) or that the actual gameplay wasn't good (it was fun when you actually got to play it).  I am just saying that the story would have benefitted from a bit of tightening, and a reduction in the number of interruptions for Codec conversations and cutscenes.

Bottom line is that MGS4, just like the previous entries, had serious pacing problems, but I think those criticisms were overlooked because people were desperate to have a blockbuster PS3 game.

Look, I want the PS3 to succeed.  I really do.  Otherwise, I wouldn't have dropped $600 on a launch-day console.  But, Sony has really hurt themselves by letting exclusives such as Grand Theft Auto and Final Fantasy walk out the door.  The end result is that more and more games are going multiplatform, and the PS3 is hurting for exclusives.  Since I like the 360 controller and acheivements better, the PS3 doesn't get much daily use in my house.  It's a shame.

The PS3 is hurting... sales have stagnated.  That is not opinion... that is cold, hard fact.  They have dropped the price to no avail, which indicates that it's the lack of software, not hardware that is hurting the PS3.  As a result, I think that people (reviewers included) are desperate for a good PS3 release, and so they will be overly kind to games with flaws.  Don' think so?  Well, think about when the 360 was released, and Perfect Dark Zero got really good reviews... the game was utter and complete crap and has not held up at all.  It was just a case of people being desperately excited to usher in a new generation.  Also, look at the fact that the review embargo for Killzone 2 was lifted almost a month before release, which is very unusual... you can't tell me that there isn't some marketing at play for all the other sites that have published reviews already...

Yeah, it's the default pic, since I picked a Microsoft alignment when I signed up.  I actually think that the Halo series is among the most overrated in the history of games, and I slogged through them only out of a sense of duty as a gamer, so I am not putting Killzone 2 down because of fanboyism.  I appreciate those who remind others that it's just an opinion... to put my criticisms in context, keep in mind that I have been gaming for 26 years, I have played literally thousands of games, and I own every console of the current and previous generation, so I do spread the love to all systems.  That said...

To Bigrhyno: I agree, the PS3 has some good games, but most of those are multiplatform.  Since I like the 360 controller a bit better than the DualShock 3, and since I prefer achievements to trophies (when actually included in the game), I buy all of my multiplatform games for the 360.  That leaves my PS3 as a Blu-Ray player first, and a console for exclusive titles second.

There have been some real exclusive gems for the PS3.  Ratchet and Clank was very good, Heavenly Sword was waaay underrated, and Uncharted was one of my favorite games of 2007.  But, beyond that, it's been very thin for PS3 exclusives... LittleBigPlanet was fun while it lasted, but when you get down to it, few people will have time to make decent levels, and as a result of that and the insane moderation, finding good LBP levels can be very difficult. 

I know I will incur some wrath here, but I thought Metal Gear Solid 4 was just a bloated, overdone, self-important mess.  I loved the brief flashes of gameplay, but quickly got annoyed at all the interludes.  The final battle was amazing, but any enthusiasm I had was dashed by the ending and epilogue which overstayed their welcome by about 45 minutes.  Resistance and the sequel are just OK... certainly not on par with Gears or Call of Duty.

Will Killzone 2 be a fun game?  Yes.  Will I buy it?  Undoubtedly.  Is it the best looking game and best playing game ever?  Far from it.  As I said, the opening scene of the demo was nice, but when the engine switched from cutscene to actual gameplay, the textures got a bit sloppy, the poly counts dropped (look at the top of the Hellghast's heads after you shoot off their helmets... bumpy), and the lighting becomes less impressive.  Call of Duty 4 and Gears 2 look better, to be honest.  I thought the gameplay was rather standard.  The set pieces were not as thrilling as COD, but they got the job done.  Also, the cover mechanic is a bit wonky.  I don't like having to hold crouch to stick to a wall.

The bottom line is that while Killzone 2 seems like a solid game, and is sure to entertain, I hardly think it is the second coming that PS3 owners were looking for.  That is, this will not prove to be a killer app.  I think we will have to wait until we see God of War III before the PS3 becomes a must-have.

But, these are just my opinions.

Played the demo.  Meh.  The gameplay is standard fare.  The sound is excellent, and the first bit of the visuals is OK, but after that, it all looks pretty bland.  There are some nice lens flare effects, but when you're not looking into the light, it actually does not look all that impressive.  I think people are just desperate for a good PS3 game, and this one has been deemed good enough.  I'll wait for Uncharted or God of War.

Blech.  MGS4 was one of the prettiest crappy games I ever suffered through.  The gameplay was stretched gossamer-thin over the bloated, self-important plot.  My least favorite of all the MGS games.  I guess thousands of gamers really can be wrong...

I was a loyal Gamespot subscriber until the mass exodus.  CNet can say all they want, and I know the former employees of the site signed an agreement not to talk about it, but I think it's clear that CNet's management wanted to use Gamespot more for marketing and generating revenue than upholding its journalistic integrity.  Strike number one. 

The management also underestimated how loyal the core base can be.  I turned to Gamespot over its competitors because of guys like Gerstmann, Davis, Kasavin, Navarro, etc., etc.  Once those guys were gone, so was the soul of the site.  Just go to Gamespot now... it's still busy, but something is missing.  Strike two.

Gerstmann then gathers a group of the best guys in gaming journalism and launches a new site... that's Gamespot's third strike.

Now, with this site, you have a site run by guys who know what is great about being a gamer.  They understand that you can leave news to Kotaku and Joystiq.  You can leave the exclusive previews to sites and magazines willing to whore themselves for a sneak peek.  What you get here is hard-core gamers calling it like they see it, and as long as Gerstmann and company are in charge of the editorials, you know they are going to be honest and justified, even if you or I don't agree.

By giving the power to passionate users to contribute substantially to the content on the site, you're going to get something that eclipses other sites.

So what if there are no unions yet.  That can be added.  But honestly, aside from the Community Contributions union on Gamespot, did any of the unions actually serve a purpose??

I'm sticking with Giant Bomb.  In three years, the volume and quality of the content on here will be insane.

My interest in G4 is diminishing rapidly. 

X-Play still can't find its voice... 2 years ago, its tone was too immature, but had flashes of greatness.  Now, it's watered down and not as fun to watch.  I think it was a nice experiment to flesh out the show during the lean summer months by getting into more previews, interviews, and news, but Sessler and Webb aren't in their element when they're conducting an interview.  And that whole audience interaction thing with people on webcams and cellphones... ugh!  That segment needs to go.

I wish they would stick to game reviews, and leave previews to other shows.

AOTS is OK, but it could be 30 minutes and still get the job done.  I am watching it more and more, but I dunno... anyone else like it better when they have guest hosts?  I honestly think Anna David did a fantastic job as guest host a while back, so much so that it made it difficult to go back to Olivia Munn.

I miss Keighley's work with G4, but he's elsewhere now, and his show on Spike is just as vanilla as anything on G4.

As for their non-game stuff, Ninja Warrior is OK, but it's played out, as is Unbeatable Banzuke.

Hurl is just grotesque and really is a low point for the network.

Honestly, I wish the network would go back to some of its TechTV roots and give us some shows about computers and consumer electronics.

And man, oh, man, do I wish they would bring back Game Makers (formerly Icons... not the crappy rebrand one).  Game Makers was great.