Calling all reviewers

[SSquared]

I thought it might be a good idea to gather and let each other know of any upcoming reviews we plan to do.  I know some people have beat me to reviews in the past.  And I know the same thing has happened to others.  Plus, with some of the upcoming games this Fall (HL2, Star Wars stuff, Halo), I have a feeling many of us will be buying the same games.

So...rather than working on a review to find out someone has beat you to it, I thought we should discuss what reviews we plan on doing.

Here are my plans.

Medal of Honor - Currently replaying it and almost done.  I meant to do a review last year but never got around to it.

Galactic Battlegrounds - Still a ways off, but I hope to do a review for this as well.

Victory At Hebron - I hope to do a preview for an upcoming Christian game.

Derek - A Christian, Myst-like adventure game.  I may order this and do a review.

For games coming in the Fall, I plan to get HL2, Star Wars: Jedi Academy, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.  I prefer to do reviews for the Star Wars games, but I know Katarn and I are the Star Wars fans here.  So we may need to decide who gets which one.

I am also going to try and make an effort to start reviewing/previewing more Christian games.

[CCGR]

I currently am working on a couple chess games Tivola sent. I'd like dibs on HL2. http://www.cgalliance.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[SSquared]

A couple chess games? How many versions can the same company put out? Can you give us a hint or should I wait for the reviews?

Hahaha. I was going to say you should automatically get the HL2 review, but I couldn't recall if you were a HL player.

[CCGR]

well one game teaches chess (very well actually) the other helps you inprove your game. Only hint I'll give is that both use the "Fritz" engine.

[lutikri55]

I am in the process of making the following reviews:

Silent Hill 2 for PC
Midnight Club II
Myst
Riven
Myst III
realMYST

I might be doing some more but I'm not sure at the moment.

-lutikri55

[iamscott]

You guys aren't the only Star Wars fans here. Its just I'm not that open about it. I know Stronghold was previewed, but I gots the dibs on the review. Hey, I was wondering. How inappropriate is No One Lives Forever? I know it's rated Mature, but I'd really like to play it. And it's rated Teen on the PS2. And my friend says it's hilarious.

Besides HL2, there is another much-anticipated game coming to the PC. Homeworld 2. And it comes out this month. Anyone wanna review that?

[SSquared]

I don't plan on getting HW2, but I forgot. I am hoping to get Tron 2.0.

iamscott, are you wanting to do one of the Star Wars games too? Or are you just saying you are a Star Wars fan too.

[daszo24]

Quote[/b] (iamscott @ Aug. 06 2003,1:07)]Hey, I was wondering. How inappropriate is No One Lives Forever? I know it's rated Mature, but I'd really like to play it. And it's rated Teen on the PS2. And my friend says it's hilarious.
Well, when NOLF came out for the PC originally, it was rated teen. Then September 11 happened and the whole rating system got screwed up. Now anything that shows red pixels after you kill someone is automatically rated M--this has happened to every single FPS out there in the last couple years.

So the only offensive content is that there are red pixels and the females prefer not to wear many clothes. Besides that it's an absolutely awesome game, as is the sequal.

[iamscott]

I don't own any of the newer Star Wars games. Such is the sacrifice when it comes to owning a Mac.

So, with NOLF, it is appropriate from a Christian standpoint. I would love to get it, but my parents probably wouldn't let me cause of the rating.

[daszo24]

From a Christian perspective, I personally don't see anything really wrong with NOLF.  I mean there is killing, but that's it really.  I do wish that Kate would cover up a bit more of herself, but it's not real bad.  

I have not played the first game much, though I've watched my brother play it quite a bit.  Most of my experience comes with the second game.  They are both outstanding, though most fans of the series believe that the first is slightly superior to the second.  They are both absolutely hilarious though.  What's great about the humor is that it's good, clean (at least from all that I've heard in #2), and funny.  There's times when I'll seriously just crack up because its so funny.

The reason these crazy new ratings upset me is because people like you have to deal with the consequences.  The M rating only means that its a FPS with blood.  It does not necessarily mean that there is really offensive content in it.  These new ratings also confuse the issue for me because I don't mind some blood, but I also don't want swearing and extreme gore.  However, since Sept 11, everything that has blood, no matter how low the gore level is, is rated M http://www.cgalliance.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[SSquared]

Thanks for the info on NOLF. I've heard so many good things about it, but there was something on the box cover I didn't like. Unfortunately, I can't remember what exactly I didn't like. It's possible it may have been the M rating. Maybe I'll have to give it a 2nd look. Yeah, I don't care for swearing and extreme gore either, so thanks for stating that.

[Katarn85]

Hey SSquared,

I'm not sure what my review plans are as of now - the viability of my computer as a gaming machine has been in question for a while now. I could do the review for MoH: AA if you never get around to it, and I've got Starfleet Command II and am looking at getting SFC III, so maybe I'm not as hopeless as I sound. I'd like to get Halo and/or Homeworld 2 sometime soon - if my comp can handle them.

The only SW game that you mentioned in your list that I'm DEFINITELY going to get is Jedi Academy, so if there ever was a title that I really wanted to do, it's that one. Thanks!

[SSquared]

Well, I have already started the MoH:AA review, but if you want to do it, just holler. Maybe we can collaborate.

OK. Well, if no one else is doing Star Wars, then you can have JA and I'll take KotOR. They both sound like GREAT titles. KotOR sounds VERY loooong, so who knows...might take me until next year to finish it. http://www.cgalliance.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Yeah! Do the SFC games. I would like to see those. I have the first game, but got as far as the 3rd or 4th tutorial before I skipped to my next game. I actually really liked it. I just sort of stopped playing.

[SSquared]

I just checked out the review for NOLF on CCGR. Sounds like a great game, but there ARE sexual innuendos. Also, it sounded like a lot of the humor comes from Bond movie references. I am not a Bond fan (seen only one movie), so I may not actually understand the humor.

Oh, well. I've got so many other things lined up, I'll wait on it.

[SirThom]

Games I would like to review:

Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory (PC)
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (GBA)
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (GC)
Mario Party 4 (GC)
Super Mario Sunshine (GC)

For Preview:

Soul Calibur II (PS2, GC, XBOX)
Viewtiful Joe (GC)
Animal Crossing (GC)

~Tom
pure-fun.com

[iamscott]

I've got Rogue Squadron 2. It's been sitting on my comp for a while, but it is finished. The review, I mean. If NOLF is pretty clean, and there is an extremely low gore factor, then I'm in. Something I've noticed, though, is the new Rainbow Six game. Each of those games in that series are rated Teen, but the new one is not. They all feature blood. What's the difference? It's not like it's Soldier of Fortune. If NOLF is pretty clean, it might be on my list. I really don't get into shooters that much, but some of them are quite fun. Okay. Thanks for the info, man.

[SirThom]

Then I suppose I will can the RS2 review then http://www.cgalliance.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[SSquared]

Oh, I might do a Flight Sim 2002 review also. Does anyone here even play flight sims?

A big welcome to PureFun! Thanks for stopping by and offering to help out.

[SirThom]

This is mcguire303, or Tom McGuire...I have been doing reviews... http://www.cgalliance.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[SSquared]

ROFL! http://www.cgalliance.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Keep up the GREAT work! http://www.cgalliance.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Keona]

What's up, people? I've never posted here before, but some of you may recognize my name, since I've written three (console) reviews for you guys in the past, and I hope to continue helping out. I just think it rocks to have a Christian gaming site! Good stuff!

Anyway, as for my review plans, I'd like to take a look at Soul Calibur 2, Dino Crisis 3, Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO, and possibly Otogi for Xbox. I don't own a Gamecube (I actually hope to get one soon) or a PS2, though, so someone else can review games on those systems.

Well, as you can probably see, I'm more of a console gamer than a PC guy, so I'm a little more limited in my review choices. Still, I'll be happy to continue helping you guys and gals out in any way I can.

God bless!

Oh, btw, if nobody wants Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, I'll review the Xbox version. I finished it a few days ago.

[SirThom]

SSquared: I know that I shouldve made a post that I am really Tom....

Keona,

I wasnt too excited about doing Soul Calibur II, so you may do it http://www.cgalliance.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

We actually need XBOX reviewers, so keep them coming!

[iamscott]

Thanks, Tom, for speaking that which I have so often emphasized: more Xbox! Keona, great to have you in the forum. This is Drew, just so you know. It might be helpful to have three different reviews of Soul Calibur 2, since there are three different exclusive characters in each version of the game: Todd McFarlane's Spawn, Nintendo's Link, and Tekken's Heiheichi(is that how it's spelled?) Anywho, keep up the good work, all.

[Keona]

Tom: I certainly will keep 'em coming!

Drew: I agree with you about the separate reviews. I'll definitely be picking up SC2, so I'll work on that.

Is anyone doing Xbox KOTOR?

[SSquared]

Unless anyone else speaks up, I hope to do KOTOR on the PC, so you should be able to write one up for Xbox.  Without giving anything away, what'd you think of the Xbox version?  All I've heard/read has been fantastic!  I'm really looking forward to the PC version.

[Keona]

Depends on what you're looking for in the game. I'm not really a big RPG fan, so I didn't love it. I liked it to a point, but to be honest, it felt like a chore to play through. Not the prettiest game around, either. In fact, it's kinda ugly for an Xbox game. I mean, Final Fantasy X2 for PS2 looks better graphically. However, if you're a big Star Wars fan, you might like it, since the story is quite interesting.

So, I think that it's a good game, just not the be-all, end-all that a lot of the game sites are making it out to be. My friend, who's more of an RPG lover and a harder-core SW fan than I am, likes it way more than I do. I'm just gonna write out my opinion, though.

[iamscott]

Well, I'm guessing you played through it only once, because it has so many hours of game time. Be sure to choose both paths--Dark and Light--to get the whole story, all the side quests, ect. What I wanna play is Gladius. Anyone going to review that?

[Keona]

I did play through it once. I got through most of the sidequests. Like I said, I'm not much of an RPG guy, so if anyone else wants to review it, feel free. It might be better that way.

Well, I don't like the game very much, but I guess I'll try to play through again, if that's what you guys want. It'll take me another few days (maybe a week), then.

One question: Are there deadlines for a review?

[CCGR]

no deadlines unless someone reviews it first

[SSquared]

As much as I wouldn't want it to get a bad review, do what you feel.  Almost all reviews of Jedi Outcast (from last year) were in the 90's, but there were still a very few number of reviewers who didn't like it.  Even on these boards, there are a few people who really like Morrowind, but I found it to be quite slow and I didn't get very far.  My worry with KotOR is that it TOO will have that sort of slow feeling, just like you mentioned.

Also, don't feel obligated to play through as the other side.  BUT...you should at least mention you can play as light or dark and the game plays differently depending on which side you choose.

[Keona]

Oh, yeah, I will absolutely mention that. Now, I wouldn't say that KOTOR is a disgusting game; it's just not my personal favorite. I'll be sure to mention that as well.

[iamscott]

Okay, cool. Anyone play Pirates of the Caribbean? I heard it's not that good as a movie game, but it would have been pretty good as a stand alone RPG. You know it was originally supposed to be Sea Dogs 2.

On the computer game side, could someone review Rise of Nations? It's supposed to be pretty good.

[daszo24]

I would like to review KOTOR. The only problem is that I'm not finished with it yet. I'm only about 1/3 of the way through so far, but I'm really liking it. Nevertheless, I don't know how soon I could get a review out.

[Keona]

Quote[/b] (daszo24 @ Aug. 12 2003,3:44)]I would like to review KOTOR.  The only problem is that I'm not finished with it yet.  I'm only about 1/3 of the way through so far, but I'm really liking it.  Nevertheless, I don't know how soon I could get a review out.
Go for it! http://www.cgalliance.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

That leaves me open for something like Soul Calibur 2, or Otogi. Or even Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO. I gotta work on that one.

[iamscott]

Man, Otogi gives me some bad feelings. For starters, the name is Otogi: Myth of Demons, and the main character is some undead dude who was appointed by a god.

[Keona]

I know what you mean, Drew. I'm a little hesitant to play that one, but I think it's worth a review. People need to know what's good and bad out there.

[iamscott]

That is very true.