[DJ Cam]

which game to get. Been needing something new to play for a while. Was thinking between Fear 2, Mass Effect, Indigo Prophecy and Silent Hill 2. If any of you have played these could you give me a suggestion on which would be a better buy.

[SGT. RAMIREZ]

get mass effect, im currently playing it on my 360..
the graphics are really good..

[bstarter29]

I've only played Mass Effect, but I hear Indigo Prophecy is really good. Weird though (made by Quantic Dream, guys who are making Heavy Rain). But I would say go for Mass Effect.

[Maddieman]

I haven't played either Fear2 or Mass Effect, so I can only advise with IP and SH2.

Indigo Prophecy is certainly different and definitely worth playing. The story goes a bit Matrix towards the end, but it's an enjoyable experience overall. The best part is that you get to experience a murder investigation from both the killer's perspective and the detectives -- there are some memorable scenes where you have to hide evidence before the police get to you; and blag your way through an interrogation. A lot of the scenes remind me of the police station level in Max Payne 2 -- if you like wandering about, talking to NPCs, and generally interacting with the game world; you'll definitely get a kick out of it.

Where the game is let down is by the fact that it's not really a game, but an interactive movie -- some of the scenes are padded out for the sake of giving you something to do instead of progressing the story, and most of the 'action' revolves around a fairly bland button sequence minigame. So as a "game", it's definitely flawed IMO, but it still has a lot of good moments in it, and there aren't many games like it, so for those reasons alone, I'd get it.

I don't want to say that Silent Hill 2 is a masterpiece, because in many ways it isn't -- on the surface, it's just another standard survival horror game -- but many people regard it highly. However, in terms of gameplay, it doesn't push the genre at all -- like it or not, it still plays like a PS1 game. It also has some unforgiving puzzles of the annoying mensa type, rather than the typical 'jigsaw puzzle' approach you'll find in games like Resident Evil, Monkey Island, Zelda, and other adventure games (although there are a few of that kind too). So on the surface, it can be underwhelming - especially if you've become accustomed to the modern horror games like RE4.

What makes SH2 special is the mature approach to its story, characters, and overall design. The initial premise is intriguing, and from there the game drags you down into its bleak world of decay, misery and suffering. Without spoiling it, let’s just say that sin, guilt, and punishment are some of the major themes of this game; and if there's a more original, and convincing representation of hell on earth, I've yet to come across it (at least, in a videogame). This is a game that gets right under your skin, and you'll probably be thinking about it long after you turn off the console. And then there's Pyramid Head - a monster that simply radiates brutality and sadism.

Both games are flawed, but worth playing; and both of them are cheap - so really you don't have an excuse not to get either. If I was forced to pick one over the other, I'd say rent Indigo Prophecy, and buy Silent Hill 2; but that's just my preference. It depends on what you're looking for -- IP is a fairly light, but very enjoyable supernatural thriller (if a bit short lived). SH2 is a psychological horror that isn't necessarily enjoyable to play through at times; but has a lot of depth - if you're prepared to explore it.

[Darkness62]

F.E.A.R. 2 definitely out of Mass Effect and F.E.A.R. 2 I don't know about the other two. Mass Effect was pretty boring, I couldn't finish it anyway. F.E.A.R. 2 I am on my second play through.

[Kahr]

Silent Hill 2. I'm about to drive my girlfriend to work, so I can't go into details about why, but SH2 is a fantastic game, if you like the type.

[afs]

Here's my review of Mass Effect, found here:

http://www.alanwake.com/forum/showth...p?t=651&page=2

(In this thread, you can actually track my growing anticipation and subsequent disapointment of this game)

NOTE: I played on the 360

Quote:

Originally Posted by afs

A friend of mine was watching me play it, and he didnt really know what it was, and at one point he goes, "So what's the point of this game? You're character tests really bad prototype weapons and elevators?"

I've changed my tune a little since my last post. Let me lay it out for you, if you haven't played the game yet:

The combat is terrible. End of point one. I don't know what the hell I was thinking in my last post, saying "The shooting was fun." It's really not.

The dialogue, as much as I liked the idea, is nearly redundant, seeing as how most of the time, despite which of the three choices you make, you say essentialy the same thing, or it just has little to no effect on the outcome. Granted, at times you do get to make a few "big" decisions, but you're too destracted by your character not having any texture for the first few seconds of every conversation to really have been paying attention to care enough about the decision you're supposed to be making (that's a mouthful). But, more on that in a minute.

The invintory... Oh, how I hate thee. To be fair, I can't hate the invintory, because thier really isn't one. It's just a list of crap you have, in an almost random order (I know it's not random, that's why I said almost).

Everyone's geeking out about the graphics, and yeah, they are good-- When they work... which they don't... because of all the goddamn pop up. Not to mention that every time you enter combat, you drop to 10 frames per second. "It looks awsome!" Yeah, for a slideshow.

Should I mention the Uncharted Worlds? I guess I should, since they take up more time than the story missions, providing you attempt to complete them. Here's what happens: first you land. Then you drives. Then you get out of the Mako (genie style, by just nodding your head, presumably), then you walk a short distance, press a few buttons, get back in the Mako. Then you do it again. Then you leave. Sometimes, there's a building, with a few enemies. And you can go inside, and fight a few more, but it's always one of about three or four identicle layouts.


...the question that remains is "Was it a good game?" My answer: no. If you play the first hour or so (just on the Citidel), you might think, "Hey, this is going to be good." But you'll spend the rest of the time you play looking for something that isn't there: a completed game. Nothing about this game said to me that it was anywhere near being ready to ship.

A lot of games come out and suck, and we can all get a laugh off of them years later, but Mass Effect isn't one, for the simple fact that it could have been (that is, it showed promise to be) the greatest game ever made. It failed to be the greatest game out in November.

And I find all of the reviews (mostly chart-toppers (OXM 10/10)) to be perplexing, if not infuriating.

[M.O.T.H.]

Find a way to get Mass Effect and Indigo Prophecy.

Both are fantastic...the poster above me would certainly be in the minority when it comes to Mass Effect. Not that there is anything wrong with that but, the game is widely viewed as one of the 360's best. It really is a great game/experience.

Indigo is one of my favorites ever...it's not for everyone but, being the big movie buff I am, it was right up my alley. The story is solid up in until the last third of the game. Creator, David Cage, admits they rushed the ending a bit and even he wasn't satisfied with it but, the game is still solid. I cant wait to see what Cage and his crew come up with in Heavy Rain, their new PS3 exclusive.

...

(edit)

two things...

1. If you get Mass Effect...if the grainy effect and motion blur in the cut scenes annoy you. You can turn them off by way of the options menu, the game is much better without them.

2. If you get Indigo Prophecy...just keep an open mind. I know a lot of people that quit playing after like a half an hour. Just stick with it, it's a great, great game.

[RTsa]

Indigo Prophecy is a great game to a certain point. And getting there does take some time. And it should be pretty cheap as it's an old game. Definitely recommend it because it's so great until it turns bad. (though, it's a matter of opinion)

Mass Effect is also awesome - until it turns repetitive. Very..repetitive. If you just brush past the main storyline it probably doesn't get repetitive, but then it's pretty short. Did I say the game becomes repetitive at some point?

Dunno about FEAR 2 or SH2.

[afs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by M.O.T.H.

Find a way to get Mass Effect and Indigo Prophecy.

Both are fantastic...the poster above me would certainly be in the minority when it comes to Mass Effect. Not that there is anything wrong with that but, the game is widely viewed as one of the 360's best. It really is a great game/experience.

I am in the vast, VAST minority here. I thought I pointed that out in my post, but I guess I forgot to. Thanks for covering.



And they rushed the ending of Indigo Prophecy a little more than "a bit," if I remember correctly. Didn't they shoehorn the rest of a planned trilogy into the last two hours?

It is a great game though. I've played it maybe four times, and while I would have liked to see some great reason for replayability, I did it out of boredom. It's pretty much a one play wonder.

Mass Effect, on the other hand, can be replayed alot (if you can get past those problems that I failed to see a decent game in).

I'm sure I'm not helping the OP at all. Just confusion.