It's Friday, What'cha Been Playing?

Written by Kevin Alexander

Friday, 19 October 2007 06:00

Is it possible to say too many good things about Portal? Yesterday I played through the whole game and was completely captivated from the time it started until the last credit rolled. I plan on talking about it more in the next BitCast but for now I'll just say that in a word, it's perfect.

I also finished Half-Life 2: Episode 2 (Manchester United nil, thanks Yahtzee) yesterday and now I'm completely salivating at the idea of getting my hands on Episode 3. The thing that struck about this game is that Valve makes me play games differently. I don't think like I'm in a video game since they trust their audience isn't stupid. After you get through a particularly confusing puzzle or difficult fight you feel rewarded more so than in a lot of other games. It's a particular attention to design detail that so many games lack. The Orange Box makes you realize this over and over again.

I can't urge you all enough to pick up The Orange Box. There's enough gaming in there to make you forget all about the rest of the fall releases.

So, what have you guys been up to? Eat any cake this week?

Comments (15) Add Comment

...
written by Mark, October 19, 2007

Haha! I have that background you have a as a pic. Bes background I've ever had. Oh and the game is the best game I've ever had... and TF2 has stolen my sooooooul.

...
written by Dan Zuccarelli, October 19, 2007

Half-Life 2 (the original, I'm late to that party)
Portal, Portal, Portal
Everyday Shooter
Halo 3
Guitar Hero 3 demo
Peggle
and...

Day of the Tentacle!!!!

...
written by Jim Squires, October 19, 2007

It's been a very P-heavy week for me;

Peggle
PuzzleQuest
Portal

Time for a trip to the urologist!

...
written by Andarko, October 19, 2007

Nothing. My 360 red ringed Tuesday night. smilies/sad.gif

...
written by MC, October 19, 2007

I am still on the last gen consoles, so I played:

TimeSplitters
Urban Chaos: Riot Response
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
ATV Off Road Fury 4

...
written by Jim Squires, October 19, 2007

I still haven't played Ultimate Destruction yet. Plan on picking it up during a slow season. How do you like it?

...
written by Swiftwulf, October 19, 2007

I just finished Half-life2 ( wanted to run through it again before jumping into Ep1 and 2 ), so ill be starting the episodes this weekend, also probably some halo3 and puzzle quest thrown in for good measure.

...
written by MC, October 19, 2007

Jim, I bought ultimate destruction and Urban Chaos the same day... and I ended up playing the latter about 10x more hours. Ultimate Destuction is fun yeah, but there was something about Urban Chaos that really caught me at the right time.

Of course, you have access to much better console shooters than I do at the moment, so take that for what it's worth. smilies/wink.gif

...
written by Xav de Matos, October 19, 2007

I've been playing Every Extend Extra Extreme (E4) on the Xbox Live Arcade and some Portal when I have time.

Busy week so I haven't been able to game too much.

Plan on sitting down with Half-Life 2: Episode 2 sometime this weekend, finally.

...
written by bdwilcox, October 19, 2007

Hamsterball

http://www.raptisoft.com/games/Hamsterball/781/

Hey, it's quick, cheap when it goes on sale (I got it for $7 on sale), and totally captures the feel of my favorite arcade game of all time: Marble Madness (Frustration and all).

I need a rollerball...or one of these:

http://www.futurelooks.com/x-arcade-tankstick-dual-joystick-controller-review

...
written by bdwilcox, October 19, 2007

Hey Dan, where'd you find Day of the Tentacle? Man, they need to re-release these LucasArts classics as one mega-pack for $20.

...
written by Ty, October 20, 2007

My gaming right now consists of
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (DC)
LoZ: PH
Dead Rising
and some good ole fashioned Halo 3 for good measure

...
written by B, October 20, 2007

Half Life 2

I never played the PC version cause I don't like playing games on my computer. With that said, I'm a complete idiot for allowing this gem of a game slip off my radar for 3 years! Like you said Kev, they completely make me play games differently and it isn't forced. The game makes me feel so competent, that when I get to a point where the game is difficult, I plow right through it because of the tools that they give you (gravity gun FTW!!!). I feel like I can take on so much in the game. Ravenholm is mad scary though. Since getting the Orange box, I feel a great sense of completeness. It totally makes up for halo's lackluster story line.

...
written by Ty, October 20, 2007

Man why havent i picked up orange box yet!? I'm ashamed.

...
written by Kevin Alexander, October 21, 2007

B, Ravenholm is my favorite level in Half-Life 2. It's not that the rest of the game isn't as good as that level, it's just that it kicks that much ass.