(Retro) What have you been playing this week?

[S3M]

I picked up Suikoden 2 on the PS1 last year, yes it is over priced, but I think it's one of the best RPG's I have ever played. It's a massive game with a great soundtrack and you get some nice in-game extras if you carry over your save file from the first one, so don't lose it.

[nakamura]

Suikoden 2 is a better game than the first with a better plot. Didn't like the music as much but still good. Save data from that carries to no 3.

[Neil]

Zero Gunner II. Alright it's easy but it's so damn good and it's keeping me from my still sealed copy of Under Defeat (PS3) which I'm really looking forward to having a session on this weekend. I haven't read any reviews so I'm hoping it does the original justice.

The only other game I've been playing lately is KOF 98 (AES), I'm improving wouldn't say I'm good or anything but I'm improving slowly.

Got my eye on a Neo Geo X, may cave this weekend and order from VG+ now that they have them in stock, any impressions from those that own them and are there likely to be anymore games released for it?

[nakamura]

Last night I had quite a large session of Rage Racer and then Ridge Racer Type 4. Rage is still very very good, if a little dark visually. Frame rate is smooth and it gets very fast very quickly. I love the tuning mechanic also, simple but effective. Got to class 4 in around 90 mins.

Ridge 4 is fantastic. The overall presentation is amazing and music is probably one of the best in any racer. I much prefer the structure of Rage though, R4 feels far too simple with its straight racing and car collecting idea.

[J0e Musashi]

I liked Rage, but I'd have preffered it if they'd used the standard RR lineup of vehicles. Rage is closer to V in some respects, whereas R4 is a game all by itself.

[nakamura]

That's what I liked about the first 5 games in the series, each felt different to the other. Rage had some fantastic car designs and the tuning aspect allowed for more choices. R4, though has more tracks and plays a little better overall, has a structure that I tired of quickly.

[J0e Musashi]

R4 is highly repetitive, the structure is quite terrible. I consider it more of a technical showcase of how they managed to squeeze extra power out of the PS1. That and it's highly novel because of the JogCon. It's my least favourite out of the first five games.

[Kit]

Beat the first Sonic the Hedgehog last night.

Some fairly tough platforming action towards the end and I can't say I enjoyed the underwater parts of the game at all but it was worth going through just for the first few levels. Final showdown with Dr Robotnik was in complete contrast to the second game. Very easy to take him out.

Moving onto Ridge Racer for the PSP next.

Might as well ask this here also. In what order should you play the Metal Gear Solid games for PSP? not sure whether to start Peace Walker first or Portable Ops.

Because it has none.

Lies!

That last section where you have to fight robot sonic then robotnik is nailz.

[nakamura]

Peace Walker and Portable Ops are unrelated iirc. Peace Walker is set around the time of MGS3.

Do you have Ridge Racer or Ridge Racer 2?

[Wools]

Ridge 4 is fantastic. The overall presentation is amazing and music is probably one of the best in any racer. I much prefer the structure of Rage though, R4 feels far too simple with its straight racing and car collecting idea.

Good man, glad you enjoyed it!

Been playing some Ridge Racer 3DS and the lack of Type 4 tracks is making me want to fire it up on PS3. Need to relax after Doom 3 shredding my nerves and a little of my patience!

[nakamura]

Well I've owned it since launch Wools.

[Wools]

Excellent.

[Kit]

Peace Walker and Portable Ops are unrelated iirc. Peace Walker is set around the time of MGS3.

Do you have Ridge Racer or Ridge Racer 2?

Will give Portable Ops a go first then to get back into the swing of things.

I picked up the first Ridge Racer as I read it had all the best tracks from the PSX releases.

Need to relax after Doom 3 shredding my nerves and a little of my patience!

The gameplay is hit and miss (mainly miss with some of the weapons) but I always thought the atmopshere id created in Doom 3 was deserving of far more plaudits - it's up there with Resi and Silent Hill imo.

[nakamura]

Where did you read that? Ridge Racer 2 has all the tracks from PSP Ridge and more. It is the best version.

Portable Ops sucks btw.

[Kit]

Brilliant.

Back to Busters epic sale thread I go!