Dan E. Kool
Walking Trash Can Robot
Now With Extra Pulp!
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Post by Dan E. Kool on Sept 5, 2017 8:05:31 GMT
This Week: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 Chosen by: Dan E. KoolYear: 2000 Developer: Neversoft Publisher: Activision Platforms: Playstation, N64, Dreamcast, Xbox, Game Boy Color, GBA, PC No Derek Send your suggestions to Balder if you're a square. Send your suggestions to me if you're happenin'. ✌
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Post by Dan E. Moderator on Sept 5, 2017 8:12:10 GMT
Added ✔ Pinned ✔
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Dan E. Kool
Walking Trash Can Robot
Now With Extra Pulp!
Posts: 3,325
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Post by Dan E. Kool on Sept 5, 2017 22:34:17 GMT
#ThisIsNotNostalgia
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Post by winnersdontusedrugs on Sept 6, 2017 0:52:24 GMT
Did you guys read my mind or what? I just started playing this absolutely flawless gift from god again a few days ago after not touching it for years. When I played it as I kid I just used to mess around and approach challenges at my own pace, but playing it now I realize how well the majority of levels and challenges were set up. They do a good job of not only getting you acquainted with the level, but also showing you paths that you can combo down and score the maximum amount of points. If you plan out your route right and you're skilled enough in the game's mechanics, you can knock out a huge chunk (or even all) of the level's challenges in a single run.
I also like how you're rewarded cash for every challenge you do and every tournament you win. With all the stuff you can buy such as different tricks, special moves, boards, and stat points, it gives you a good incentive to do more then the bare minimum of what's expected from you, and improve at the game.
My only real beef with the game is how there's only one normal level between the 2nd competition level and the last competition level, and most of said normal level is pretty bland. It just kind of throws the flow of the game off. Also there are some challenges in the Venice level that are kind of BS (the magic bum and the VB transfer challenges) but the rest of the level is great.
-Forgot to talk about THPS2x which was an OG Xbox exclusive version of the game that I got recently. It has all the levels and challenges from THPS 1 and 2, plus 5 exclusive levels. It also has a laundry list of new graphical enhancements, although the character models and animations seem mostly the same. It also lets you use your own music that you have on the Xbox hard drive in place of the original THPS2 soundtrack if you want to, but why would you?
The 5 new levels aren't bad by any means (aside from the club) but most of them feel a bit off to me. They're still fun though, and as a testament to their quality the 3rd level was eventually assimilated into a level in Tony Hawk's Underground years later, with some slight changes. The only real complaint I have with them is that they can be a bit wonky/buggy and only 3 of them have any challenges.
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Spirit Bomb
Cartoon Pony Wrangler
#DeathToAmerica #DeathToTrump
Posts: 3,651
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Post by Spirit Bomb on Sept 6, 2017 1:22:07 GMT
I'll never understand how this series got such ludicrous rave reviews from critics. Gamespot gave the first couple of Tony Hawk games a near perfect score, which was practically unheard of for an oldschool Gamespot review (they were particularly harsh critics back in the day, especially in the late 90s when these games came out).
I think it's a decent series and the games are mostly well made, but none of them blew my mind in the least. The one I've spent the most time with is Underground on the GC, which admittedly is a really fun game in comparison to the first few TH games, but still merely good overall.
Why anyone would be so blown away by a game revolving around skateboarding is a total mystery to me. Maybe it's because the skateboarding fad had reached its peak in the late 90s, when this series debuted? I don't know, but I'd rather do Morrowind than a virtual skate park anyday.
3/5
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fsfsxii
Space Striker
What to believe...
Posts: 916
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Post by fsfsxii on Sept 6, 2017 6:40:57 GMT
Used to be amazing back then, but i recently had a run in with the series and it just isn't my think anymore. Punk rock is still cool though.
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Dan E. Kool
Walking Trash Can Robot
Now With Extra Pulp!
Posts: 3,325
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Post by Dan E. Kool on Sept 10, 2017 22:07:40 GMT
Really? Only four people have played this game? You all know that you can vote in the polls for free, right? I picked this game because I thought a lot of us would have played it and also, like Spirit Bomb said, it has one of the highest critical scores of all time. Tony Hawk's 2 is a great game. I gave it a five here, but if it weren't for my nostalgia I'd probably rate it a four. It's still fun to play, especially with local multiplayer. It's kind of crazy to look back on this game from almost twenty years ago, when 3D was still relatively new and to see how much this game got right. I was, and to a certain extent still am, a 2D gamer. Lots of those early 3D games were... not good. But games like this one proved, for me, that 3D could do some things way better. Like I said, crazy to think back to a time when that could even be a question. Something I love about this game is that it isn't afraid to be a video game. Games used to follow a more arcade kind of style, with points and high scores. Today I feel like realistic simulation is more often the goal. Maybe that's what fans of things like basketball, football, etc want, but as someone who just wants a fun video game, I appreciate THPS2's rejection of reality. The tricks and combos are more like how a nonskater imagines skateboarding to be than it really is, and I think it makes it more fun than it would be otherwise. All that said, I don't disagree that the game is overrated, at least by the internet scores. I wonder how much of that is because, in the year 2000, lots of these review sites were still new. Maybe they didn't have the scoring down just yet... Then again, GTA IV also has a 98% according to metacritic, so..?
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Armored Core Raven
Vanguard Ranger
Radio: The test is over. From this moment on, you are a Raven!
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Post by Armored Core Raven on Sept 11, 2017 0:50:15 GMT
I don't see the appeal in skateboarding, all the people i know irl that was into it back then were trouble kids, they bullied, they smoked, they drank, they did vandalism, they had gang wars, they robbed, they assaulted, they were awful people in every way you could be and they all grew up to be full time criminals except for the ones who died from OD or murder from gang related violence, nobody else cared about skateboarding than them, so that's all that goes through my mind when I see skateboards, so these type of games have nothing positive for me.
I can objectively recognize the original PlayStation game was technically well made for what it was but even at that I think it plays horrible, is awkward and clunky, has no focus on anything other than chaining tricks together making for a very shallow and short lived experience at best and the sequels just repeated the formula until it finally died off about a decade later.
I don't know if I've played this specific game as I can't tell them apart, I know I've played several in the series and even own a few on PS2 or XBox, I forget exactly as I've never touch them again after trying them once.
So as this entire genre of gaming is clearly not targeted toward me, I will refrain from voting as I can only give it the lowest score available regardless.
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Spirit Bomb
Cartoon Pony Wrangler
#DeathToAmerica #DeathToTrump
Posts: 3,651
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Post by Spirit Bomb on Sept 11, 2017 10:14:27 GMT
Really? Only four people have played this game? You all know that you can vote in the polls for free, right? I picked this game because I thought a lot of us would have played it and also, like Spirit Bomb said, it has one of the highest critical scores of all time. Tony Hawk's 2 is a great game. I gave it a five here, but if it weren't for my nostalgia I'd probably rate it a four. It's still fun to play, especially with local multiplayer. It's kind of crazy to look back on this game from almost twenty years ago, when 3D was still relatively new and to see how much this game got right. I was, and to a certain extent still am, a 2D gamer. Lots of those early 3D games were... not good. But games like this one proved, for me, that 3D could do some things way better. Like I said, crazy to think back to a time when that could even be a question. Something I love about this game is that it isn't afraid to be a video game. Games used to follow a more arcade kind of style, with points and high scores. Today I feel like realistic simulation is more often the goal. Maybe that's what fans of things like basketball, football, etc want, but as someone who just wants a fun video game, I appreciate THPS2's rejection of reality. The tricks and combos are more like how a nonskater imagines skateboarding to be than it really is, and I think it makes it more fun than it would be otherwise. All that said, I don't disagree that the game is overrated, at least by the internet scores. I wonder how much of that is because, in the year 2000, lots of these review sites were still new. Maybe they didn't have the scoring down just yet... Then again, GTA IV also has a 98% according to metacritic, so..? GTA IV is a good game IMO. A bit short on variety, but still fun to play. Besides, even if you do think it's overrated, there's still far more overrated games out there than IV. Honestly though, I think game journalism has only gotten worse over the years. As tough and pretentious as critics could be back when Tony Hawk 2 was released, they didn't come across as venal like critics today do. Just look at the scores IGN has given the last few CoD games; aside from Infinite Warfare, they're all scored extremely well, unusually well in fact. Same goes for the reception critics gave W4tch_Dawgz (or however the hell it's pronounced) or some Nintendo games like Smash Bros Brawl. There's a lot of money handleing that's clearly going on behind the scenes of the game journalism industry. Anyone remember the Geoff Knightly Doritos scandal? The journalism industry is so clearly bribed by gaming companies that game reviews have practically turned into a form of advertising for many game series. IGN has literally become a meme because of this. So no, I don't personally think there was any amount of bribery involved in the Tony Hawk series' critical reception. I think it had more to do with the early games being a combination of fresh-felling and also accessible, which made critics comfortable with the idea of awarding them high scores. That's my best guess, but still just a guess. Who knows? Maybe critics WERE paid off to give these games high scores. IDK.
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Dan E. Kool
Walking Trash Can Robot
Now With Extra Pulp!
Posts: 3,325
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Post by Dan E. Kool on Sept 11, 2017 13:59:28 GMT
GTA IV is a good game IMO. Not that good.
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Dan E. Kool
Walking Trash Can Robot
Now With Extra Pulp!
Posts: 3,325
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Post by Dan E. Kool on Sept 11, 2017 14:08:20 GMT
I objectively recognize the original PlayStation game was technically well made for what it was but even at that I think it plays horrible, is awkward and clunky, has no focus on anything other than chaining tricks together making for a very shallow and short lived experience at best and the sequels just repeated the formula until it finally died off about a decade later. Fair. I disagree that it's clunky or plays badly, but the gameplay is straightforward. There is a custom park creator mode, though, which is nice. There are also a couple different game modes, like a match-the-trick S.K.A.T.E. (horse), but it's basically just pulling off the tricks with button combos like you said. Then again, that's kinda like playing Street Fighter and saying, "All you can do is fight." Isn't it? Go ahead and give it your one star, man. I won't be mad.
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Armored Core Raven
Vanguard Ranger
Radio: The test is over. From this moment on, you are a Raven!
Posts: 1,738
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Post by Armored Core Raven on Sept 11, 2017 15:21:08 GMT
I objectively recognize the original PlayStation game was technically well made for what it was but even at that I think it plays horrible, is awkward and clunky, has no focus on anything other than chaining tricks together making for a very shallow and short lived experience at best and the sequels just repeated the formula until it finally died off about a decade later. Fair. I disagree that it's clunky or plays badly, but the gameplay is straightforward. There is a custom park creator mode, though, which is nice. There are also a couple different game modes, like a match-the-trick S.K.A.T.E. (horse), but it's basically just pulling off the tricks with button combos like you said. Then again, that's kinda like playing Street Fighter and saying, "All you can do is fight." Isn't it? I'd say skater games can be likened more to like fighter games if fighter games only allowed you to do timed kick combos, and if you failed to time a kick combo correctly you'd get knocked down, also you aren't allowed to fight anyone else, just kick air, with an invisible timer.
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Dan E. Kool
Walking Trash Can Robot
Now With Extra Pulp!
Posts: 3,325
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Post by Dan E. Kool on Sept 11, 2017 15:57:15 GMT
Fair. I disagree that it's clunky or plays badly, but the gameplay is straightforward. There is a custom park creator mode, though, which is nice. There are also a couple different game modes, like a match-the-trick S.K.A.T.E. (horse), but it's basically just pulling off the tricks with button combos like you said. Then again, that's kinda like playing Street Fighter and saying, "All you can do is fight." Isn't it? I'd say skater games can be likened more to like fighter games if fighter games only allowed you to do timed kick combos, and if you failed to time a kick combo correctly you'd get knocked down, also you aren't allowed to fight anyone else, just kick air, with an invisible timer. Don't forget multiplayer.
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Spirit Bomb
Cartoon Pony Wrangler
#DeathToAmerica #DeathToTrump
Posts: 3,651
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Post by Spirit Bomb on Sept 12, 2017 12:02:03 GMT
GTA IV is a good game IMO. Not that good. Nah it's definitely good. All that kept it from being excellent was a lack of good cheat codes (no fun stuff like flying cars, pedestrian cheats, super jumps, just the bare basics you'd expect from cheat codes, like restore health, lower wanted level, etc.). It also had a truly lousy PC port, but that's another story. It really excelled in all the other areas, especially the physics and story department. plowing through civilians in San Andreas was never the same after I had experienced GTA IV. If you disagree, then offer a rebuttal.
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Dan E. Kool
Walking Trash Can Robot
Now With Extra Pulp!
Posts: 3,325
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Post by Dan E. Kool on Sept 12, 2017 17:44:09 GMT
If you disagree, then offer a rebuttal. I do disagree. And I will write a rebuttal. But I must warn you, my sources are entirely American. Because my sources are me. GTA IV was fun for a while, but quickly became kinda boring, to be blunt. On paper, there's nothing really wrong with it, but when you're playing it, especially after the story is over, it just isn't very fun. Every level or mission or whatever can basically be boiled down to: drive way over there, shoot those guys, now drive back. Granted, that's the definition of games like these, but I never felt as bored in Vice City, or other Rockstar games like Red Dead Redemption. Liberty City feels like an empty shell of a town. Bowling is not fun, drinking is not fun, being called on your cell phone every other minute by characters that you don't like to go bowling or drinking is not fun. Besides running people over or shooting cops, there's nothing to do. And that gets old after 5 minutes. Compare that to the Street Crimes in L.A.NOIRE or the whole list of activities and random events in RDR. On top of that, the setting is depressingly drab and dreary. How many shades of brown and gray can you get in one palette? Play GTA IV to find out! It makes for an environment not worth exploring. I clocked countless hours into the two games mentioned above, just wandering around. Never could force myself to do so in IV. Older GTA games like VC had a kind of sense of humor to them. IV and Five both felt like they tried to have a more serious story... and failed, imo. The main characters are one dimensional. The plot is contrived. And unfortunately, it isn't even funny. I remember being happy with the cover based shooting system, but now all games do that. So there's no reason today to put the disc in the tray. Does that sound like a 98% score to you?
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