New EGM Scores (Careful...some Halo 2 SPOILERS within)

[Eco-Logic]

Thanks to vireland(confirmed by ferricide(EGM staff)) and skip(EGM staff)

MGS 3 9, 9.5, 10
NFSU 2 8, 9, 8
GTA:SA 10,10,10 (GOTM)
Halo 2 10,10,10 (GOTM)
MP:2 9, 9, 10
Killzone 7, 7.5, 8
Mario tennis 9, 7.5, 8
Outrun 2 6, 6.5, 8
Baten Kaitos 6.5, 8, 7.5
GODZILLA SAVE THE EARTH 6.0, 4.5, 5.5
FIGHT CLUB 2.5, 3.0, 2.0
Growlanser Generations 7,7,8

And yes, these are confirmed by EGM staffers themeseleves so don't ask for scans or stuff.

He's from GAF(gaming age)
http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread....2743#post582743
you can look at page 6 on that thread if have to see for yourself.

Plus there is thread where I collected all the info and put it out, and then EGM staffers put out some other
scores from the month.

http://www.ga-forum.com/showthread.php?t=22063

[Kevin Grey]

You Bastard Trying to steal my thread!!!!

Though I only mentioned the reviews of the big five in my thread (MGS 3, Halo 2, MP2, GTA, R&C 3)

[Eco-Logic]

You Bastard Trying to steal my thread!!!!

Though I only mentioned the reviews of the big five in my thread (MGS 3, Halo 2, MP2, GTA, R&C 3)

I didn't see your thread and it didn't have EGM in the title

[Kevin Grey]

You Bastard Trying to steal my thread!!!!

Though I only mentioned the reviews of the big five in my thread (MGS 3, Halo 2, MP2, GTA, R&C 3)

I didn't see your thread and it didn't have EGM in the title

Oh sure try to bring logic and facts into this.

[Kevin Grey]

To comment on the scores themselves:

I'm really thrilled that so far it looks like every major sequel is living up to the hype this year.  Though I do admit that I'm disappointed that San Andreas has received so many near perfect scores.  Technical issues (re: framerate) really drag it down in my opinion.  I'm 20 hours in and contemplating holding off for the PC or Xbox version.

[Rob_Merritt]

Gee, fight club is scoring low. Who would of thunk it?

[farley2k]

Well at least I will have a lot of good games to play very soon.

[AgtFox]

I'm going to guess they also reviewed Jak 3, although it isn't present in either this thread nor Kevin's thread (but Kevin does talk about R&C: UYA in his).

[Kevin Grey]

Yeah I expected a Jak 3 review too.  Though so far no one has noted its absence in the 7 page Gaming-Age thread.

[HankRaptor]

MGS 3 9, 9.5, 10
NFSU 2 8, 9, 8
GTA:SA 10,10,10 (GOTM)
Halo 2 10,10,10 (GOTM)
MP:2 9, 9, 10
Killzone 7, 7.5, 8
Mario tennis 9, 7.5, 8
Outrun 2 6, 6.5, 8
Baten Kaitos 6.5, 8, 7.5
GODZILLA SAVE THE EARTH 6.0, 4.5, 5.5
FIGHT CLUB 2.5, 3.0, 2.0
Growlanser Generations 7,7,8

DAMN its a good christmas to be a gamer.

[HankRaptor]

Nintendo has been scoring rather low lately, even with EGM nintendo fanboys...

[ElijahPrice]

Since this is a review thread I'll just throw this in.  Got the XBox Official Mag for the demos and the Halo Exclsuive Review:

Halo 2
9.7/10
+ Music
+ Multiplayer
+ Attention to Detail
- Ending

Obviously, + is good and - is bad.  I am a bit curious about that minus on ending...?  It said that what will make Halo a real legendary game is its multiplayer, not the single player.  I guess that was expected.  If you want more just let me know though it is an Xbox mag...

[coopasonic]

Though I do admit that I'm disappointed that San Andreas has received so many near perfect scores.  Technical issues (re: framerate) really drag it down in my opinion.  I'm 20 hours in and contemplating holding off for the PC or Xbox version.

Perhaps I'm not sensitive to these issues. I've noticed no such problems.

[AgtFox]

Well, EGM isn't the "Nintendo fanboy" central it used to be (not that I ever thought it was, but that's me).  EGM uses its core of editors, but they also enlist the help of the greater Ziff-Davis gaming magazine people with the reviews.  As far as I know, the Ziff-Davis magazine empire does not include a Nintendo only magazine, but they do have magazines for both Playstation (OPM) and Xbox (Xbox Nation).

[Kevin Grey]

Though I do admit that I'm disappointed that San Andreas has received so many near perfect scores.  Technical issues (re: framerate) really drag it down in my opinion.  I'm 20 hours in and contemplating holding off for the PC or Xbox version.

Perhaps I'm not sensitive to these issues. I've noticed no such problems.

I'm pretty tolerant of them but I've found the framrate in San Andreas to be abysmal throughout (I'm in the countryside now).  Its understandable during heavy combat or something with lots of on screen action but I was shocked when even the country-side was suffering from lots of hitches.

[Kevin Grey]

Nintendo has been scoring rather low lately, even with EGM nintendo fanboys...

What's that in reference to?  Not MP2 I hope.  I can't understand how anyone could paint 9, 9, 10 as a disappointment.  They gave Paper Mario 2 straight 9's and GOTM last issue and IIRC Pikmin 2 also reviewed very well.

[kathode]

Damn, what is that 6.5 on Baten Kaitos?  I was looking forward to that game.

[AgtFox]

Damn, what is that 6.5 on Baten Kaitos?  I was looking forward to that game.

From my understanding, ferricide wrote the 6.5 opinion.  He used to be with Gamespy and I believe Gamespot before that.  I used to talk to the guy a lot in another forum years ago.  He is a hardcore RPG guy and many people would consider that his speciality if he had to be pigeonholed into one genre.  He has gotten a biti more cynical in his Japanese-based RPG reviews lately though in my opinion.

[Kevin Grey]

Yeah, Ferricide is very critical on RPGs.  He incited a bit of a flamewar when he was the first to review Fable (for GMR) and gave it a 8.0.  He did give good scores to Shadow Hearts: Covenant and SMT: Nocturne recently though.

[Calvin]

I heart you Halo 2~!!!

[Destructor]

Obviously, + is good and - is bad.  I am a bit curious about that minus on ending...?  It said that what will make Halo a real legendary game is its multiplayer, not the single player.  I guess that was expected.  If you want more just let me know though it is an Xbox mag...

From what I hear from somebody who 'acquired' the game early, the ending, well, sucks. It very abruptly ends, among other issues.

He hasn't told me why (obviously, as I want to play the game myself), but that's what he said.

[Sparhawk]

The ending might be a negative because that particular reviewer might just not like the ending himself. Maybe it leaves you wanting more, or maybe something happens that is a real bummer? I'm pretty certain BUngie is not doing a another Halo game, so maybe they wanted a longer more dramatic ending (if you remember the first Halo did not have a long ending in the least).

*Spoilers possible*

The Halo Universe is actually pretty depressing when you get down to it, and it might not have the happiest of endings (which is my current guess after reading all the books and studying the Bungie lore) so you're left feeling like it was all for naught. I personally don't see the humans or covenant coming out on top, I also think John might end up being hurt. I already know Cortana will most likely bug out completely and start becoming less reliable. Okay, I don't KNOW that, but if everything I read about smart A.I.'s is true, she certainly won't be herself this time around. Maybe not at the begining but certainly near the end of the game.

I'm not tripping on some other guy's opinion regarding the ending of a game. That sorta thing will vary from person to person and I'm guessing that those of us who really enjoy the story will be satisfied more than dissapointed.

[AgtFox]

Maybe it leaves you wanting more, or maybe something happens that is a real bummer?

The OXM review would lead you to believe there will be a Halo 3 given the ending of Halo 2, so I would go with option #1 from above.

[Turtle]

The Halo series was designed as a trilogy, I think they said something along those lines in an interview.  I wouldn't be surprised if they went to four games considering the first one was so low on story content.

Following on the Marathon trilogy, I wouldn't be surprised if things didn't go completely nuts for 3 or at the end of 2.  Bungie usually escalates the whole conflict by several levels before things end.

I think the ending is just another cliffhander ending that leaves many things unresolved, all ripe for some climactic battle in the next one.

[Kevin Grey]

The Halo series was designed as a trilogy, I think they said something along those lines in an interview. I wouldn't be surprised if they went to four games considering the first one was so low on story content.

I think it will be four games just based on release cycle- Halo 3 within the first year of Xbox 2 and Halo 4 prior to the end of Xbox 2's lifecycle.

[Kevin Grey]

Jak 3 got 8, 8, 8.5.

[Jumangi]

The Halo series was designed as a trilogy, I think they said something along those lines in an interview.  I wouldn't be surprised if they went to four games considering the first one was so low on story content.

What isn't at least a trilogy these days.

[Sparhawk]

Then I'm guessing the ending will be only a little longer than the first Halo based on what was said after my reply.

I am certainly glad this will be a trilogy! I wonder if Bungie will do an ARG like ILB for Halo 3? Any news on more books?

[Sparhawk]

Oh, and I hope I can play with some of you online after I beat the single player.

I go by Jaler.

[whiteboyskim]

The Halo series was designed as a trilogy, I think they said something along those lines in an interview. I wouldn't be surprised if they went to four games considering the first one was so low on story content.

I think it will be four games just based on release cycle- Halo 3 within the first year of Xbox 2 and Halo 4 prior to the end of Xbox 2's lifecycle.

"The Fifth Game in the Increasingly Inaccurately Named Halo Trilogy."

It doesn't surprise me that Halo 2 has a weak ending, though I'd hope for something a bit more. Even serialized stories can have a knock out ending and still leave you on a cliff-hanger, but just abruptly ending it without genuinely building to something first? That blows mightily.

[kathode]

Come on, the game's not even on the shelves yet and you're already docking it points for having a weak ending?  Weak

[Tebunker]

Considering Famitsu and a few other Japanese publications called Baten Kaitos RPG of the year, and regarded it even higher than Tales or Symphonia, I have no worries about the game being good or enjoyable.

Add on top of that the quality developer who's working on it and I'd say I have no worries getting it day one if possible.

[Calvin]

Bunky defending a Nintendo exclusive? OH NO HE DI-INT!!

 :lol:

[Calvin]

Oh yeah, also, any details on the Jak 3 review?

[Kevin Grey]

Oh yeah, also, any details on the Jak 3 review?

Not yet.  I checked and it looks like the same scores that they gave Jak 2.  IGN just posted their Jak 3 review and gave it a 9.6 but then again its IGN.

[pr0ner]

Bunky defending a Nintendo exclusive? OH NO HE DI-INT!!

 :lol:

Burn!  

[Calvin]

I just read the IGN review. he didnt really go greatly into detail on what made ithe game worth such a high score, but he convinced me to pick it up as soon as I can.

[Pharaoh]

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS


Why the Halo 2 Ending sucks?



Remember Metal Gear 2? Raiden? Yea, well, lets just say Halo 2 goes the same route, and Master Chief isnt the main character. The Ending the blows so hard is because when you finally get to actually play him again? Game Over Amigos.



SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

[warning]

Pharaoh's got it all wrong.  I have it from reliable sources that at the end the Master Chief comes to terms with who he really is, decides to stop the charade and removes the power armor.  Underneath... a lovely pastel sundress.

[Beer Goggles]

Cortana is a man.