Poki3

@aic007: When we say "EU version" we mean the PAL version of ICO or SotC for the PS2. Both versions of this re-release are the same... as far as the game is concerned anyway, bonus content not withstanding.

The PAL version of ICO was the definitive version. That's why this compilation is using that, and not the same that was released before.

In other news, I found out a few more things that were changed.

- The font used in ICO was different in the US PS2 version.

- The highlight for the menu options was changed into a static rectangle in the US version.

- Save menu was redesigned in the US version.

- Main menu has a "Load Game" option (US) instead of a "Continue" option (EU).

- The second save bench was replaces by a switch in the US version. The bench was moved to the roof.

- Multiple areas have better lighting in the EU version, in particular the circular platform right after using the crane in the beginning of the game. In the US version the ground texture looked almost completely black.

- The same area has a drawbridge you can close in the EU version, but just a broken bridge in the US version.

- Some areas, especially in the background, have improved geometry in the EU version.

- Most noticeably, the area after the room with the waterfall has a piston you have to jump on, and a waterwheel in the EU version. (US just made you move further using the bar and climb a ladder)

- The turning thingy after the waterwheel has a different "fater" model in the EU version. The game engine has a quirk where grabbing anything that you can turn closer to the middle will make you turn more slowly then grabbing it by the edge. This new model prevent you from grabing anywhere else then the edge.

- There were extra idol doors on the exits from the castle that lead up to the East and West arenas in the US version. They were removed with the rooms right before and after this also had idol doors.

- Mostly irrelevant, but the PS2 PAL version of ICO had an exploit that allowed you to jump higher if you set the game to 50 Htz and attack at the exact right time while jumping. This bug was most likely fixed in this rerelease, though you'd have to connect a 50 Htz only PAL CRT TV to check :P

Probably a few other thing here and there... I think this list mostly covers it.

+1

I need more disembodied heads during my mondays.

Thanks Bioware for taking the time and money to develop a feature most fans of your game don't want and won't play.

Here's a free tip for developers: tacking on a multiplayer component to your primarily singleplayer game is not a good way to "combat" used game sales.

I can't seem to get into any Bullet Hell shooters aside from Touhou (and even there not every game pleased me).

I think I'm just so used to certain mechanics in Touhou. I need focus, I need to see my Hitbox, I need the speed to be just right, I need a slightly more gratefull death bomb window then average, I need a humm sound when I'm hitting the boss and a marker on the other side of the screen for boss placement.

Oh, and I'm also addicted to homing amulets... I mean bullets.

I played the demos of the Gundemonium games and did not like them very much :/

Tough question to answer, because I'm not counting :P

Portal 2, Deus Ex:HR and Starcraft 2 are the big games that come to mind. Then there are the smaller ones, like VVVVVV, Breath of Death VII and Terraria.

I'm finishing up Runespell: Overture and Darksiders now to make room for ICO and Shadow of the Colossus :P

(I'm shooting for Baldurs Gate 2)

The EU versions of both ICO and SotC were patched and sometimes had additional content.

ICO had a few puzzle changes, an option to replay the game with Yorda's and the Queens subtitles in english and a 2nd ending (watermellon ending).

The only thing I'm aware of being changed in SotC was a fix to the no-stamina-diagonal-jump glitch. Basically while climbing you could do a jump diagonally up-right or up-left and it would not cost you any stamina. This made climbing the tower relatively easy. In the EU version, that move takes up a lot of stamina, probably more then just climbing up normally. You need maxed stamina to even try to climb up the tower.

(I'm talking about the PS2 versions of these games obviously. The PS3 remake uses the latest version of the game)

They're going to go up... on the 8th or 10th of October.

....I hope he won't talk about his sex life -_-

Hey, so, I decided to download Narcissu and check it out. I mean, it's free and it's short. I have some time to spend, like VN's, nothing to lose, right?

Big mistake. Damn, you're cold as ice if you're just "it's pretty good". I'm a sucker for sad stories, but usually I hate "blank" protagonists that we're supposed to "project yourself". Thing is, I didn't get that vibe from this game at all. I mean OK, the main character isn't named (in-game) and has no eyes on pictures, that's a clear sign of a blank protagonist, but aside from that he has a personality. He talks for himself, there are no decisions to take. I don't care what the intension was, I felt like the game was just narrated by the protagonist and I was seeing things from his point of view, not that I actually was him.

Now that I have that out of the way I must say that I loved the story. The actions and interactions are believable and moving. I was really moved at the end of the story, tears were shed. Like I said, sucker for downer stories, but still... did not expect it to move me that much. Now I can't sleep and I'm writing this at 6 in the morning. I don't know whether to love you or hate you for this.

In any case, downloading the 2nd game in the series (since I don't believe there's a translation of the 3rd one). Not going to play it anytime soon. Silently hope it's a little bit... brighter in tone... just a little bit so I can cope with it better. I'd rather play the sequel and find out what happened after that, since the ending is a little too abrupt, but I guess a prequel will have to suffice...

@Psycosis: Heh, then we have an identical opinion about Ever17.

Fate is long, yes. 3 separate, long routes, but it's worth it IMO. If you do find time don't hesitate.

I wouldn't say Utawarerumono is that long, since it's just one route. The length is a bit artificial due to the SRPG elements, but if you play it on the easiest setting you should breeze through those parts and have a decent length VN.