by Robin Yang on Friday, August 15, 2008
What's the HUD? Well, like that heads-up display in your video game, the GameDaily HUD is a constantly updated overview of video games. We've recruited the cream of the crop of gaming journalists in the industry (as well as several great up-and-coming bloggers) to talk about the latest in gaming news, every week. It's an honest look at what writers across a broad spectrum of gaming sites are thinking, and we're really excited to see how this panel evolves over time. Hopefully you're familiar with a few of these names, and hey! if we end up introducing you to a few more that you love, that's even better. Have suggestions for how we can improve the panel or a question you'd like to see answered? Leave a comment or email Robin.
The two games I've been playing the most are Braid and Rhythm Tengoku Gold. Both games are really addictive...which I'm sure everyone knows. I stayed up to about 7 in the morning working my way through Braid, and I'm still tapping away at Rhythm Tengoku Gold. Two completely different experiences, but neither of them should be missed!
I'm playing quite a bit this week, including Terminal Reality's 360/PS3 Ghostbusters for preview and the Wii adventure/cooking game Order Up! for review. But the game that really has my attention is Geometry Wars Retro Evolved 2 on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Thanks to N'Gai Croal -- who likes to trash talk my leadboard scores -- I can't seem to stay away from it.
I'm in Vancouver on vacation and away from my consoles, so I went back to Lumines II on my PSP. I'd already completed the Challenge Modes on all three difficulties, so I went back and cleared the Vs. CPU Mode and the Mission Mode as well as establishing some personal bests in the Time Attack Mode.
This week have been playing Civilization Revolution in my off hours, taking on one of my girl friends in multiplayer mode. Three hours flew by the other night while I attempting to win a techological victory with Japan.
I've been on an XBLA kick, first with Braid (which is excellent and well worth your $15!) and now with Bionic Commando (I'm disappointed in its lack of online functionality, but impressed with just about everything else). I've yet to really spend time with Geometry Wars 2 (I know, I know) and there's still Galaga Legions and Castle Crashers around the corner. For disc-based consumption, I've started up Fable – which I never got around to before – in anticipation of the upcoming sequel.
This week Madden NFL 09 is spinning in my Xbox 360 and in my long history with the series, I've never been so satisfied and frustrated at the same time. Most additions are solid but the Madden IQ/Adaptive AI system is a chore. Although it sounds as ingenious as Left 4 Dead's Director AI system on paper, in practice it falls apart for me. On the XBLA front, Braid has been a treat to play but I'm a little busy with Bionic Commando: Rearmed at the moment to finish the last world.
I'm currently spending some time between the Red Faction: Guerrilla beta & Geometry Wars 2. The Red Faction: Guerrilla beta had a couple of bumps when it was first released due to it being near impossible to get into a game unless you were in a party, but the recent update helped with that a bit and now instead of waiting for about 20 minutes to get into a game, it could vary between 5-10, depending what time of day it is. As for Geometry Wars 2, I am addicted to the Pacifism mode. My current score is 171,428,525, but I can't help but try to up my own score.
It's all about Geometry Wars 2 for me. It's totally addictive. The way Bizarre added the leaderboards right on the menu system is ingenious. I still have 2 achievements to go, but I'm constantly improving my score and competing against friends. Can I go back and play now?
I've been playing too much this week. Rock Band has been out a lot, playing through on Hard and Expert simultaneously. Civilization Revolution is still being played with almost all victories on Deity. Also, Space Invaders Extreme and Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations which I'm loving, especially when I'm travelling or whatever. Passes the time very quickly.
It is indeed the summer of downloadable games in my household. Braid, PixelJunk Eden, Siren, etc etc. If I never had to put another disc in a disc drive, I'd be a happy man. For some people the dream of an all-downloadable games future is fueled by the desire to never step foot in a game store again. Not for me. I dream that dream because an all-downloadable games future would allow me to switch from game to game to game to game not only without getting off my couch (a nice perk) but at the whim of my constantly changing mind. Stuck in Braid, I can swiftly try another run at Geometry Wars. Mentally worn by the horrors of Siren, I can take a break by swinging through Eden and then jump back to Siren for more creeping horror. This kind of freedom is akin to being able to -- get ready for this -- change the channels on a television set. Truly a radical concept for thoroughly modern consumers of media.
madden would have access to alot of power on ps3 just these companys have to utilize ps3 to its potential. madden is mabe using 20 or 30% of the ps3s power imagine that same great game 3 to 5 times better
ummmm, whats the point of this again?
wow this is pretty cool
I may be critical, but I'm always fair.
@ digitaldis4ster considering you are consistently one of our biggest critics, that means a lot ;) thanks!
This article is so good I thought I was on Kotaku for a minute. .... GameDaily, FTW?
@contakt321 thanks! we're already at work putting together the questions for next week. thanks for the suggestion, too :)
Wow, this is really cool. Looking forward to more of these. You should do predictions on what the biggest game of Q4 will be. Little Big Planet, Gears of War 2, Resistance, etc
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