The Old Skool Cult of Kefka, bitches!

[ZRO]

iPost

Seriously! Been busy trying to find a job and spamming my lack of a life away at WoW to fill the time and keep myself de-stressed. Also been working on my drumming skills on Rock Band. Roomie has it for teh Wii, which I'm slightly disappointed in compared to the other versions. Movie background FTL. T.T

So far up to getting 90% or higher on just about all songs on Medium, tho Enter Sandman seriously screwed me up in a few spots (some WEIRD blasted beats for the drummer in that one). I figure tonite or tomorrow I'll start working my way up through solo play on Hard. I know I can (somehow) manage to make my way through Wanted: Dead or Alive on Expert. And I'm still not sure how.

Also been playing my way through Subspace mode on Smash Bros. Brawl.

CP (because I love being politically incorrect):
WoW
Rock Band
SSB Brawl
Guitar Hero 3

[Jin]

Zro, come back to us.

Okay, boys. Got my hands on that Megadrive collection I've been toting lately and it really is the shit. The games look beautiful in HD and there are some amazing classics on this little disk.

List of unlockable titles:
. Golden Axe Warrior (SEGA Master System)
· Phantasy Star (SEGA Master System)
· Alien Syndrome (Arcade)
· Altered Beast (Arcade)
· Congo Bongo (Arcade)
· Fantasy Zone (Arcade)
· Shinobi (Arcade)
· Space Harrier (Arcade)
· Zaxxon (Arcade)

Although unlocking some of them can be a bitch (I don't really want to get high enough scores in Flickey or Super Thunder Blade, for example), it's nice that they added them. Especially the original Phantasy Star. And don't worry, they weren't stupid enough to make you play a subsequent Phantasy Star to unlock it.

Trophies/Achievements are nice, but they could have added more, given the amount of games in this collection. Also, no online play, which is a bit disappointing, but I'll get over it. And for $30 US, it's a steal, really. Go buy it. Now.

Other than that, I've finished Dead Space and Valkyria Chronicles recently, both excellent games, and am still going through Parasite Eve. Waiting for Killzone 2 mostly.

CP:
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (I'll lump them together until I settle on a game from it)
Parasite Eve (PSX)
Killzone 2 Demo (seriously, a lot.)

[Ponk]

Greetings, Old Skoolies!

The Ponk returns.

I know, it's been forever hey. But I finally took notice of one of those "Come back to TFF!" messages they keep sending me. So here I am! Also I am coming to America in like three months.

Yup, working with Camp America as a sumer camp counselor - dunno where yet, waiting for my placement, but I WILL be coming! If I'm in the areas of any of you folks, I hope to gather some handy hints of what to see, where to go, and which bars are best value for drinkin'. Woo!

Oh, and to keep it on topic, what have I been playing...

CP:
Chrono Trigger DS - Loving the crap outta this game, all over again. No loading times, bonus.
Zack & Wiki for Wii - Actually more fun than I thought! Still only doing short bursts though.
Fallout 3 - Hovering at the final mission, wanna explore as much as possible before the endgame. Also playing on PS3, so no DLC for me. Damnit.
Bioshock - Pretty good! But everything else is taking priority.
Infinite Undiscovery and Te Last Remnant - Neither are as enjoyable as I hoped, sadly.
Wii Fit - Yeah yeah, but it's an easy way to do some exercise every day. Also yoga is apparently a very elite fitness regime, those people must have the balance of... Really balanced things? No analogy, too tired.

Hi!

[LocoColt04]

dunno where yet, waiting for my placement, but I WILL be coming! If I'm in the areas of any of you folks, I hope to gather some handy hints of what to see, where to go, and which bars are best value for drinkin'. Woo!

Consider it done, if you're somewhere nearby I'll let you know what's up.


Dawezy, keep yourself in one piece, mate.


Currently Playing:
Bits and pieces of Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection because it's that damn cool

[LocoColt04]

Dawezy, the PSP has some really badass games right up the Bust-A-Groove wannabe DDR aisle. Look up the DJ Max Portable series next time you're bumming around the internet and you'll see what I mean.

Currently Playing:
Bits and pieces of Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection because it's that damn cool

• Vectorman 2
• Phantasy Star IV
• Golden Axe II
• Sonic & Knuckles

These are the games of choice at the moment. Surely they will rotate to other titles on the collection at some point. I'm also balancing this with Street Fighter IV on the PS3, so I've got a lot of gaming on my plate at the moment.

[Dawezy]

Greetings ol'Ponk, how fares the Augh one?

On a random note before I dribble too much nonsense, I was gonna recommend that some of you lads get your hands on Skype. Loco and I get conference calls going when we are both on FFXI in groups.. makes it a hell of alot easier and fun, but it doesnt have to be game-onry. Saves a international phonecall, lol.

That aside though! Dawezy hurtz ;_;

Week 2 of severe pain around my ankles.. not the Saturday that just passed, but the Saturday prior to that one (31st Jan) I didnt take note of the condition of my work boots after all this time (had this pair about a year and a half now) and the back of the boots were worn down, and were grinding against the back of my ankles/heels.. low and behold its let an infect creep in the burn marks and my feet are now swollen to a degree and they hurt like fricken hell. If I dont take these painkillers I can barely walk =\

So I got 2 weeks off work while I get these wounds attended to, doc has given me a whole variety of pills to swallow over the next 9 or so days now.

I'm not well lads

CP: Recently installed a expansion set for my 3D Custom Girl, she is even moar hot now.

Alot of FF11 and Hentai, been trying to get Fallout 3 to work but to no avail.

[Furore]

ARRRRGGHHHHH!!!!

I still have to wait another 13 days until that gem is mine due to the Aussie release date.
Preordered of course, so I should get it on day of release.

Out of curiousity, I heard Phantasy Star was an unlockable. Any chance someone knows how it'll be unlocked yet? Or is it available from first disc entry?

CP: Several dozen games I downloaded and realised I hadn't played yet. Figuring out which are worth investing time in and which will be kept until there's nothing else available.

[Dawezy]

You know what? I was ney aware of this release!!

My eyes lit up with glee, until search results on Google pointed me to Sega-Australia and the PS3/XBOX360 ONLY release..

;__;

Dude, the PS2 could ace all those titles and more.. >_</

[LocoColt04]

Dude, the PS2 could ace all those titles and more.. >_</

Not this time, mate... all titles are upgraded to 720p. Even if you don't have a super-fancy TV to support the high-def business, you can still tell the difference in the crispness of the textures. Ugh, I've never seen 16-bit so gorgeous before.

[Dawezy]

See, thats the thing lads.

I would happily toss my money at a PS3 if they had done it right.. >_> let me expand a bit on my beef.

I have DVDs, and backups, and alot of things in my humble abode ~ my PS2 can ney play these items, or can my DVD player downstairs.. my comp can run them fine enough but thats an inconvenience because I use my comp for most of my other shit and not just games. My comp can only do so many things at once and being able to go over to my PS2 and go a fair distance from the screen and be comfy.. all this fricken Region Code bullshit. I've done a hell of alot of google searching and I have yet to stumble upon anyone with Region Code hacks/decoders that could be put to use. So in summary; getting a PS3 would be nice but it would only be used for a single few tasks.. ones that I dont do very often.

Since these Blu-ray discs are now Region Coded aswell I'm screwed =\

Also: retail price of PS3 is still hovering around $600 ;_;

Any resources out there that may be of assist, throw me some links. Chances of me purchasing a PS3 atm are slim to none atm until I can find some way of modding it to my purposes (hopefully just software, and not hardware).

[Furore]

If you don't care about going online and downloading stuff, the 360 arcade unit with no harddrive and a 256mb memory card is under $300 AU now.

Comes with some arcade games on a disc too I believe including Pac-Man. It'll also solve your inability to play Fallout 3, but I think you'd need a hard drive for any Fallout 3 DLC. I'd recommend grabbing a premium for the $100 more though if you're interested. That hard drive comes in pretty damn handy. And they've solved most of the 360's problems at this point in time too it would seem.

[Jin]

Ponk, you always show up at the most random times. Make sure you keep doing so.

Get well, Dawezy. Your ankles' pain pains me...or something. Oh and it's about time to buy a next gen system, ne? You can get an Xbox pretty cheap. Or get a PS3 so I have a fellow TFFer that actually uses it.

Silver: The original Phantasy Star, along with most things in the game, is very easy to unlock. All you have to do is beat the first boss in Sonic 2 with someone else playing as Tails. Also, accept my PS3 friend request, god dammit. You guys never log on.

[Jin]

PS3s are $600 in Australia? Really? A standard PS3 is only $399 here and our dollars are worth about .80 of a US dollar.

They just don't want people to play video games over there do they?

To answer your question, PS3s are region free as far as games go (so long as you have an HDTV as PAL standard definition TVs are something like 576i instead of 480i), but from what I've read, there's no mods available to crack DVD or Blu-ray region codes on it. I'll keep looking though.

Even without it, you may want to pick at least one of the consoles up sometime. I'm not sure which you'd like better though, so that battle's up to you.

[Furore]

PS3s are $600 in Australia? Really? A standard PS3 is only $399 here and our dollars are worth about .80 of a US dollar.

They just don't want people to play video games over there do they?

To answer your question, PS3s are region free as far as games go (so long as you have an HDTV as PAL standard definition TVs are something like 576i instead of 480i), but from what I've read, there's no mods available to crack DVD or Blu-ray region codes on it. I'll keep looking though.

Even without it, you may want to pick at least one of the consoles up sometime. I'm not sure which you'd like better though, so that battle's up to you.

The price of a secondhand 40gb PS3 at ebgames in Australia is $499. The one I got, a new 80gb model is $699, so approx $700.

I know there are ways to play pirated 360 games at this point though Microsoft bans their users from xbox live and I believe it to only be a matter of time until blu-ray games are cracked somehow.

Also, we get the 'megadrive collection' and I'd prefer to wait for it as it's what I knew more often then not as I only ever imported games not released in AU for my genesis. Chances are there'll be no difference bar packaging and one or two minor details, but just in case I'd wait the extra week or two.

On that same note, I've been currently playing Phantasy Star II on the PSP's Megadrive collection.

[Dawezy]

What Silver said, lol.

Australia really isnt getting any MAJOR price cuts for these consoles anytime soon.. ;_; makes me a sad panda. On the lighter side of this whole issue, however, I lurked around the confines of my various storage areas and found my old PSX. Dusted it off and loaded up an old game I never managed to finish~ Alone in the Dark 4 : The New Nightmare. I was stuck somewhere on that save file so I started a new one entirely, good times - took about 2 days to play through the 2 CD's worth of content, worth any ample gamers time.

Been playing Bust a Groove again too.. ghetto ddr titles are awesome, lol.

All the games run so so much smoother on the PSX too, as opposed to the PS2 emulating it.

..makes me wonder wtf Sony is doing sometimes. Older stuff plays better then some of their new stuff. Hmm!

[Victoria]

Currently Playing: Valkyria Chronicles, Folklore, Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon, Rondo of Swords

I'm glad I got as much tax refund as I did. Finally got a PS3. XD

[Jin]

What made you get SF4 for the PS3, Cesar? Usually I see people with both the Box and PS3 get multiplatform titles for the former due to the better online service. Just curious.

Haha, Alone in the Dark, The New Nightmare. I loved that game. It didn't get the best reviews, but I had a lot of fun with it. That was the first game that I can honestly say scared me.

I want a Sega CD, Dammit. I know, I know, it's a piece of shit. But it's like a piece of shit with some diamonds embedded into it. Sonic CD, Snatcher and Shining Force CD are really tempting. If I had the money, I'd ebay a CDX as those things are sexy as hell. Damn I need a job again. In the mean time, do you guys know any good emulators for it? Ones that don't require you to have the CD I mean, assuming such a thing exists. I've tried a few, but I keep getting some error to do with "BIOs" everytime I try to load the rom (Shining Force CD). I'm not good with computers anymore, so I have no idea what that means, har har.

CP:
Shining Force 2
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (going through on Pro)
Some other random Genesis collection/VC games

Edit: forget the emulation stuff, it's been worked out.

[LocoColt04]

What made you get SF4 for the PS3, Cesar? Usually I see people with both the Box and PS3 get multiplatform titles for the former due to the better online service. Just curious.

My golden rule: Solo games and fighters are always on the PS3 when multiplatform is available; otherwise, anything else online goes to the 360.

That said, D-pad BLOOOOOOOWS on the 360 controller.

Also, the online for PS3 for SFIV is nigh flawless. Seriously, zero lag during play, and very minimal load times. It's the best non-first-party online the system has ever seen. Nothing even compares. Capcom and Sony put a LOT of money into the servers for this game so that it wouldn't suck when it came out.

[Cain Highwind]

Figured I'm LONG overdue.

CP: Ratchet and Clank Going Commando (PS2) I don't think it's QUITE the "3D Mega Man 2" title that people like to regard it as, but it's good solid fun and like MM2 it is quite an improvement over the original. I just dislike the long tedious boss battles. I'm running through the New Game + feature now and I've got Up Your Arsenal ready to go.

Chrono Trigger DS - Fun fun fun playing it mostly on my break time at work.

And my copy of SFIV should be arriving Monday

I have a ton of games to try and find time to go through including

Sly 2
Sly 3
Okami (Wii)
Lost Planet
Dragon Quest Swords
Zack and Wiki
Resident Evil 4 (Wii)

as well as a few games a coworker decided to give me for my birthday (he says he's really lost interest in his Wii):
The Godfather
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Escape from Bug Island
Dragon Blade

I haven't even heard of those laste two, but eh, what can I say I got them for free.

[Jin]

Oh, I see, I see. Should I expect you online more than once in a fortnight then?

That's awesome to hear about the online though. Warms the cockles of my heart. If I were into fighting games, I'd probably pick it up. But I'm not.

The real reason I'm posting is because I need to throw away that last CP in lieu of getting the Sega CD emulator up and running. I'm not particularly proud about having to resort to an emulator, but I'm out of other options at the moment, so the CDX will have to wait. But mark my words, it will be mine.

CP:
Shining Force CD
Snatcher
Sonic CD
Resident Evil 4

[Furore]

I decided due to a current lack of funds I'll be trading in my PS3 at GAME.
I just figure the $400 it'll get me will be perfect for Street Fighter IV and possibly a preorder on a DSi or to catch up on any good titles it looks like I'm missing.

Then later on I'll hunt down one of the better PS3s that has support for PS2 titles, even if it's only emulation support. And yeah Jin, sorry about that not being online to add you thing. ><;; I don't really remember the last time I did something online via the PS3 too well, but I remember that HOME scared the hell out of me. Or the weird cleanly house look and the zombified other people haunting the few female avatars around... *shudders*

Currently playing: Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection
So far I've given every game at least one try bar some of the unlockables, viewed all the art (didn't realise how poorly the graphics on some carts was transferred from the box til now) and watched the interviews. I'm having a load more fun with Vectorman 2 than I ever remember having in the past and plan on starting a game of Phantasy Star fairly soon.

[Jin]

That's too bad, Silver. I was looking forward to having another TFFer to enter the Killzone with (yes, I know that sounds lame). Speaking of which, it's quite the game, I must say. I'm not sure I'd go as far to say that it lives up to the ridiculous amount of hype that some PS3 fanboys were allotting it, but it is a fantastic game. The controls take a bit of getting used to - I didn't realize how much I relied on aim assist in other shooters - but once you do it's really quite enjoyable. Finally, a good use of sixaxis controls.

In other news, my burgeoning Sega collection is coming along nicely. I ordered a CDX off of Ebay, which should arrive within a week or two - I found away to burn roms into workable games for this, so I'll be having fun with it, heh; I recently purchased a Dreamcast (brand new) with Shenmue and Skies of Arcadia and am currently looking for Jet Grind Radio on Ebay; and today, I think I'm going to buy Strider for Mega Drive. That game was awesome. Now all I need is a Master System, a Nomad, a Game Gear, an original Sega CD, a model one Genesis, a model 3 Genesis and the dreaded 32x. My nerd collection.

CP:
Killzone 2
Shenmue
The waiting game, after which it will be Shining Force CD.

[Furore]

Killzone 2 disappointed me in all honesty. The graphics and sound effects were amazing and drew me into the game, but the game itself seemed kind of generic. But then shooters aren't my preferred genre. I like playing multiplayer with my mates, but that's about it. And I like older shooters for the nostalgia factor.

The original Unreal Tournament is getting older these days though. I *loved* that game more than any other shooter for quite some time. Nowadys it's likely nothing, but I have the memories, and I still have the skills.

And yeah, I'll grab another PS3 later, preferably an older model. Definetely by FFXIII VS.'s release. Until then, Star Ocean 4 will be awesome I hope.

CP:
The Simpsons Game
Bubsy
Phantasy Star

[Jin]

I wouldn't call KZ2 generic. That implies it's mediocre. I'd call it eclectic. It's certainly not ground breaking by any stretch (few FPS are in such a saturated market anymore), but everything it does it does exceptionally, especially now that they've patched the controls. I'd be playing more if I wasn't so wrapped up in my old skool world atm.

That brings me to point 2: my CDX has arrived and I couldn't be happier. My burnt games work with a few exceptions (Lunar and Silpheed; I'll probably just buy real copies of them) and the console itself is sexy as hell. I'll post some pictures when I get around to taking some snap shots. I love how I've got an evolutionary line on my shelf right now. Sega CDX on the far right, then the Saturn, then the Dreamcast. I've got a Nomad on the way along with a RAM cart for the CDX (as those RPGs take up a shitload of room). I'll be taking a bit of a break for a while due to this last month's overzealous spending, but I eventually plan to get one of those twin whatcha-ma-call-ems that plays NES and SNES games and, funds permitting, a Turbo Duo. I'll need to pick up a Game Gear and a Master System at some point too.

Current burnt game list for Sega CD:
Sonic CD
Shining Force CD
Snatcher
Vay
Popful Mail
Lunar (doesn't work)
Silpheed (doesn't work well enough)
Final Fight

I'll be getting more when I get around to it. It's pointless right now without the RAM cart and Shining Force takes up nearly the entirety of the internal RAM. Reminds me of Shining Force 3 and the Saturn, haha.

CP:
Shining Force CD
Sonic CD
Killzone 2

[Furore]

Lunar I liked a fair deal.
It's worth tracking up a copy even if it does seem a bit cheesey at times by today's standards. Not neccesarily a bad thing neither.

As for Killzone 2, I don't see generic as mediocre, just similar to other things. Which is great if you're a big fan of a genre, but for me the generic RPG is what I hold above any other generic game. I *love* half those RPGs that got crap scores for 'lack of innovation'. Shooters? Because while I like to play one occasionally they don't stand out so much for me it feels like if I've played a couple I've played them all. Possibly like a shooter fan who can properly appreciate a good shooter descending into the realm of an ungodly amount of RPGs.

CP: My job.

[Jin]

If you're not a shooter fan, I'm confused why you were disappointed with KZ2. What did you expect it to be?

At any rate, I'll give you credit for having the patience to enjoy the throngs of RPGs that come out these days. Actually, not so much these days as last generation. The PS2 was bad for that. I've almost lost my taste for RPGs on account of it. JRPGs at any rate. Older RPGs, Bethesda, Valkyria Chronicles and the hope that FF13 won't suck as much as FF12 are all that keeps me from actually disliking RPGs, which is funny given that there was a time when that's all I'd play. Oh how things change.

I just noticed, I have a PAL version of Sonic 2. The choices of languages on the back are confusing. I didn't think Finnish would make it on there.

[Furore]

If you're not a shooter fan, I'm confused why you were disappointed with KZ2. What did you expect it to be?

I don't honestly know. With all the hype I was half expecting the second coming of Jesus as soon as I inserted the disc. And that's where my disappointment lies for the better part. Damn over-hyping spoiling my game experience... *assorted grumbling*

[LocoColt04]

Whoa whoa whoa, stop.

YOU BELIEVED IN HYPE?

You, sir, can go fuck yourself. Shouldn't you know better? Come on man, half the reason they hype up games is when they're worried that they might not be good enough to sell purely by word-of-mouth. I'm not saying Killzone 2 is a bad game, but I would hardly call it a noteworthy one. Still good, perhaps, but definitely worth passing over.

Shame I didn't get a chance to slap you on the nose with a rolled up newspaper and say "no" in a commanding overtone before you went out and bought it.




DISCLAIMER: The above post is written with a semi-sarcastic undertone and should not be taken seriously. Except for the part about making a poor choice. That is opinion, and therefore free to speak of. Also, your mother is fat.





In other news, Halo Wars is turning out to be pretty cool after all.


Currently Playing
• Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (NDS)
• Halo Wars (360)
• Final Fantasy XI (PC)
• Vectorman 2 (360 via Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection)
• Castle Crashers (360)
• Pokémon Blue (GB)

[Jin]

I suppose that depends what you mean by "noteworthy". I've taken note of it. It doesn't redefine the genre, but I would go so far as to say that it's one of the ultimate expressions of that genre. It's not as revolutionary as COD4 by any stretch, but I honestly like it better, now that the controls are fixed. At the very least, it's something the PS3 needed. Resistance couldn't do it all on it's own.

But yes, it was certainly over hyped. It doesn't help to have idiotic fanboys screaming "Halo killer!" either, especially considering it's a completely different game than Halo.

Jesus was a Helghast, didn't you know?

[Furore]

A Jewish Helghast? Blimey.

And yeah, I should know better than to believe in hype, but I get caught up in the excitement. I notice it hype seems to get stronger as more and more people buy the newer consoles and start going crazy.

CP:
Watchmen: The End is Nigh
Mario Bros. 3