Menu Close

Ben’s Week In Review: June 21

Yay, it's the longest day of the year! …I have no idea why that's a good thing.

I LIKE Splinter Cell, all right?

Despite the fact that Ubisoft doesn't feel inclined to bring Splinter Cell: Conviction to the PlayStation 3, it's still a must-buy for me. I fell in love with the series when the original debuted back in 2002 on the Xbox and in fact, it was my favorite game of that year. Now, I know people will make the inevitable comparisons to Hideo Kojima's stellar Metal Gear Solid franchise, just because both are firmly cemented in the concept of stealth. However, I think we can all admit that MGS4 infused a bit more action than we're used to seeing in those titles, and every single SC game is almost entirely reliant on stealth. I really love this. I still think Chaos Theory is the best installment in the series; the most recent was Double Agent , and it threw a wrench into the works that didn't really engage me as much (I won't give it away if you still want to play it). The point is, I think we all know that MGS is king when it comes to storyline and character development; Kojima is a verified master and in all honesty, I doubt anyone plays Splinter Cell for the plot. No, it's about the authenticity and the gameplay…and I'm about to get ripped apart for this but I'm gonna say it anyway (I know, it's masochistic):

Up until MGS4, I always thought the SC games had far more fluid control schemes. I remember playing MGS3 and saying to myself, "so…I have to hold down how many buttons to fire my rifle?" SC just lent itself to more authenticity and yes, even realism. MGS has always been more fantasy-based in my eyes. However, all this being said, I'm not about to say SC is the better franchise. No way am I going to say that; I think you all know how much I love a great story, and for this very reason, MGS stands head-and-shoulders above SC. But for a great stealth experience, I say SC can't be missed.

PS3 Slim and a price cut at TGS…?

So the current rumor is that Sony will unveil the PS3 Slim at the Tokyo Game Show and as it's in September, it may be the perfect time for a price cut as well. We've been theorizing that Sony would issue the price drop in conjunction with a huge exclusive release, and earlier this year, we predicted that Uncharted 2: Among Thieves would usher in the much-anticipated price cut announcement. However, we didn't really think of the possibility that a drop in price might actually come with another cosmetic revamping of the machine. If they do release a slimmed-down version of the console – which seems entirely plausible, even if it doesn't happen this year – it might make perfect sense to make the consumers even happier. For my part, I'm wondering if they might issue a special 160GB Slim machine for the current price of the system, because I might actually partake… I've really come to the end of my 60GB hard drive, which means I don't want to erase what's on there, but it may be necessary to do so if I want to play/install more games. Wouldn't I be happy if a snazzy, slimmer PS3 came out with a bigger hard drive…?

Of course, I would have to assume that most people don't care about the "slimmer" part; they just want a price cut. Then again, I'm always surprised when consumers respond to little more than cosmetic overhauls…they seem to really gravitate towards things that don't matter in terms of functionality. So maybe Sony will use this to their advantage and issue the PS3 Slim without any price cut. Just a theory.

Personal gaming update

Beat inFamous today! I maxed out all my skills, found all the Dead Drops, maxed my Good/Hero meter, cleared 100% of all three islands, and even beat Kessler without dying. I figured the whole idea was just to dodge around non-stop until he's kneeling, and then let him have it. It wasn't exactly hard; just time-consuming. I'm also close to finding all the shards…I believe I only have 14 left to find, but that's something I may not do. I finished it and it's done, so it's time to move on. I loved the game, obviously. It's my second favorite game of 2009 thus far next to Killzone 2 , and if I had the time, I'd definitely consider playing it through again so I can be crazy Evil. 😉 But as of now, I started a new character in Top Spin 3 (sorry, it's tennis season and I see no Top Spin 4 , so…), and I'll go back to FFVIII. I also want to finish LittleBigPlanet , and I plan to finally play Resident Evil 5 , which is the only game this year I regret missing.

Not much else is happening. Ms. Courtney isn't talking to me (no idea why) and Ms. Amy is officially a few corn dogs shy of a picnic. You ever know someone and you figure the best way to explain that person is to say, "oh yeah, she's great…nice, cute, sometimes even sexy and adorable as hell…and she's a also a Fruit Loop"…? Ever have this happen? Well, anyway. I'm kinda sick of the drama and I'd just rather go back to playing games and taking it easy for a while. Heh.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
38 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
15 years ago

Stick around long enough and you find they are all fruit loops 😛

MRSUCCESS
MRSUCCESS
15 years ago

But of course Splinter Cell is more realistic, but MGS (as you said) mixes realism with fantasy and that's what I love about the franchise. We all know that realism doesn't make the best game. Some people love Call of Duty for it's realism, I personally prefer Resistance over that game any day of the week.

That being said I recently played MGS3 a bit earlier this week and I'll admit after lovin' MGS4, I wasn't too happy I couldn't crouch and walk through the bushes in the jungle. It was either lay on the ground, crouch or stand up, but I personally think MGS3 is the second best installment in the franchise (with MGS4 being the best one of course).

PS3 slim? A price cut and a slimmer PS3 might come off the shelf like hot cake, wouldn't you all agree? And since I've been wanting to buy a new PS3 for some time now I would not mind ^_^.


Last edited by MRSUCCESS on 6/20/2009 11:27:51 PM

Godslim
Godslim
15 years ago

lol dude cod is not realistic

Anonymous
Anonymous
15 years ago

I prefer fantasy. I don't like COD type shooters. I don't see their appeal at all.

mikeyp323
mikeyp323
15 years ago

MGS3 story > MGS4 story
MGS3 controls < MGS4 controls

And there's no way that COD is realistic 😛 I saw an interview for Modern Warfare 2 saying that the developers are aiming for authenticity, not realism

AceTatsujin
AceTatsujin
15 years ago

CoD realistic? PLEASE man, no human can spin 360 in their ground like crazy and it's completely off from being realism. MGS4 pretty much showed developers real gameplay and realism with fantasy. <3 Japanese.

Swim_Irr
Swim_Irr
15 years ago

Scoped in + Strafing + suppressive fire = NOT REALISTIC

LegendaryWolfeh
LegendaryWolfeh
15 years ago

Oh no Ben, you must find all those shards =) the obsessive compulsiveness of it will fill you up until you turn it back and find them all, lol. gotta get the 100% =)

Random_Steve
Random_Steve
15 years ago

i got 319 of them

ThugNificent101
ThugNificent101
15 years ago

i would be pretty pleased if it happened, but i dont think that sony would bring out the ps3 slim with a reduced price tag… unless the strip some more features from the system.
maybe they will, i cant say obviously, but the way they released the new psp's (slim/lite 2000-3000), it seems like they would simply lower the current sku prices. if they phase out the 499.00 price tag, then its all good though.

ThugNificent101
ThugNificent101
15 years ago

my apologies for the poorly written statement.

tes37
tes37
15 years ago

Ben, I upgraded my drive to 250 gb. I used an external drive formatted on a macintosh to fat32 and backed up the ps3 drive. Everything I had was present on the new drive when I reinstalled. They sync your trophies on psn so you won't lose them. I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know, but I had no problems with my upgrade.


Last edited by tes37 on 6/21/2009 12:29:08 AM

migabyte
migabyte
15 years ago

Ya, same…I'm not really great with computer (competent, but not special)and it was pretty easy, the youtube videos helped….The screws were an absolute bi*** to get out (had to go to some car store down the street for help (exact screw driver)). Putting the firmware on a USB was something else that I needed the videos for. Anyways, it was pretty easy overall.

Alienange
Alienange
15 years ago

Same here. Just upgraded to 320gb about two days ago. What a simple thing. Now I'm firing on all cylinders for sure! Like Ben though, I'd like a second PS3 and having a slim with a huge hdd at a lower price would be perfect. Not going to happen, but perfect.

DFogz
DFogz
15 years ago

Ben, instead of waiting to buy a new machine you could just swap out the HD for a bigger one (just make sure it's a laptop HD), took me about half an hour including backing all my saves and stuff. And I got to keep my backwards compatibility!

Fane1024
Fane1024
15 years ago

ummm…you do realize that he meant he didn't have to trade his 60 gig PS3 for a newer model?

Anyway…Splinter Cell 1-3 were awesome and definitely controlled better than MGS1-3. Played properly, they're essentially puzzle games; observe and execute.

p.s. Not a fan of HDD upgrades? Wha? I honestly don't understand.


Last edited by Fane1024 on 6/21/2009 5:10:05 AM

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
15 years ago

Yes, I know about upgrading the HD but I'm not the biggest fan of it…and I have a PS2 so I don't need my original 60GB PS3's b/c.

…or maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to get a nice shiny new PS3 later this year. 😉

fluffer nutter
fluffer nutter
15 years ago

Do you have your systems hooked up to a 37" or larger HDTV? If so, doesn't it irritate you looking at the PS2 games on the PS2 vs. on the PS3 when upscaled? This is why I play my PS2 games on the PS3. Part of me wants to go get a 26" to hook up my PS2 on the side since I do not have a fully backwards-compatible PS3.

Vivi_Gamer
Vivi_Gamer
15 years ago

So a PS2 doesnt look bad on a '26' inch HDTV?, iF THATS THE CASE ILL GET ONE RIGHT AWAY!… i'll get my friend to bring his rounf to test it out. The only reason im pissed about my PS3 dying is not being able to get Heavy Rain, butmore so that i cant play PS1/PS2 games.

www
www
15 years ago

What if the new slim ps3 is not shiny or glossy?
I like the ps3's shiny look y'know…

Alienange
Alienange
15 years ago

@Ben – You're not the biggest fan of upgrading your hdd? Why? It's cheap, simple and completely awesome once it's done.

Swim_Irr
Swim_Irr
15 years ago

the only thing that sucks about upgrading your HDD is that you have to redownload anything that has some sort of copyright on it. including downloaded games and game updates. and your trophy collection doesn't show all of your trophies that you worked for until you reinstall the game and sync the trophy information with the psn (so make sure you sync your trophies before switching the HDD or any trophies earned between the last time you synced will be lost until you get it again).

that's the only thing that ticked me off.

BUT, now i have 205gb left out of my 320gb HDD that i bought and still have sooo much room for more videos or games and map packs and updates and photos, etc. (all of my music is already on there [at the highest quality]). =)

i only had the 40gb prior to this one, so i've been using the hell out of it. best thing i could've done…

Archos
Archos
15 years ago

You've got to find all the shards Ben… Maybe the below map will be useful…

http://www.ps3trophies.org/forum/infamous/13789-blast-shards-dead-drops-maps.html

Sir Shak
Sir Shak
15 years ago

WTF is up with the inFamous spoilers ?

kevyd09
kevyd09
15 years ago

Ben you should really play inFamous through again as evil, i have beat it on good like yourself and got 100% on all 3 islands and all deaddrops, and maxed all powers, but now i have started playing it on evil and i have to say the evil missions are a lot more fun!!

Skatejimmy5
Skatejimmy5
15 years ago

I've done pretty much the same in inFamous as you have. I've got 7 shards left, and I just started it on Evil. 🙂

Got all good karma upgrades, all dead drops and 100% on all islands. This game is fantastic. I still wanna play it a third time later on, maybe on Hard. 😉

Deadman
Deadman
15 years ago

I had 340 out of 350 blash shards and by mistake I erased over my Hero game with my Villian one (stupid drunk) now I have no desire to collect the rest.
The red lightning looks way cooler than the blue.

www
www
15 years ago

Am still not done with inFamous, the CONSTANT shooting from the bad guys is annoying me to tears or maybe i spent more time with RE5 😉

Ben, Resident Evil 5 is a game you should be regretting you haven't played yet. Get used to the tank controls and you have a masterpiece in your hands. Ben i could bet you look close to Chris Redfield, the biceps and all lol. You could relate to this game y'know, the Chris Redfield + Sheva Alomar & Jill Valentine it's like you + Ms. Courtney & Ms. Amy ;). The story won't blow you away but it's got some emotional moments. I won't spoil anything, just play it cause i could call it my favorite thus far 2009.

About SC, i've never really like pretty much any of them, cause am not really a stealth fan, i only give MGS a chance cause of the deep story,graphics and overall quality. I'll be going back to play MGS4 again, it's sad Kojima can't still figure out how to get us a trophies patch 🙁 Oh yea am having a lotta fun with LBP.


Last edited by www on 6/21/2009 9:05:11 AM

mastiffchild
mastiffchild
15 years ago

The "tank like controls" are just about the only thing keeping RE5 anything like any of the other RE titles imo! I'm glad that you like it but I'm also amazed that some people do-the way they killed the SP just to accommodate co-op which also means, apart from ruining the SP, that it can never be scary(you're playing with a mate) and means it's only any real fun for one play.

I tried the SP(I'm a massive RE fan)but Sheva and the jumpy inventory(two of them, thanks agan Capcom!)mean, for me, it's an exercise in frustration rather than immersion or even enjoyment with a few scares. Coming after they successfully revamped with RE4(which some say this is too close to-I disagree as they only kept the bad bits!)it's esp disappointing and it's the first RE title I've ever traded(I even kept Outbreak and UC!).

Not a masterpiece for me then;) But, hey, it's all about opinions and lots of people, even my mates, argue with me over this and my insistence that Capcom are totally going downhill from previous generations(i.e RE4>RE5, DMC3>DMC4, Onimusha>anything by Capcom this gen!and Dino Crisis is too!)with little sign of improvement. The Vs content and SF4 DLC costumes also show me how little they now respect their fans(and I'm a HUGE Capcom fan)these days and, for one of the few devs/pubs that actually used to listen, that's really worrying.

And Ben-upgrade your HDD(takes a couple of hours including backing up and reloading your original data), you're well of rid of the two girls and their dodgy reindeer games, SCC looks like being a return to form(best since Pandora I reckon)but also a change to more action, inFAMOUS deserves that you play through evil(great, great game even if our 360 only friends like to say P'type is a better game-I've finished both and it's a good game but it's very much Hulk UD with different powers while inFAMOUS is plain great)AND if I have one gaming regret this year it's that I did play RE5 and saw the terrible mess my favourite dev made of my favourite franchise!

Sorry www-I'm not being offensive-it's just that, for me, it was totally broken AS A RE GAME. Just thought I'd offer Ben my bitter to your sweet, my sour to your hot(great soup!)my yin to y..oh you get it;)

God I go on! Doesn't matter noone reads long posts. In fact this would prolly be the best time for me to get those "worrying" issues off my chest but…

Totalz
Totalz
15 years ago

Yeah Ben upgrading your hard drive is super simple. I've got a 320GB whopper now, ready for FFXIII :)…

www
www
15 years ago

Lol Mastiffchild, you know what i like about RE5, huge weapons are readily made available to you when you encounter bosses. It woulda been a real pain in the butt if you were supposed to tank control, manage inventory while tryna kill a boss, thus capcom made the right move including those massive weapons.So you'll realize you'll beat many of the bosses with one weapon. To me i see RE5 as a smoother,simple and gentle-on-the-heart RE4.

I love RE5 cause they made it they way i wanted,less scary, i don't really like my heart thumping so hard when something jumps outta some corner, i don't think its healthy. Am not scared but i don't see the fun in troubling your heart. I know there quite a number of people out there who skip survival horror games because they can't stand the scare. I got a friend who got this problem, hence never played DMC3 & RE4, yes he thinks DMC3 is scary. Maybe doctors advised Capcom this time around lol.

jmo_INDY_Repub
jmo_INDY_Repub
15 years ago

just got a $40,000 camper, and it had a SONY 32 inch HDTV installed in it, i was so happy, PS3 while camping, yay.! P.S. it was an 2010 Heartland Eagle Ridge 34' QSLR.

sabitrulz
sabitrulz
15 years ago

''when the original debuted back in 2002 on the Xbox and in fact, it was my favorite game of that year''…………..ben did u lik it more dan gta vice city???

www
www
15 years ago

In fact i watched the SC Conviction trailer on my 360 and it looks very good no doubt, i'll like to play it.

Alienange
Alienange
15 years ago

It's June 21st ! Where the heck is my Fallout 3 dlc ?!

Whenever you get around to RE5 please let me know what you think.

Totalz
Totalz
15 years ago

Love Top Spin 3, and tennis!!! Wimbledon's going to be (excuse the pun) ace!

I just rented inFamous fresh off the back of playing Prototype and thinking it was superior…how wrong I was. inFamous just has a character to it that Prototype, even with all its array of powers and gruesome stuff, can't match. I just immediately fell in love with inFamous's setting and plot. PLus I'm actually (somehow) good at it.

I completed the neon district 100% on hard and it wasn't just because I'm a completist (I'm too rubbish normally, but god that trophy tinkling sound feels good don't it?) but because I actually cared. Eating people in Prototype made me feel all dirty inside I think, so it's nice to be a hero, not an anti-hero in inFamous…

I'm on mission 22 in the story but it goes back to the rental place tomorrow 🙁 Probably going to buy it though!

smileys_007
smileys_007
15 years ago

Infamous rocks!! I'm playing the game slowly because I'm enjoying every part of the game! I also hope to get all the blast shards on the game, though I don't mind if i don't get all the dead drops. I can't wait for the next ps3 exclusive game which is uncharted 2..

SubjectiveTruth
SubjectiveTruth
15 years ago

I want splinter cell too.

38
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x