Ben-DutkaAny 2-for-1 deal is great. It's just an added bonus and even if that bonus isn't exactly what you want, it's free .
UK gamers have a chance to take advantage of a particularly great purchase bundle option at Play.com , where they're offering a Tri-Weapon Pack for Vanquish pre-orders. They'll also toss in a copy of Platinum's previous action extravaganza, Bayonetta . For £39.99 (about $65), you can grab both games if you're a UK resident and considering they're both well worth playing, your money will be well spent. Yeah, we're just assuming Vanquish will be fun and entertaining, but the demo was very cool and the entire madcap experience ought to be satisfying. As for Bayonetta , we maintain that it's one of the greatest action games of the generation, featuring one of the deepest, most fulfilling mechanics you'll ever see. …however, as we recommended before, if you have an Xbox 360, you might want to take the 360 version of the aforementioned deal. While Vanquish is basically the same on both systems, the PS3 version of Bayonetta did suffer badly.
Just a fair warning. But we always try to keep everyone apprised of good deals, especially with the holidays right around the corner.
Very cool deal for our Euro-chums
Play deliver to the whole world (with no additional postage/fees even), you do not need be a UK resident. Actually I don't think Play are located in the UK even. Their deliveries are posted from somewhere else (can't recall where right now but I've noticed on the packaging from Play).
As a norwegian I can confirm this since Play is my main gaming store – never a month without Play-packages in the post!
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/1/2010 12:39:32 PM
lol, free? Man that game's that bad (ps3 version)?
Well, that says a lot to me.
Even though the PS3 version had frame rate problem, that doesn't change the fact that it is one of the best action game.
Last edited by Snaaaake on 10/1/2010 5:29:36 PM
im pretty sure PLAY.com is based in the channel islands (Jersey) between the UK and france they are loyal to the queen but not to the UK government so they can decide there own Taxes…and as a result are onsiderably cheaper in a lot of things!
Bayonetta awesomely executes it's blend of stylized combat with stylized presentation. It's rare that you see a game that so acutely understands it's identity and rolls it up in a positively synergistic blend of presentation and game design.
I've been thinking of my personal goty nominees and I've been playing some Bayonetta again to obtain a better grasp of the combat system.
My first play through was more of a somewhat rushed introductory sample of the overall game. Typically, in games of this sort, I try to play them at least a couple times, if not more than that, and on harder difficulties, to really gain an in-depth understanding of it's combat design.
I remember when i first played NG i wasn't the biggest fan. I had finished beating DMC3se on DMD mode, i was a diehard fan of DMC and particularly missed DMC's targeting system and preferred it over the auto-proximity targeting system of NG. It was not until playing through the NGS demo 5 times on all difficulties (even beating the huge samurai at the end of the level), that i discovered that it had a much deeper combat system. Of course, DMC 1 and 3 (and even the GOW's) have a place in my gaming pantheon, but NG is king.
That's how i know, as you do, that i, too, would have to play Bayonetta at least a couple times to fairly evaluate it.
I hear you Master Shames about the proximity targeting. NG's play really frustrates when there's too many enemies crowding the auto-targeting proximity zone. It's like, "NO! I want to target the shaman ninja's first!… argh!"
Times like those i really felt like throwing my controller.
Yeah, I love the depth of NG. It's no wonder that a team that's been making fighting games for so many years would do awesome at designing a hack 'n slash.
I tend to preference the games that use the 3 pillars of combat design as a foundation: evade, block, and attack. I also love the projectile interrupt element.
I think NGS2 made a major leap for the genre by implementing the limb chopping component. As you already know, it's not for show. It really makes you think differently about how to attack. Some enemies are more resistant to chopping, whereas others lose a limb so easily. I haven't seen any other game in the genre offer a new play dynamic of this sort before. Depending on the situation, I tend to prefer to go for a quick limb chop to obliteration to a UT setup. Then all the essence starts popping up like daisies and it's 2nd level UT butt-kick'n time.
I've noticed, so far, that Bayonetta seems to be less specific about it's technical details (I can still be totally wrong, as I'm still trying to learn it) . It just seems so much of the game clings to the "Witch Time" component. Plus, there's no blocking.
Delimbing is especially important when it comes to using Momiji and especially Ayane. Since both their attacks and UT are weaker than Ryu's and even Rachel's, on the harder difficulty settings, one can't waste time beating any single enemy to death. Luckily for them, they have about as much ease delimbing a werewolf as they do on a standard ninja enemy.
And, I'm with you, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 doesn't get the respect it deserves. It's the first proper evolution in Hack'n-Slash since GOW, imo. And as you mentioned, with only two of the three "pillars of combat", i was figuring Bayonetta to play a lot like DMC. I figure if I get a 360 again at some point, i'll get around to playing Bayonetta.
Bayonaise only gives the illusion of an involved innovative combat system. It duped a lot of folks.
@World:
Granted, i only played the demo, but it reminded me more of DMC3 than even DMC4 did. I hear ya about the illusion of involvement…it's kind of true about most games, though, I suppose, there are some that take it to the extreme.
Yeah Master Shams, Ayane's strong attacks blow, and just like you said her bladed quick attacks do well at causing dismemberment.
Actually, her while running strong attack is pretty nice; it has relatively far attack range and can cause crumple stun. Too bad her UT is flawed and weak. I feel she has way too much wasted movement.
I do really like Momiji, though. Mostly because of her arrows and double jump air-borne UT (not to mention you can shoot off a good number of arrows from mid-air increasing chance for dismemberment), but like you said, her UT isn't good. I noticed on MN it doesn't even kill a single ninja =/
BTW, I never thought of that Enma Fang UT technique before on the Statue of Liberty.
Interesting, useful, and reasonably safe.
I did, however, stick to the DS and relied on the 2x multi-pass diving swallow (lvl 2 blade). I like this method cause the second diving swallow pass places you back on the outside of her arm. Plus, it starts early because my first hit lands just as the after shock comes my way giving me plenty of time to throw down a combo.
From there, I go right into a strong combo on her arm. Rinse and repeat until it's projectile time.
Your approach is definitely more interesting, Sensei Temjin. I took the safe and lazy one.
And yes, for the female players, i found myself relying much more on projectiles for delimbing enemies…and a heads up, while you may very well have an easier time than i did, but their boss fights are the toughest in the game.
These kind of deals always sound good, but in the end, both games will be under $15 a piece in the bargain bins if you wait a couple months.
Where?
Target
Guess i have to keep my eyes open around there. Cheapest retail deal i got like that, was R&C:FTOD from Newbury Comics for $15. I do remember seeing FallOut3 for the 360 for $10 from Target, but that was a rare exception, and the ps3 version was retailing for $25 at the same time (and this was more than a year and a half after it released).
I honestly didn't think Bayonetta was that bad on the ps3. There were a bit of load screens but if you're not looking for the issues like you all it would please any average gamer i think. No offense. I mean it's your job to point out the issues. I was just saying the average joe probably wouldn't notice very many issues besides the load screens. That being said… This is a really awesome deal for you folks across the pond. More people should do this. Probably takes a little chunk out of the used game market, i would think.
@ Alienange – I couldn't agree more. Both Bayonetta and Vanquishes demos were corny. I think they were geared toward the 10 to 15 year old market. I mean, guns on the boots, that ish was retarded. Bargin bin for sure.
Man, World why do you hate on Bayonase so much?
Personally, I'm not really into the stylization of Bayonetta herself and the overly exploitive sexiness of the game.. even though it is well executed. But as a gamer who loves a good action game, it really delivers in more ways than one.
They have to GIVE that piece of crap game away now huh?
Free is my favorite price. It's just too bad you have to buy Vanquish for $65 to get it.
They'd have to give me that one free too.
d;oh, i hit the wrong reply button for WorldEnds.
Great deal indeed.
One of the year's best and one of the year's most promising title.
The way everyone dogged Bayonetta, even free sounds like a rip off.
Didn't a patch come out for Bayonetta, fixing most of the problems? Or have I heard wrong?
Anyway, thanks Ben. Just pre-ordered this, and I'm in Portugal so it's good for all Europeans. 😉
The Vanquish demo was really fun and I'm sure the game will be great.
Only the load times I think, it allows you to install the game.
I don't think installing can fix the FPS as well.
The patch made little difference.
From what I've been reading this afternoon, people have said the patch improved the loading times quite significantly, even though that's all the patch did.
Aside from that, they say the screen tearing is little to none and that the framerate only drops significantly on rare occasions.
I'm not sure what standards these people have, but I'll see it with my own eyes when my copy arrives. 🙂
Last edited by wolfsinner on 10/2/2010 9:54:32 AM
meh, really not interested in this.
looks exactly like bayonetta, AKA mindless button masher which requires no strategy or team work what so ever!
ill be far too busy enjoying fallout new vegas to even think about this.
pass.