Agreed that flying is the coolest part (they emphasize it in the super-long video, too).  I'm still on the fence.  It's not as glorious as I was hoping for, but it is about what I expected, which isn't bad. 

And my Raisants will be Lord Ebonstone and Kobra.

LOL

They will sell component cables, but it's unclear how many will be available on launch day.

Or if or, then, when.  Grrr.

Here's a tip I discovered by accident:  if a bird-like pinata is on a perch/tree just whack the perch/tree once with the shovel and he/she will fly down and you can then easily select it.

You can also just tap said perch with the X button.

I did not notice that, it seemed gorgeous to me.  And fabulous.  Maybe the Vegas setting was getting to me.

Anyway, in.

Meh ahoy.

Rising up from the depths of his undersea slumbering hole to rain on your parade...

I get this constantly in quick matches.  I have yet to join one.  And, yes, I can't join groups of 7 or more, though when the list refreshes, I still see it sitting there, taunting me, like an empty water dish, mocking me...

It seems like with the THUGs and THAW, they were cramming story down our throats.  I'm all for story in games, I think it helps in nearly every case, but they weren't very good stories (and featured a little too much Bam, for my tastes), and the games suffered for them.  THP8 feels like a return to form if only because the story is very bare-bones and not intrusive and the goals are a lot simpler (and the difficulty is worked into them, as opposed to being across the board).  It feels like the old THPS games, in that you have things to accomplish, just without the time limits (though there are classic goals with time limits and everything  and to get the SICK rating, you have to accomplish everything in one run!  Forget it!).

As far as reinventing goes, I think that comes more with the feel of the game and the new engine than anything else.  I mean, they weren't going to toss out what worked, right?  However, things feel more "realistic" now from the sometimes frustrating speed of your skater (which I guess doesn't change) to the weight of your board.  Even the way you improve stats is now Oblivion-esque, meaning you have to work on the stats you don't use as often, but the ones you use most will climb quickly.

There are problems, sure, and it is still Tony Hawk.  But it feels like slipping into a comfortable pair of old sneakers.

ok got the game today,although  the single player is good,nothing great...the multiplayer is prolly one of the best on LIVE,the maps are fantastic,the only thing i am upset about is that it loses the cat and mouse of COD2,but i guess thats to be expected with 24 players now...with all your team mates now in the top right hand corner when they speak,i havent had fun on LIVE like today for a long time

I'm actually finding the MP maps to be a little too big, but it may be that I haven't played with more than six or maybe eight players.  So, even in the situations where cat and mouse is possible, there's a lot of boring sniffing for the mouse.  None the less, the MP is fun.

I picked it up and have played the first mission for each side.  It is better than it should be, being a budget title and all (grr that "budget" now means a full priced game from the previous gen).  There are minor grievances that, were it a big release, would be unforgivable (no multi-player, slightly slidey movement, repeat of bad guys who spawn in*, some questionable textures at the invisible edges of maps), but on this game it gets a pass.  Maybe it's because there aren't enough Civil War games or that the reload times feel right and add a welcome strategic element, maybe it's that most of the graphics look better than you'd expect, maybe it's the well-balanced achievements, or maybe it's just something that somehow works, but it is fun.  Not sure what the long-term play value is on it, but I expect to pick it up from time to time and get through it on normal difficulty (unless the slightly wonky enemy fire forces me into easy mode).



*I was recently attacked by six Colonel Sanders clones who teleported in from nowhere.

Has there ever been an early, pre-launch release in the history of Nintendo?  I know they like to release on Sundays, but why the hell do they do that?  Make it Friday, and I've got two whole days and an evening to play.  On Sunday, I have people coming over, and I may not have time to set the thing up before they get there.  Grrr.

I just saw a video recently that focused on the score, but showed off some 360 gameplay, and it looks pretty cool.  The fact that it didn't come out with the film makes me a little more confident, too.  I'm excited, but I'm going to wait for reviews, too.

This History Channel game about the Civil War is out for the 360. I'm wondering if anyone took the plunge.

(And if I remember correctly, didn't they try to do a You Don't Know Jack TV show with Peewee Herman that just failed miserably?)

Yes, although the show was actually pretty funny.

Love it so far, but I'm not a big fan of the German Rush.  You know, that thing you've seen in videos where a German jumps out at you and you have to fight him for your weapon and knock him down.  Goes on a bit too long, and it's a break in the action, instead of an intense addition like it should be.

Hell, put it on Xbox Live Arcade!  I guess it could see a reappearance on PS3, though, as one of there downloadables.

I actually wrote to Jellyvision when they last released a Jack game (The Lost Gold), and basically begged them to put it out for consoles.  They wrote back with a very nice e-mail, but basically said there was no real interest in doing that.

However, it does look like they tweaked the back Jackalogue to work with XP recently, so who knows?  Also, if N or MS approached them, I'm sure there would be an interest.

I don't even need a new game (though that would be great), just give me classic Jack!

EDIT:  I just tried to drum up interest on the Xbox forums.  We'll see.

Sorry, I thought that was obvious.  The Japanese music from the Japanese version of the game.  I wish the English version had an option to play that music, but, again, I understand that would be next to impossible.

Yeah, it seems to work now.  Thanks.

It's working now for me, too, but it's still a little sluggish.

The only framerate issues I've seen have been around the fountain in the first area, and it was barely noticeable.  I played online with about half a dozen people all over the place, and it was smooth as butter.

EDIT: Okay, I've moved to the demo area, and I have faced some slowdown that shouldn't be there (and I don't remember it being there in the demo, which is weird).  Also, I found some in an area that had been smooth online.  So, let's say it's smooth as lumpy butter.

Me, too!

I do wish there was an option to have the Japanese music, but I guess that would actually change gameplay (ie you couldn't just plug in the other song), but it's still a great game.  And like all Japanese games, I'm pulling in a steady C on everything.  I wish they'd be more encouraging.

Loving the game so far.  More impressed than I thought I'd be. 

What's up with Gametab today?  Anyone else having a problem getting onto the site?

Well, I picked it up.  Is it true you have to push the button on the console and the headset to play?  That sort of defeats the lazy purpose of the thing.  Is there not a way to push a button on the controller and the earpiece and go?

I think you may see a rash of Cubes traded in for people buying Wiis over the holidays.
If you don't mind buying used controllers, keep an eye out.

Anybody care to make suggestions for Game Cube games?
I'd like to try Odama.
Is Fire Emblem good? Other turn-based (or action) RPGs?
I know RE4 is supposed to be awesome, but it's not my kind of game.

Fire Emblem was good.

Odama, not so much.

On these Cog tags, anyone know if there are one per level?  Or has someone encountered more than one on a level?

Nevermind.  That someone is me.  I found two on the second level, in fact.

What's the deal with the Cog tags?  Are they for unlocking something or just Achievements or what?

They are for achievements only.  You get them every 10 and there are 30.  Jarrod and I beat the game last night and on the first run we picked up 15.....  there are 5 acts so my guess would be 6 per act and probably 2 (it seemed like about 3 scenes) per scene...that was just a guess though..

How long did it take you to play through?

On these Cog tags, anyone know if there are one per level?  Or has someone encountered more than one on a level?

Nevermind.  That someone is me.  I found two on the second level, in fact.

On these Cog tags, anyone know if there are one per level?  Or has someone encountered more than one on a level?

And I think it's been said before, but while under Gamecube emulation, you can absolutely not use any other controller except for the Gamecube one (and via 'Cube ports hidden away on the console). It has something to do with how the Wii fully has a Gamecube inside or something, and as such there's no emulation options for you to mess around with.

I don't buy it.  I believe you, but that seems like a load of crap.  They could program the thing any way they wanted.

What the heck is the 2nd analog stick on the classic controller for if it can't be used for Gamecube games?

N64 games?

Are there 6 buttons on the right hand side of the VC? I don't have an image infront of me to look, so I don't know if it does or not.

From what I can tell, there are 4 face buttons, like the cube, two triggers, like the cube and two shoulder buttons, which is one more than the cube has!  Plus select and start and the d-pad and two sticks...the only problem I see is that the buttons are different shapes than on the cube controller.  And sometimes those icons are used without letters, but it seems to me the same holds true for N64 games.  Good luck figuring out the yellow stick...

From reading things about the classic controller, it almost seems not worth buying unless they do a pack in with the Wii Points like in Japan. Supposedly it will only work with VC titles and it won't work with Gamecube titles.

Really?  That seems supremely lame.

Any linkage to that?

Arrgh. Found some myself: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=148658  Double arrgh.  That is a bonehead move, I think.

<shakes fist at reality>

I wish reality would get off my lawn, too.

Does anyone yet know how I can secure component cables at launch?  EB/Gamestop does not have them for pre-order, but Nintendo says they will be available in stores (not just online) at launch.

Also looking for the classic controller, if anyone has word on that.

Haven't heard anything on the cables, sorry.
If I do, I'll try and remember to post.

Thanks, Misguided.

I called again and the same lady sheepishly admitted it would be in this afternoon about 4 or 5 pm.  Ha!

Does anyone yet know how I can secure component cables at launch?  EB/Gamestop does not have them for pre-order, but Nintendo says they will be available in stores (not just online) at launch.

Also looking for the classic controller, if anyone has word on that.

Got the call from EB that my copy will be ready for pick up this afternoon.  Sweet!  Emergence Day has arrived.  Haven't been this excited about a game since I don't know when.  THIS is why I bought a 360!

I got the same call, but talking to the store today brought a different answer.  They're holding fast to the midnight opening or tomorrow deal.  Though they're not even sure about being open at midnight still(?!).  She was talking like tomorrow's the release date.

I'll try back about 2pm, just to be sure, but that's annoying.

What's the deal with charging it?

You're the one who has it.  What are your thoughts?

It's not a saving issue for me, it's the fact that I need to commit sooo much time to keep my mind in the story for each chapter.  It keeps me from coming back to the game right away (I have yet to finish PW, for example).

Please note that it's not a deal breaker, or anything, just the one complaint I have so far.