Jake

1. You're joking, right? 2. Yes, they are loosely connected in story. SotC was originally made to be a seperate game, but they found a way to connect the stories and did. 3. When I wrote my inFamous review, I made drafts of SotC and Ico so I had a queue to work with.

PC is still leagues ahead though. I wish I had a gaming PC...But anyway, I agree completely. It makes sense that you can't fast travel in dungeons, but inside houses? Come on!

I called tech support and they said my bulb probably burnt out. I'll wait for my dad to come home from his business trip and we can change it. I'll play Arcanists on Funorb until then.

Well, this is embarassing...I know the brand, but I don't know what the model number is. I plan to call customer support, but they don't operate on weekends.My hands are twitching. I'm suffering from epic RPG withdraw. I knew I should have invested in a gaming PC...

$5 a serving, or $5 a package? Ramen is definitely one of my favorite meals, and I'm not even close to going to college yet. If the sodium didn't kill me, I would eat Ramen noodles continuously as my sodium levels stretch into the millions.

It shut off when I was playing. When I try to turn it on again, its startup light flashes, and the startup sound plays, but nothing happens until the lights turn off again about a minute later.

It's an actual projector, it projects onto a screen on the wall. I got it in December 2009.

This isn't so much a Skyrim question, but it's urgent and no one looks at the other forums.I was playing Demon's Souls this morning when my projector, a Vivitek brand, suddenly went out. When I press the power button, it goes into startup mode for about a minute, then just shuts off again.I've ruled out:1. Dead bulb. If it was dead, the projector would run but show no image. The projector doesn't even turn on for me.2. Overheating. I have unplugged the projector and left it sitting for hours. The problems persist.Can anyone help? I can't seem to find the answer anywhere.

No, I said Ico HD had an alternate ending. It's not all that different, but it's something.

What Traaginen said. Talk to bartenders until you hear about a man named Falion in Morthal who studies monsters. If you visit him, he says he can cure you with a Filled Black Soul Gem. He sells an empty one to you if you don't have one. When you give the gem to him, he tells you to meet him at dawn in a ritual circle outside the city. He will perform a ritual and cleanse you.Personally, though, I would just learn to handle being a vampire. Its perks are pretty sweet, if you can handle the disadvantages. The werewolf, on the other hand, doesn't give you much of a disadvantage (who sleeps?) but doesn't give you many perks, either.

No, there isn't. The selling point is the HD and the fact it's bundled with Ico. Ico HD gets the improvements of co-op, an alternate ending, and improved puzzle design.

I would recommend making her life miserable by giving us her email address. We will spam her inbox.

I have the answer to number 3, as I sided with the Stormcloaks and replaced Jarl Balgruuf.You lose your thaneship. However, all you need to do is talk to them about becoming thane again. They will tell you about buying a house, and helping the citezens. However, these have already been done your first time, so the quest will instantly be fulfilled. You only need to talk to them again to restore your thaneship.

I've had my eye on this game since its release last summer. The demo was great fun. Too bad I just bought 3 video games last week.

I almost spit my Coke all over the screen while reading this. Well done, indeed.

Yes, I play Ps3. The games I currently play that have multiplayer areLittlebigplanet 2Modnation RacersMirror's Edge (not exactly multiplayer, but still...)Dungeon DefendersFat PrincessWipeout HD (Don't play that much, prefer Modnation)My psn is kkjwsmith

I never really noticed the enemies leveling, probably because I never looked for it. And yes, the evil mode powers and story are much more fun.

Shadow of the Colossus is considered a perfect example of video games being "art." SotC was made by a company called TeamIco. It was their second game. What was their first game? You have three guesses...it's Ico! While not quite as mind-blowing as SotC, this game still makes it into my top ten games of all time. Gameplay: This game blends platforming and puzzle solving. This is a giant castle, after all. You have to escort a girl named Yorda. KEEP HER WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES. There are demons that come after Yorda on a regular basis. If they catch her and drag her into the abyss they create, you die. The world is semi-open, as you can backtrack, but you really won't be exploring unless necessary. There are a variety of weapons, but the only ones I can reveal without spoiling are the 2x4 and the sword. You can defeat the demons by mindlessly swinging at them, which is a sloppy combat system, but this is 2001. What do you expect? Speaking of expecting, expect a lot of frustration with Yorda's AI. She mindlessly wanders and often does not answer your calls to her. She is supposed to be the helpless "Damsel in Distress," but this is taking it too far. As for the core gameplay, it works well for the game's age. There is your basic jumping from platform to broken platform of the crumbling castle, as well as using your enviornment in a variety of puzzles. At one point, you must jump on a chandelier, detaching it and crumbling the bridge below, slanting it down and creating a ramp to the lower level. Other puzzles like this occur throughout the game, and it keeps you thinking. With the demons keeping you on your toes, this adds a sense of urgency and requires you to use your brain in an efficient manner. Art Style: This game has a cartoony art style. The entire game takes place in one castle, and while the castle has several different areas, the enviornment never changes all that much. However, you still may take the time to enjoy the enviornment. Well, you know, if you don't have demons chasing you. Story: You are a boy named Ico. His village has sent him to be imprisoned in a castle as a punishment for his curse of growing horns. Due to a timely earthquake, Ico escapes his chains and tries to find a way out. He meets a girl named Yorda, who is also trapped, and Ico finds that shadow demons try to capture her. He teams up with her and begin exploring. He finds the front gate right when it begins closing. He would have made it, if Yorda didn't trip. When the gate closes, a woman steps out of shadows, claiming Yorda is her daughter. She tells Ico to not even try to escape, then humors him by vanishing again. Ignoring her, Ico and Yorda begin to work together to figure out how to open the gate. Along the way, they learn the sinister intent of this castle, its prisoners, and the woman of the shadows. Lasting Appeal: This game is only about six hours long. If you have the American version, that's it. If you have the European, Japanese, or HD version, there is a bit more to dig into. You unlock a New Game+, which gives you co-op, an alternate ending, translation of Yorda's strange language, and even a lightsaber, if you know where to look. This is actually one of those games that you only play a couple of times, but it will be fond in your memory. Gameplay: 8/10 For its age, Ico is amazing. The platforming isn't too easy, but isn't too hard. The puzzles will have you scratching your head. Yorda's AI is terrible, but for a game in 2001, there isn't much they could have done about that. Art Style: 8/10 The art style definitely shows some age. Its creative, but it doesn't stand up to the games of today with a similar intent in visuals. Still, the enviornments are beautiful, even if they do get a bit repetitive. Story: 9.5/10 This game is about friendship, but it doesn't make it cheesy. The game manages to be both touching and epic at the same time, and like SotC, the end could be interpreted as good or bad. The only bad thing is that the alternate ending is almost the same thing, with a slightly different cutscene at the end. If you play SotC, playing this first will make SotC's ending a lot less confusing. Lasting Appeal: 6/10 This isn't a terribly long game, but it will stick with you forever. The American release suffers from no extra features. The European, Japanese, and HD releases all warrent a second playthrough. The HD release has trophies, but only one requires any effort, and that one is just tedious. Beat the game within two HOURS? To Youtube! Overall: 8/10 As I said, this is one of my favorite games ever. There is a difference between a game that I like and a good game. This is an above average game, but I love it. It touched me, and if you buy it, I hope it touches you too. Although you may buy the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection for SotC only, there is no reason not to play this game as well.

Are video games art? This is an argument that has been going on in the media for some time now. When the non-believers ask for an example, there is one game we all point to: Shadow of the Colossus. I owned a Gamecube during the 6th generation, so I wasn't able to experience this title the first time around. I bought the HD version last October, and I wasn't sure what to expect. To make a long story short: it's now my second favorite game of all time. Gameplay: There are only sixteen enemies in this entire game. They are all boss battles. While this may not seem like much, each boss could take up to an hour if you don't know its weakness. You are dropped into an open world known as the Forbidden Lands, and you have to seek out each Colossus. You have a magical sword that shows you the way. When you find a colossus, you have to examine your enviornment. What here can help me? What can I climb up? One thing is essential, though. You can scan the Colossus with your magical sword to see its weak point. That's a good place to start so you can learn where to climb. Unlike most games involving climbing, you have a stamina meter. When it runs out, you let go and fall to the ground, likely losing a good chunk of health and opening yourself up to attack. As the game goes on, your health and stamina increase. This RPG element doesn't make it easier, though, as the bosses require more climbing as the game goes on. Art Style: This game, while looking more realistic than Ico, still retains an artistic art style. Green is a dominating color here, but the Forbidden Lands has a variety of enviornments with many different colors, such as deserts, lakes, and even city ruins. Story: Wander's lover, Mono, has somehow died. He steals the sword from the village Shaman and heads for the Forbidden Lands, where legends say people can be resurrected. Upon entering through the Shrine of Worship, he meets Dormin, a spirit who tells him he must kill the sixteen colossi to resurrect Mono. Wander travels to all four corners of the map, killing the colossi, one at a time. As he does so, he begins to wonder if what he is doing is really righteous. Is the life of one woman worth the deaths of sixteen colossi? Lasting Appeal: The story is about twelve hours long. After that, you unlock Time Attack Mode, which can earn you some cool weapons and armor for your New Game+, which lets you keep your upgraded health and stamina so you dominate the colossi. You also unlock Hard Mode, which warrents a whole new playthrough. After you beat Hard Mode, you unlock Hard Time Attack Mode, which will have you going insane in frustration. After beating all hard time attacks, you get the ultimate weapon. I won't spoil it, but it references Ico. After all that, there are over one hundred lizards to collect, which increase stamina. There are also over one hundred fruits to collect, which increase health. After you complete all of this, there is still a secret area for you to find. Hint: It has to do with the Shrine of Worship. Gameplay: 9/10 This game really takes the cake in its combat. While having only boss battles may not work for you, I felt it added a sense of loneliness. This game has the excitement of an action game while having the thinking of a puzzle game, and it blends almost flawlessly. I hear there are a few framerate issues, but I played this on Ps3, and therefore didn't encounter them. Art Style: 9.5/10 Remember that this is a Ps2 game. It was agreed to have the best visuals back then. In its HD release, it still holds its own in being one of the best looking games to date. Story: 8.5/10 The story is a bit vague, but the feeling you get when you kill colossi who weren't even attacking you in the first place gives you a feeling of regret. (There are two that don't attack you on sight, by the way.) I loved the ending that ties it all together, as I wasn't sure whether to consider it happy or sad. It leaves a lot of room for interpretation, though. If you played Ico first, like I did, you will get much more out of the ending. Lasting Appeal: 8.5/10 While technically there is a lot of stuff, collecting fruits and lizards isn't my idea of "fun." Although this is an open world game, there really isn't much to explore. The time attacks and hard playthroughs are awesome, though. There is also the goal of reaching the "secret area" I mentioned earlier. Another hint: It requires a LOT of stamina. Overall: 9/10 This is my second favorite game ever. Although I felt the world wasn't quite big enough, everything else seemed almost perfect in my eyes. I only rated the story eight points because I think its vagueness would turn off some players. (*cough* Traaginen *cough*) For a Ps2 game, this is a must buy. Even if you own a Ps3, I would buy this. This is something every gamer should experience.

Ah yes, my first Ps3 game. This game will always have a fond place in my heart. I got it when I was very into "sandbox" games. While this game has many flaws, it also has many advantages over other open world games. I liked this game; what else needs saying? Gameplay: You are a man with electric powers in an open world setting. The combat plays out like a third-person shooter. Your "ammo" is at the top, in the form of electric orbs. As you use your powers, the orbs are drained, and can be recharged by draining electricity from cars, streetlamps, and even people. If you are a good person, draining people may not be in your best interest, as there is a morality meter. It ranges from "Hero" to "Infamous," and it determines your powers, your appearance, and how people treat you. Back to your powers, your selection is more or less pretty generic. There are powers that imitate grenades, rocket launchers, sniper rifles, and even riot shields. However, this is in no way a bad thing. The selection of powers is actually fairly large and you feel like a one man army. An xp system, which allows you to unlock and upgrade your powers, rewards you for being creative in your kills. There is one issue, and that is glitches. They shouldn't be an issue most of the time, but expect to fall through the floor, lose clipping, and randomly be thrown into the ocean, which will kill you thanks to your electric powers. Art Style: It's rather average. While the character models of the main characters, such as Cole, look good, the overall appearance is very brown and muddy looking. As it says in gameplay, there are many glitches, and this carries over to art style, too. Overall, though, the art style isn't good or bad, just average. Don't worry, this game wasn't meant to be beautiful. Story: As a bike messenger, you have delievered an electric nuke by accident, and it went off in your hands. When you come to, the city is in ruins, and you have electric powers. Gangs now rule your quarantined city, and you must put an end to their rule, as well as finding the terrorist who gave you the bomb. Lasting Appeal: Well, being a choice based game, you can have 2 playthroughs right there. There's also a bunch of side missions, which allow you to take territory from the gangs. You can also collect blast shards, which increase your max "ammo." To top it all off, you can collect satellite messages that give you some backstory. Gameplay: 8/10 If not for the glitches, this would be a 9. However, the glitches hold the game back. An 8 is still nothing to scoff at, though. The game makes you feel like a bad*** who can take on anything. Art Style: 6/10 Not good, not bad. Although it doesn't hold the game back, you probably won't stop to admire the atmosphere. Story: 8/10 This game is more of a gameplay driven game, but the story, if you follow it, will still keep you on your toes. It plays out like a comic book. However, it starts out slow, and the ending is kind of silly. Lasting Appeal: 8/10 There are a lot of collectables, side missions, and 2 playthroughs. Some of the missions can only be done if you're good or evil. The dead drops are also worth collecting. However, the blast shards are boring to collect, and if you want the platinum, expect a LONG grind that will leave you extremely sick of the game. Overall: 8/10 inFamous is a good game that every Ps3 owner should play. It's a moderately glitchy title, and that holds the game back from greatness, but it should keep you entertained for a very fun couple of months.

Look up the flash game "One Chance". It's a choice based game that determines if you survive the apolcolypse you caused. And, yeah, you can't restart, even if you close out. You really do have one chance. Unless you delete your cookies, of course.

I believe we have a winner!

My next review will probably be inFamous. I only review games I have platinumed, so I know I've spent enough time with them. For that reason, I'll probably never review Wipeout HD, which is commonly agreed to be the hardest platinum ever.