Untold Legends (PSP): No reviews?

[mouselock]

The PSP launch is, what, 2 days away? I would expect to be seeing tons of press about all of the launch games, but I've not seen nearly as much as I expected to. There's no heavy push for every game coming out. Some seem to be generating their own bit of buzz (Lumines, Wipeout Pure), but even looking for it I see less about specific games than I had expected. I'm especially confused by the complete lack of reviews for Untold Legends, which seems to be the only title of its type coming not only at launch, but for the foreseeable future.

I'm reasonably sure it will be good; this is certainly the type of game that Sony should be able to do well after the Norrath series, but I'm truly perplexed that not a single review has shown up for a game that will be out in two days. Anyone know what's up with that? Are there just too many PSP titles, under the assumption that they're all at least solid ports, so they're not getting as much press as the machine itself? Does Sony just figure that given the machine anything that plays on it will sell, so why bother getting reviewers copies for a timely review? I had heard that originally they weren't really trying to promote the PSP, assuming they'd sell out without any direct advertising anyway, so maybe it's a continuation of that motif? Anyone in the know?

[Angrycoder]

There haven't been any reviews for metal gear acid either. I am guessing they are aren't allowed to post reviews for those 2 games until a specific date?

There is a good number of reviews for many of the other games, so far Wipeout Pure is leading the pack with a 91.5% at game rankings.

http://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/default_psp/1024

[Tom Chick]

Metal Gear Acid reviews are embargoed. And I don't think Sony has shipped review copies of Untold Legends. If they have, it might be according to some sort of exclusive deals.

-Tom

[Gunmetal]

IGN just put up their review for MGS: Ac!d. They gave it a 6.5 overall. The reviewer doesn't seem to keen on card-based games though

[mouselock]

So is it just me that it strikes as strange that huge (well, MGS at least) titles for a huge new system are embargoed essentially until the last minute? Makes me fearful of an attempt to cover up shoddy games. (Which is disturbing given I was most looking forward to untold legends).

Maybe I should just stick with Lumines and Wipeout Pure. :(

[Doug Erickson]

Makes me a little corcerned about Untold Legends, at least. Metal Gear Ac!d, though, is great -- it's a third X-Com, a third Metal Gear Solid, and a third card game. Brilliant, even with the wonky localization effort. The IGN review is just abysmal.

[Kevin Grey]

So is it just me that it strikes as strange that huge (well, MGS at least) titles for a huge new system are embargoed essentially until the last minute? Makes me fearful of an attempt to cover up shoddy games. (Which is disturbing given I was most looking forward to untold legends).



MGA isn't another MGS and is pretty niche. In Japan where it debuted within a week of MGS3, I think, it had pretty weak sales compared to the stellar sales its PS2 counterpart was receiving.


Makes me a little corcerned about Untold Legends, at least. Metal Gear Ac!d, though, is great -- it's a third X-Com, a third Metal Gear Solid, and a third card game. Brilliant, even with the wonky localization effort. The IGN review is just abysmal.

What's wrong with the localization? I recall speculation no Gaming-Age a few months ago that it would be a difficult port.

[Reed]

So is it just me that it strikes as strange that huge (well, MGS at least) titles for a huge new system are embargoed essentially until the last minute? Makes me fearful of an attempt to cover up shoddy games. (Which is disturbing given I was most looking forward to untold legends).(
That's definitely my worry too. But then there are cases like the GTA franchise... You never see a review of them until they have hit the shelves.

[MattKeil]

Makes me a little corcerned about Untold Legends, at least. Metal Gear Ac!d, though, is great -- it's a third X-Com, a third Metal Gear Solid, and a third card game. Brilliant, even with the wonky localization effort. The IGN review is just abysmal.

For those who know what it is and want that, sure. I imagine the IGN review reflects fairly accurately the response of 80% of the people who are going to buy MGA expecting a traditional Metal Gear game but smaller.

[Angrycoder]

Jason Allen replaces Ryan Davis as the class A dorkwad of the week.

He spends the first two paragraphs of the review talking about how much he loves metal gear and how much this isn't like the other metal gear games. Talk about picking the wrong reviewer.



What is Metal Gear Acid? Hi-tech chess. It shares the spirit of a Metal Gear, but ever so slightly. Additionally, Metal Gear Acid isn't proactive or remotely visceral.

You said it yourself, its hi-tech chess. Its a fucking card game, you want it to be visceral???



Dividing the stages up into blocks of a game board works well enough, but the detailed graphics and environmental effects suggest a sense of animated reality, while the characters remain stiff and unnervingly patient, performing actions such as waiting without reacting on a turn to shoot back at someone that has just shot them in the face. It makes for an odd juxtaposition of reality and phoniness.

Its a turn based game, dumbass. you take your turn, shoot them in the face, then when its there turn they can shoot back. Has this guy even played any other turn based games?

And one final quote from the department of redundancy department.


..can't help the repeating animation sequences and drawn-out enemy movements from getting repetitive.

[Tom Chick]

I imagine the IGN review reflects fairly accurately the response of 80% of the people who are going to buy MGA expecting a traditional Metal Gear game but smaller.

Is that what the review is supposed to reflect though? I haven't read the review, and I'm not saying you're trying to justify it, but shouldn't the review assume the person who buys a game knows what he's in for?

I don't think Konami's misrepresented what they've done with Metal Gear Acid (I'm not going to put an exclamation point in the word 'acid'). I can't speak to whatever advertising they've been doing, but it's clear from the back of the box that this is a strategy card game.

-Tom

[Tom Ohle]

I imagine the IGN review reflects fairly accurately the response of 80% of the people who are going to buy MGA expecting a traditional Metal Gear game but smaller.

Is that what the review is supposed to reflect though? I haven't read the review, and I'm not saying you're trying to justify it, but shouldn't the review assume the person who buys a game knows what he's in for?

I don't think Konami's misrepresented what they've done with Metal Gear Acid (I'm not going to put an exclamation point in the word 'acid'). I can't speak to whatever advertising they've been doing, but it's clear from the back of the box that this is a strategy card game.

-Tom

I really image most of the audience buying a new Metal Gear game on PSP would expect it to be a traditional MG-style title. I can't imagine them coming out on the back of the box and saying "It's a CARD GAME!!!"
But who knows (I'm just speculating)

[Tom Chick]

I can't imagine them coming out on the back of the box and saying "It's a CARD GAME!!!"

They pretty much do. The first three bullet points from the box:

* Experience Metal Gear's renowned stealth action with new emphais on tactical turn-based strategy

* Purchase new strategic battle cards to enhance your infiltration strategy and discover new cards as you play

* Different card decks give you new abilities and actions unique to the theme of the deck

-Tom

[Tom Ohle]

I can't imagine them coming out on the back of the box and saying "It's a CARD GAME!!!"

They pretty much do. The first three bullet points from the box:

* Experience Metal Gear's renowned stealth action with new emphais on tactical turn-based strategy

* Purchase new strategic battle cards to enhance your infiltration strategy and discover new cards as you play

* Different card decks give you new abilities and actions unique to the theme of the deck

-Tom

Hmm, fair enough. Foot goes in mouth now.
That said, I wonder if the Metal Gear name has enough clout that a lot of gamers (read: younger gamers generally) would just pick it up without reading the back.

[Stroker Ace]

Traditional?

http://www.unix.eng.ua.edu/~dpritchett/img/qt3/truck_have.PNG

[steve]

So is it just me that it strikes as strange that huge (well, MGS at least) titles for a huge new system are embargoed essentially until the last minute? Makes me fearful of an attempt to cover up shoddy games. (Which is disturbing given I was most looking forward to untold legends).
Nah, they're probably just making sure that the PR doesn't peak before things hit shelves. This is standard in almost all entertainment.

You see all movie reviews hit on Friday, for example; there are only a few instances where reviews--or more accurately, a single review--appears before a movie hits theaters. It's part of the marketing/PR strategy. Have all the hype hit at once instead of piecemeal.

It's when they don't send review copies or pre-screen a film that you know there's trouble.

[chet]

I can't imagine them coming out on the back of the box and saying "It's a CARD GAME!!!"

They pretty much do. The first three bullet points from the box:

* Experience Metal Gear's renowned stealth action with new emphais on tactical turn-based strategy

* Purchase new strategic battle cards to enhance your infiltration strategy and discover new cards as you play

* Different card decks give you new abilities and actions unique to the theme of the deck

-Tom

Maybe I am not bright, or it depends on your mindset, but it doesn't for me.

1 - so it is a metal gear game but it will emphasize some aspect, but that won't be the only aspect.

2- kind of like that monolith's sanity.

3- a mix of sanity and painkiller.

If someone came in reading those bullet points and the whole time they were thinking about Metal Gear and not a card game, I could see the idea that is a card game being so out of left field, that it doesn't flavor their reading of the points.

You can never be obvious enough, somewhere on the box in big bold letters it should state - "This is a fucking card game, just like that gay magic the gathering"

Or isn't it?



Chet

[Linoleum]

Coming up next: Operation Wolf Rhythm for PSP!

[Tom McNamara]

Makes me a little corcerned about Untold Legends, at least. Metal Gear Ac!d, though, is great -- it's a third X-Com, a third Metal Gear Solid, and a third card game. Brilliant, even with the wonky localization effort. The IGN review is just abysmal.

For those who know what it is and want that, sure. I imagine the IGN review reflects fairly accurately the response of 80% of the people who are going to buy MGA expecting a traditional Metal Gear game but smaller.


Call it awkward game design, or call it the nature of a card game -- there are just some things here that will push patience no matter how one looks at it. Even though I found myself trying to like this game, there are things that almost pushed frustration on me. There are so many annoyances that are just screwy intrusions that do nothing for the game's reality. For instance, having your move progression interrupted by a codec message from Roger, and then losing the rest of the moves you had already selected after he's done talking to you. Or waiting on certain cards to come up when you're in a tight spot, like a firefight. Or simply needing to progress through a door and you're waiting for the "Level 1 Key Card" card to come up (you can edit the order of the cards, but in certain contextual situations, you haven't been given the chance). Or how about how it sends you back to the main menu after your quick-save, only to have you select the option to continue. Just the way that this game mixed up the X and O button so consistently -- one to make a choice at one point, then suddenly canceling the choice the next screen over -- had me losing my faith.

Or maybe it's just not that good.

[Kitsune]

Call it awkward game design, or call it the nature of a card game -- there are just some things here that will push patience no matter how one looks at it. Even though I found myself trying to like this game, there are things that almost pushed frustration on me. There are so many annoyances that are just screwy intrusions that do nothing for the game's reality. For instance, having your move progression interrupted by a codec message from Roger, and then losing the rest of the moves you had already selected after he's done talking to you. Or waiting on certain cards to come up when you're in a tight spot, like a firefight. Or simply needing to progress through a door and you're waiting for the "Level 1 Key Card" card to come up (you can edit the order of the cards, but in certain contextual situations, you haven't been given the chance). Or how about how it sends you back to the main menu after your quick-save, only to have you select the option to continue. Just the way that this game mixed up the X and O button so consistently -- one to make a choice at one point, then suddenly canceling the choice the next screen over -- had me losing my faith.

Or maybe it's just not that good.

Nah, IGN just sucks as usual. To whit:


For instance, having your move progression interrupted by a codec message from Roger, and then losing the rest of the moves you had already selected after he's done talking to you.

Often times because there is either modified objectives or new information imparted upon you, so you'll want to, I dunno, change your battle plan! Woo! Difficult concept here! I know!


Or waiting on certain cards to come up when you're in a tight spot, like a firefight.

Weak. This is one of the flavors of putting cards into any game. The idea is that you are supposed to construct a deck to avoid things like this and the choice of whether to wait or draw is part of the strategy. You know, like that game they call Poker. Is that flawed now because it uses the same attraction? Besides, why you are in a tight spot if you used your cards well?


Or simply needing to progress through a door and you're waiting for the "Level 1 Key Card" card to come up (you can edit the order of the cards, but in certain contextual situations, you haven't been given the chance).

Now this one is on the level of the Darkstalkers Chronicles review where he complains about d-pad movements and claims that fireballs are a fundamental part of the strategy. Good lord.


Or how about how it sends you back to the main menu after your quick-save, only to have you select the option to continue.

Err, this is more the option to quit the game for a little while and come back to it later. Its a strategy game, just like Intelligent Systems takes pains to prevent you from using terribly lame save and retry methods, so does Konami. In all other situations, you're set.


...the way that this game mixed up the X and O button so consistently -- one to make a choice at one point, then suddenly canceling the choice the next screen over -- had me losing my faith.

It isn't consistent, that is, its like that when its most convenient to change and in other situations it uses the normal way. Just like there's usually different control depending on when you are in a menu or during gameplay, anyone who plays an RPG should have gotten used to this a loooooong time ago.

And then there's the language, like how he repeats the same damn thing three times in a row at the beginning of the paragraph, or the idea that he was "losing his faith." Good god, its a game, not a religion and that type of language always has me thinking, "Fanboy." Which of course, for IGN, is quite accurate.

Mr. Doug Erickson is correct, MGA is absolutely lovely and this is fool of a review isn't going to change that, though I am beginning to wonder sometimes Japanese companies even bother.

-Kitsune

[extarbags]

I can't imagine them coming out on the back of the box and saying "It's a CARD GAME!!!"

They pretty much do. The first three bullet points from the box:

* Experience Metal Gear's renowned stealth action with new emphais on tactical turn-based strategy

* Purchase new strategic battle cards to enhance your infiltration strategy and discover new cards as you play

* Different card decks give you new abilities and actions unique to the theme of the deck

-Tom

Maybe I am not bright, or it depends on your mindset, but it doesn't for me.

1 - so it is a metal gear game but it will emphasize some aspect, but that won't be the only aspect.

2- kind of like that monolith's sanity.

3- a mix of sanity and painkiller.

If someone came in reading those bullet points and the whole time they were thinking about Metal Gear and not a card game, I could see the idea that is a card game being so out of left field, that it doesn't flavor their reading of the points.

You can never be obvious enough, somewhere on the box in big bold letters it should state - "This is a fucking card game, just like that gay magic the gathering"

Or isn't it?



Chet


discover new cards as you play

[Kitsune]

I think what bloodlet chet is saying is that it can be construed from the back of the box statements that the cards are an extra element added on top of the basic MGS template, not the basis of gameplay, maybe like the cards in Painkiller. Unlikely perhaps, especially if there are screenshots of card selection on the back of the box, but understandable I guess.

-Kitsune

[Tom Chick]

I think chet's mildly trolling (although I have no idea why he's trolling me!), but it clearly says "tactical turn-based strategy", "cards", and "card decks" in the bullet points.

Having said that, I don't doubt that some folks will be disappointed it's not another action/stealth game.

And, oh yeah, what Kitsune and Doug said.

-Tom

[chet]

I am not trolling. But my only knowledge being from those three bullet points, the idea that it is a card game is so out of left field - i would miss it.

To me it sounds just like sanity, which while i didn't play, i had heard it was all about collecting cards, and even buying cards online to add to your deck. Using that as my only point of reference as an action game having cards, I found those three bullet points unclear.

I will say, having no knowledge about this game, but knowing about Sanity puts me into a very small demographic.

Chet

[EFlannum]

On the subject of PSP launch games, has anyone heard anything about the NBA game? If either that or Untold Legends is any good then I'm buying a PSP for certain. Isn't looking good for Untold Legends (based on them keeping it so secret this late).

[Union Carbide]

Shit, the thing only went gold 6 days ago (http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/17/news_6120643.html). Nobody has a copy yet to review, I don't think.

Gamespot also posted a preview of the co-op and some impressions of the single player that they got to check out at GDC here: http://www.gamespot.com/psp/rpg/untoldlegendsbrotherhood/preview_6120127.html

[Dante Rising]

Saying people will confuse MG Acid with Metal Gear Solid is akin to saying people will mistake Dynasty Warriors and Dynasty Tactics. I couldn't see that happening except in rare instances.

I've seen a couple clips of Acid and it looks absolutely fantastic. Its my most eagerly anticipated game for the PSP, outside of Armored Core: Formula Front. As others have stated, it is a departure from the standard series and Konami is not trying to hide that fact.

BTW, Kitsune (if you're still around) how is the buzz on Armored Core: Formula Front in Japan? Have you given it a test run?

[Angrycoder]

I am not trolling. But my only knowledge being from those three bullet points, the idea that it is a card game is so out of left field - i would miss it.



So you are saying you have reading comprehension problems?

[Matthew Gallant]

If you think Acid is out of left field, then Metal Gear Ahod (http://www.konamijpn.com/products/mgs3/japanese/movie_4_hands.swf) will blow you away.

When I first saw this, I wondered why anyone would spend all the time in 3DSMax copying all the Metal Gear art assets and then animating the movie. But, turns out it's actually an official Konami product. Kojima's sense of humor keeps getting more and more bizarre.

[Reed]

If you think Acid is out of left field, then Metal Gear Ahod (http://www.konamijpn.com/products/mgs3/japanese/movie_4_hands.swf) will blow you away.

When I first saw this, I wondered why anyone would spend all the time in 3DSMax copying all the Metal Gear art assets and then animating the movie. But, turns out it's actually an official Konami product. Kojima's sense of humor keeps getting more and more bizarre.
Haha, you weren't kidding. It takes an...unexpected turn at the end.

[Drastic]

Coming up next: Operation Wolf Rhythm for PSP!
That would actually be pretty neat. Space Channel 5 with gratuitous violence happening in the background!

[chet]

I am not trolling. But my only knowledge being from those three bullet points, the idea that it is a card game is so out of left field - i would miss it.



So you are saying you have reading comprehension problems?


This is an "action" game. (http://web.archive.org/web/20010124070600/www.sanitygame.com/talents/)

And again for those who have reading comprehension problems, I admit it is an obscure game to have as your reference and the demographic I make up is very small. But for the 2 or 3 of us, it is confusing.

But, considering I already said that in a previous post, and angrycoder still posted his response. He is making my point, you can never be obvious enough.

Chet

[Reed]

Reviews in for Untold Legends now. 6.9 from GameSpot, 7.6 from IGN, 7 from Yahoo.

http://www.gamespot.com/psp/rpg/untoldlegendsbrotherhood/review.html
http://psp.ign.com/articles/598/598267p1.html
http://gamesdomain.yahoo.com/psp/untold_legends_brotherhood_of_the_blade/review/68061

[Union Carbide]

Reviews in for Untold Legends now. 6.9 from GameSpot
http://www.gamespot.com/psp/rpg/untoldlegendsbrotherhood/review.html

Odd that Gamespot gave it such a lukewarm review after a glowing preview.

[Jose Liz]

6.9d :(

Seems that IGN only brought it down because it isn't as complete as the console games, while GameSpot brought it down even more because it is not in the EverQuest universe. Still sounds like a very solid game, particularly for a launch title.

[mouselock]

Well, I was hoping for better reviews. I'll probably still pick it up anyway because of the type game it is, and the fact that there's nothing else out there really to fill that space, but it's at least tempting to consider tossing that $30 into God of War instead, and hoping that Wipeout Pure, Twisted Metal, and Lumines is enough to enjoy the PSP until something else happens by.

When is Death Jr. coming out?

[Jose Liz]

Sometime in May, young man.

And its $40 dude.

[mouselock]

No, it's $30 because I'm buying my other games regardless, and Best Buy is running a special (which my EB will match) that's essentially $10 off if you buy two games this week.

($20 if you buy three, but the other two I'm "buying" are already bought and traded for in the trade deal EB is running wherein you give them three crappy, but not utterly crappy, games and they give you a nice new game for the PSP so long as you wanted either Wipeout Pure or Twisted Metal, or have lenient definitions of "nice")

[EFlannum]

I have to say that throwing any money towards God of War is a very worthwhile activity to partake of. Great game. The pacing reminds me very fondly of COntra III: Alien Wars for the snes.

[Gendal]

Gamespot didn't rate CoN:Return to Arms all that highly either, and while I can understand why, I still play the crap out of it and have a lot of fun doing so. Course I think games like Angband are the bomb so what do I know.

Will know the answer in a few more hours anyways.

[Sarkus]

Hmm, fair enough. Foot goes in mouth now.
That said, I wonder if the Metal Gear name has enough clout that a lot of gamers (read: younger gamers generally) would just pick it up without reading the back.

And that is exactly what is happening. I had several folks bring Metal Gear: Acid up to buy today who changed their mind when I pointed out that it isn't a traditional Metal Gear game. I also had a couple of calls from people ready to trade it back in.

Keep in mind that the PSP is generally being promoted as the portable PS2. Most of it's games are versions of successful PS2 franchise's. You can see why so many would see a Metal Gear game and assume it was just a portable version of what they've already played.

[mouselock]

Hmm, fair enough. Foot goes in mouth now.
That said, I wonder if the Metal Gear name has enough clout that a lot of gamers (read: younger gamers generally) would just pick it up without reading the back.

And that is exactly what is happening. I had several folks bring Metal Gear: Acid up to buy today who changed their mind when I pointed out that it isn't a traditional Metal Gear game. I also had a couple of calls from people ready to trade it back in.

Heh. And after reading about it, I'm wondering if I should trade through my copy of Twisted Metal: Head On for MGA instead, even though I've not liked any of the other MG games, simply because of the gameplay setup. The idea of a lengthy strategy type game to go with the puzzle, racing, and action RPG has a lot of appeal.

[DennyA]

Yeah, I wouldn't be interested in MGA if it were a traditional MG game... But the strategy idea sounds pretty cool to me.

Anyone here have it?

[Union Carbide]

I played around with Untold Legends a bit tonight, and it's pretty fun in a "aim at monsters, beat them until candy comes out" way. Admittedly I'm only about 5th level so far :)

[Kevin Grey]

Yeah, I wouldn't be interested in MGA if it were a traditional MG game... But the strategy idea sounds pretty cool to me.

Anyone here have it?

Spent several hours with it tonight. Its addicting as hell. I'm on the Mission 2 and I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. Probably the first stealth turn-based game and its a pretty natural fit.

I think the Gamespot review gives an excellent overview of the basic game system though the review strongly hits at what I'm guessing is a pretty major spoiler if you care about the story.

I've got Wipeout, Ridge Racer, and MGA, and I'd rate Metal Gear Acid the best of the bunch so far.

[Desslock]

Any more Untold Legends reviews?

Not really sure why I'm asking, since if I get a PsP, I'll pick this up, since it's the closing thing to an RPG available.

[mouselock]

I've only put in about an hour or so, Dess, but Untold Legends seems like a perfectly decent hack and slash dungeon crawl. I think the complaints people have levelled (generic story, generic character customization, generic.. ) are probably accurate, but for me that doesn't detract from the fact that I like the base game type and that's what makes it fun. It's RPG-lite, especially in the story department with all the genericness, but it seems right on solid in hack and slash (from a whole hour in.. damn Lumines and God of War!)

It's somewhat like a decent directionally oriented knockoff of Diablo. I'm not sure if it's good enough to justify buying a whole system to play unless you really like the genre, but it's a solid timewaster that should be fun for a while. And I disagree with the complaints of it looking bad; my only visual complaint really is the textures are a bit too detailed/fussy and you get a little of the inevitable LCD blurry feeling when you move.

[balut]

I'm really enjoying Untold Legends so far. I've made 1 of each type of character and have levelled each to at least level 4 so far; my highest, the Berzerker chick, is level 8. After Lumines, Untold Legends probably has the most playtime in my PSP (the list includes Lumines, Untold Legends, Wipeout Pure, and Twisted Metal Head-On).

The graphics and sound are passable, and although everything does have a bit of a "generic" feel to it, the classic kill-and-loot gameplay keeps me coming back for more.

[Doug Erickson]

I think Untold Legends is actually a bit better than the Champions titles it apes -- there's no menu load, the art direction's a little better overall, and the story isn't shackled to the retarded Everquest universe.

The LCD ghosting is a bit annoying, but that's due to the fact they use large swaths of black in the dungeons. Elsewhere, it isn't really that noticeable. It's definitely a very good launch title and a solid Diablo clone.

[Bub, Andrew]

Desslock,
If you know or work with someone who shares your interests and has a PSP as well, Untold Legends is a blast with wireless multiplayer. You can even solo and then have up to four characters join you. I'm home bound, but man, this is a perfect lunch break game. It's good solo as well, if you like playing the console BG titles or Champions of Norrath solo.

[Desslock]

Thanks, guys - I picked it up along with a PSP. I didn't play the console games it emulates (although I thought the first BG one looked pretty fun), so I'm not really burned out on it. Hell, the only GBA game I spent a lot of time with was the admittedly mediocre Two Towers game (which I played through with all characters!), and Untold Legends looks a big step up for that, at least.

[mouselock]

Since your listed preferences tend more toward the cerebral and less toward the twitchy, I'd also suggest checking out Metal Gear: Acid for the card strategy aspect, and Lumines (because, well, it's the only PSP title that has it's own thread here so far, so it must be good! ;) ).

[Desslock]

Since your listed preferences tend more toward the cerebral and less toward the twitchy, I'd also suggest checking out Metal Gear: Acid for the card strategy aspect, and Lumines (because, well, it's the only PSP title that has it's own thread here so far, so it must be good! ;) ).

Bah, I like twitchy. Space sims and FPS are my favourite genres on the PC, aside from RPGs. But those are probably good recommendations for me. I also picked up Wipeout and Tony Hawk, and it came with the Gretzky hockey game.

[mouselock]

Bah, I like twitchy. Space sims and FPS are my favourite genres on the PC, aside from RPGs. But those are probably good recommendations for me. I also picked up Wipeout and Tony Hawk, and it came with the Gretzky hockey game.

Do I have you confused with someone else? I thought I remembered a pretty vocal dislike of twitchy/action based games, and a whole screed against consoles based on that. I could be misremembering or misinterpreting, though.

At any rate, you're loaded for bear (well, no clue on hockey, and I've never gotten good at the Tony Hawk games, but I understand their appeal). Wipeout is top notch. Lumines for the 10-min or 4-hour time-wasting quality is still highly recommended, though. Plus you can then post your score on the other thread and make fun of Tom with the rest of us!

[Desslock]

Bah, I like twitchy. Space sims and FPS are my favourite genres on the PC, aside from RPGs. But those are probably good recommendations for me. I also picked up Wipeout and Tony Hawk, and it came with the Gretzky hockey game.

Do I have you confused with someone else? I thought I remembered a pretty vocal dislike of twitchy/action based games, and a whole screed against consoles based on that. I could be misremembering or misinterpreting, though.

At any rate, you're loaded for bear (well, no clue on hockey, and I've never gotten good at the Tony Hawk games, but I understand their appeal). Wipeout is top notch. Lumines for the 10-min or 4-hour time-wasting quality is still highly recommended, though. Plus you can then post your score on the other thread and make fun of Tom with the rest of us!

I would have picked up Lumines except it was sold out at the time I bought my PSP. Maybe later

Yeah, I screed against console games from time to time, but not because they're action-oriented or twitch based - in fact, the one type of console game I think I could really get into would be fighting games, which I've never really played (other than Godzilla on the gamecube). I just don't have much interest in the games that are most popular or common on consoles: driving games, platformers, sports games, action/adventures and (to date) fighting games.

My early take on the stuff I picked up: Hockey - loaded it, but will probably never play it again. Wipeout - barely played, but looks fun and shows off the PSP graphics well. Haven't tried Tony Hawk yet. But I love Untold Legends so far - I actually think it's pretty great - kinda reminds me of Nox on the PC, almost as much as Diablo, Dungeon Siege, etc.

[mouselock]

My early take on the stuff I picked up: Hockey - loaded it, but will probably never play it again. Wipeout - barely played, but looks fun and shows off the PSP graphics well. Haven't tried Tony Hawk yet. But I love Untold Legends so far - I actually think it's pretty great - kinda reminds me of Nox on the PC, almost as much as Diablo, Dungeon Siege, etc.

Wipeout is great, but I'd imagine it can be frustrating if you don't do racing games to begin with. I found that my wipeout reflexes from playing the original PLaystation game came back reasonably quickly, but I recall them taking a long time to develop. I finally popped up to the second tournament class and was amazed that the game basically seemed to kick the speed up another 50% or more. It already seemed plenty fast to me.

If you like the 2D fighting stuff, you might check out Darkstalkers. Somewhat obnoxious load times on that one, but the fighting game is supposed to be pretty good. Certainly the Darkstalkers series is one of my favorite 2D fighters due to the cool character designs. However, I've adjusted to using analog sticks to fight with, so found the D-Pad controls hard to go back to.

[Doug Erickson]

I'm really enjoying Untold Legends. It's probably the best attempt at a Diablo knockoff on non-PC platform yet -- while it doesn't measure up to the Champions games on PS2 visually, it's far more balanced, has a better "plot", and maintains a far better sense of progression. It's good!

[Gendal]

I'm really enjoying Untold Legends. It's probably the best attempt at a Diablo knockoff on non-PC platform yet -- while it doesn't measure up to the Champions games on PS2 visually, it's far more balanced, has a better "plot", and maintains a far better sense of progression. It's good!

As compared to CoN I pretty much disagree with everything you said, minus the plot. Crap is crap though, I wouldn't want to argue the point.

I like it, I just don't think it's near as good as CoN, which I pretty much loved. Minus the plot. Ug. Big breasts are fine by me, but a plot they do not make.

[Raph]

Glad you're liking it. :) I did a fair amount of writing on it (mostly the journal bits you find).