fair enough. it's the easiest to compare and i was one of the MANY disappointed gamers when that one was finally released.

the graphic style is a definite selling point but that's like buying a cake just for the frosting.

the few reviews i've read have been generally positive but not without concern. there's a lot of repetition but it's fun repetition or so they say. i think DLC will play a large factor in how long the cool factor of the game lasts.

I'll see what people say I guess. I've been needing a new game anyways.

On a different subject, has anyone here played Braid? I know it's been out for a while but it looks really cool and I'm wondering if I should get it.

I'll tell you one thing about Braid, and that is that as soon as it comes to PS3 (been announced) I'm plonking down my cash.

You should pick it up. Uncharted 2 is well worth the purchase. The whole experience of playing it is rediculously immersive, you'll be hooked after the first 20 minutes of gameplay.

I want it very badly, but I'm getting Modern Warfare 2 first. Probably around Christmas, Uncharted 2 will be mine.

I'm definately getting Modern Warfare 2 the day it drops. I don't think I've ever anticipated a game coming out this much and I've been gaming forever.

Played most of those except psychonauts - and I never finished Painkiller. Some good games on that list :) Aside from Half-Life 2 which I love, I also rather liked Call of Cthulhu and I think it may be a little underestimated. The gameplay is not excellent, but the story and so on was compelling enough for me to complete it and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially liked how your failing mental health was a part of the game :)

Bloodlines was of course excellent and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. was okay!

Damn, that looks pretty cool :D I played the PC version myself which was excellent - it's not often I've played a game which feels so thorough and well done. There were no annoyances, no bugs, the whole game just pure awesome.

I bet Joker's an unlockable character in the challenge mode. In addition to the story mode, there's a challenge mode where you can fight and do little "missions" like take out all guards in the room as quickly as possible .. and so on.

Anyways, anyone who likes games and Batman need to play that game.

you're seriously missing out. this game is usually bundled in budget packs in the bargain bin. it was a sleeper hit and based on you views when it comes to philosophical discussions and metaphysics you will REALLY like this game if you ever get your hands on it.

I'm pretty surprised that you haven't played it yet considering it was made by Tim Schaffer's company Double Fine Productions.

Call of Cthulhu is a lot of fun and easily replaced the Condemned series as my scariest FPS, the Attack of the Fishmen level is very true to "Shadow over Innsmouth".

Painkiller is fun but pretty much only used to kill time and listen to metal.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is great game because it's one of the most challenging FPS's that I've played for awhile. Their depiction of the Zone is really well done as far as decrepit places go, it's seriously surprising when you actually find something that works right. Sure the missions are pretty much all the same, but that can be said about every RPG game.

Yeah, I've been aware of the game and I've had mates who had it and recommended it, but I honestly thought it had only been released for PS2! Now I see there's a PC version, I'll see if I can pick it up. Gog.com is often good for buying older games very cheap.

Yep, the attack of the fishmen level was awesome and spooky in a way I've never really experienced in any other FPS.

Painkiller isn't really my style of FPS, guessing it's not yours either. I played it for a while, but there was little to motivate me enough to finish it. Too much mindless action grind for me.

What fascinated me most about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. really was the story and the setting. I was honestly impressed. For those who don't know what it is, there's been a second meltdown of the Chernobyl reactor and the extreme levels of radiation is affecting the local environment to the point where you get anomalies and artifacts (substances with strange properties) that defy physical laws as we know them. You play a sort of scavenger/explorer of this chernobyl area called "the zone". I never played any of the sequels and I know there's been a couple, so maybe I have to check those out.

I remember one of the mycologists at the university warmly recommended the movie Stalker when we were out doing fieldwork once. :)

edit :

Ah, there's one sequel of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. out, Clear Sky .. anyone tried it?