Nice to see that someone else was disappointed with Bioshock. I started it up the other day and went through the entire area where you get telekinesis, met the first big daddy who kept mopping the floor with me, quit to finish fighting the big daddy later, came back, and the fucking autosave is at the zonein which leaves me to complete the entire medical wing all over again.
I had some pretty huge issues with the game including the dull as fuck combat with boring enemies, having to constantly hack things with that godawful pipe minigame that I got bored of after the first 3, and the big daddy disabling character movement and changing my view. I do not enjoy having control over my character revoked.
After having to restart the whole area I've basically said fuck it, it's going to be far too dull to go through that area, especially considering the fact that I have to spam 'ITEM GET!' on every container-like environment object and enemy I see, not even to get cool equippable items, but just to have enough ammo to shoot some unremarkable generics.
Since I haven't bothered at all with Halo, Episode 2 defaults to win status.
Re: Halo's epic moments, my favourites tend to be multiplayer or legendary when you pull off something absurd. Like kill an entire team and flip this warthog and everything just explodes all over the place and evryone just dies, and then your standing there just like, 'that was fucking awesome'. For me it's just pulling off the real crazy shit not story telling, so you can't really say, this bit right here was epic it's more, this bit has the potential to become epic, you just need the right things to happen. In my mind Halo was a vehicle to epicness rather then just giving you an epic bit here and there in terms of story of whatever.
Although, the 'Tank beats everything!' bit was awesome.
I liked Bioshock but got bored of it VERY quickly. It was a pretty looking game but I wasn't a fan of the physics it employed. There seemed to be no kind of weight behind any of the bad guys except for the Big Daddies. At no point did I feel tense or worried because I was completely immortal throughout. If need be and I had the patience I could have taken everything out with the spanner.
The only reason I tried to push through is because I LOVED the setting and the whole story to it. Sadly I didn't get that far in to it.
Halo 3 I'm playing through at the moment with a friend in coop. I suck at it, I really really do, I'm pretty fucking awful at FPSs but I'm really enjoying it. It's just flat out fun and enjoyable.
I did not like the first two iterations of Halo, but I really enjoyed 3. Much more so than I ever enjoyed HL2's storytelling and gameplay. Bioshock was a ton of fun for me as well, though I'm still waiting on the coffin for my Big Daddy figurine.
Whats surprises me about Bioshock is how many people who disliked the game couldn't get past the first Big Daddy. BioShock was the first console shooter I'd played in years, and I beat him in two tries. I'm not particularly good at shooters, so maybe the game simply wasn't for them?
I died the first time I fought the big daddy but then I just hacked a few machines, killed a few splicers, got me some ammo and hammered the big fucker.
If I didn't feel like I should count the second half of BioShock, BioShock would definitely be the best. It was amazing and at that point, ammo was still scarce and the combat still challenging.
But shortly after the plot twist, the game did really feel like a chore. I couldn't stop playing, I was still pretty addicted to it, but I wasn't really having fun anymore and the wonderful atmosphere that had pervaded much of the game slowly bled away until by the end of the game, it was barely even there.
Because of that, I'd have to say Halo 3.
I really didn't much care for the first two Halo games. I played Halo 1 more times than I can count because it was kind of fun and I didn't have anything better to do, but Halo 2 was a snooze fest and I barely managed to get through the campaign.
But Halo 3 is wonderful. It's easier than the other two in some ways, which I dislike, but overall, I'd say it's the best of the series. The level design was the best I've seen in the series, the back tracking didn't feel tedious anymore as it always opened up new routes and made you go back a different way, the weapons are more balanced than they've ever been, and the story, while not the most original thing in the world, was beautifully executed.
And its combination of beautifully written and performed music, graphical fidelity and massive scale turned many even partially mundane moments into amazingly epic sequences that put goosebumps on my arms and chills down my spine.
A shadow of Bungie's former greatness or not, they still know their craft.
I love the setting for Bioshock and the first half of the game's story, but I think it tapered off. The tapes were a blessing and a curse in a lot of ways - they let the writers add a lot of atmosphere and set up some wonderful story threads, but their limitations showed towards the end, IMO.
For me, HL2's strong characters really give the story a human warmth that a lot of games lack. I mean, the main character relationship is father/daughter, and there's a strong female lead who only needs rescuing once over the course of the entire game, AFIR (and even then she isn't rescued by you).
My issue with Bioshock is it's only good for one play through, and the combat is never really all that satisfying. The Halo series has never had good single player campaign as far as I'm concerned, and 3 is pretty much more of the same.
Of the 3 Ep 2 is my favourite, but even then, it's very short and the first 1/3 is pretty boring.
Honestly, they're all good games but I wouldn't feel comfortable hailing any of them as the best FPS of this year. They all have too many giant flaws for me to really consider any of them spectacular. None of them have made me want to go back and play them again, and though I attempted to anyway I didn't get far before boredom set in.
Rami on
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I think a lot of that has to do with the facial animation system that Valve developed. More than anyone else, Valve recognised the importance we place on facial emotion when connecting with people, and made it one of their primary goals to implement it as a core feature of Source, whilst everyone else was focussing on the "Oooh, shinies" . Even 4 years on, HL2 still has the most emotive characters I've ever seen in real-time gameplay, and the effect is subtle but greatly enriching to the game.
It's going to vary for everyone, but my favorite was Episode 2 (come on, people! Gordon Freeman!), Bioshock, and then Halo 3. They were all excellent, though, but in terms of epic moments ratio, I do think EP2 has the others beat. There were more times where I went, "Holy shit!" in EP2 than in the others.
Dashui on
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I haven't played Bioshock (still wrapped, looking for a break to play the entire way through) but I felt that Episode 2 was slightly better than Halo 3.
That said, I thought The Darkness was a damn good single player experience.
i like Halo because i'm invested in the story, i love the way it looks, and i enjoy the combat.
i like Bioshock because of the atmosphere, the art-style, the varied combat options and the story.
i like Episode 2 because i'm invested in the story and the characters, the set-pieces are awesome, and a whole lot of other reasons that have just escaped me.
Portal is a 3 hour game that's inspired dozens of pages of discussion on the plot. Bioshock and Halo are tied as a close second. Haven't played Ep2 yet.
Episode 2 For actually careing about characters
Bioshock for atmosphere.
Halo 3 for Co-op.
I am happy with all 3 purchases.
KaOs on
Arrath:The best way to describe it is like playing Rock-Paper-Scissors with somebody. Only you have to go first. And then the other player gets to make their move based on what you did.
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Kevin CristI make the devil hit his kneesand say the 'our father'Registered Userregular
Halo 3 beats Episode 2 because it is longer and has co-op.
Bioshock beats both because it is the game of forever.
Portal is a great game, but I dont think it really counts in this discussion. the game is great, but it doesnt exactly have a worthy 'campaign' seeing as it is about as linear as a game can get.
Just saw this same thread on the 1up boards, with the same OP. Which is so weird! Just start a blog.
Classy. This is basically a poll thread though. Interesting that it's still here. I'm just thankful for the opportunity to post my thoughts about the weaksauceness of Bioshock.
I enjoyed Halo 3 a lot more than Bioshock. Once I realized that the whole "choice" selling point boiled down to saving or killing the kids, neither of which affected the game at all, I was stuck with a linear, albeit atmospheric, game with boring combat. Also, I didn't find it scary or creepy in the least. They should've just remade SS2 instead of ripping off every single important plot point and putting it under the sea. Halo 3 had its fair share of "Holy shit" moments, whereas Bioshock was more, "Can I just finish this fucking game please?"
I'm working my way through Ep 2 right now, so I can't form an opinion on it just yet.
Prime 3 is second to Halo 3 right now, mainly because the length and linearity of it were a letdown after the fantastic first entry in the series. To be fair, though, the first Prime is tough to beat.
Would you kindly remove halo and episode 2, i think bioshock has this one hands down.
the atmosphere and storytelling are unparalleled.
I felt the actual mechanic of telling the story in Bioshock sucked.
Great story, some great moments, but the recordings and the radio got old real fast. The battles became formaliac rather fast, too, and feel even more repetitive than Halo 3's. I blame that mostly on the confined spaces. I have no interest in playing through it again anytime soon.
Halo 3's campaign started off slow but by the end it blew me away. I liked it a lot more than I even thought I would, it all just felt so Epic when taken in conjunction with Halo 1 & 2. As a standalone the story probably wouldn't have much of an impact on me. I have started playing through it again on legendary with a friend and I'm enjoying the hell out of it even this second time.
I just started Half-Life 2 and it is boring me to tears but I'm not very far into it yet.
I haven't played Portal or the HL2 Episodes, but let me try to make a relevant list in terms of single-player FPS campaigns:
Half Life 2
Bioshock
Metroid Prime 3
Halo 3
How is Halo 3 even in contention for this? I think the Scarab battles were the only high points in the Campaign, and they weren't even that high. To reach the elevation that is the Citadel, Cohen's "episode" with the Nutcracker playing in the background, or Prime's boss fights? Surely you jest.
bioshock had great atmosphere but truthfully I hated it's combat... I hated it alot
Episode 2 is just that perfect combat of storytelling atmosphere and spot on nigh perfect gameplay
Halo 3 was just awesome, it had alot of awesome moments and the scope allows for some awesome combat... that and every battle's near sandbox esque nature allows you to do just awesome things like hijack a banshee out of the air kill a bunch of shit toss it off to a friend playing coop and then have some fun and spartan laser his ass as he tries to kill stuff
Halo 3 beats Episode 2 because it is longer and has co-op.
Bioshock beats both because it is the game of forever.
Portal is a great game, but I dont think it really counts in this discussion. the game is great, but it doesnt exactly have a worthy 'campaign' seeing as it is about as linear as a game can get.
Explain how Halo 3's length and co-op can topple Episode 2's amazing story, realistic and complex characters, great set pieces, and rich world?
Halo 3 beats Episode 2 because it is longer and has co-op.
Bioshock beats both because it is the game of forever.
Portal is a great game, but I dont think it really counts in this discussion. the game is great, but it doesnt exactly have a worthy 'campaign' seeing as it is about as linear as a game can get.
Explain how Halo 3's length and co-op can topple Episode 2's amazing story, realistic and complex characters, great set pieces, and rich world?
Here's a great way to explain it: It doesn't.
Here's another way to explain it: because I was being polite and didnt want to flat out say Episode 2 sucks balls.
Halo 3 beats Episode 2 because it is longer and has co-op.
Bioshock beats both because it is the game of forever.
Portal is a great game, but I dont think it really counts in this discussion. the game is great, but it doesnt exactly have a worthy 'campaign' seeing as it is about as linear as a game can get.
Explain how Halo 3's length and co-op can topple Episode 2's amazing story, realistic and complex characters, great set pieces, and rich world?
Here's a great way to explain it: It doesn't.
Here's another way to explain it: because I was being polite and didnt want to flat out say Episode 2 sucks balls.
It doesn't have realistic and complex characters, but I don't think that works against it, but I think Halo 3 absolutely has an amazing story, great set pieces, and a rich world. Better than Half-Life 2 or either episode.
Bioshock is awesome, but I really can't be arsed to play through it all again on hard now that I've seen it all. Too much item searching. Maybe with some new DLC, those rumoured new powers would be nice. But the first playthrough was amazing, the gameworld is so compelling, the environments so impressive. Best thing about Bioshock however, was the demo, which frankly blew me the fuck away.
Halo 3, so fucking awesome. I've played the shit out of it and I want to play it more. Full of winsauce. So much fun, so much pure fun. 4 player co-op for the win. Awesome level design, great graphics, excellent controls, amazing sound, I loved the story, I got pumped playing through it and now I want to play through it again. 10 out of 10 for me.
Not got the Orange Box yet, and I can't bloody wait to play it! Portal sounds like hotness. I enjoyed Halflife 2, but not played through Episode 1 yet, so playing through both Episodes in one stretch should be great. Not got a PC to run it properly at the mo, so will have to get it on 360, would rather play it on PC though (Like I played HL2). Amazing how much content and value they have packed in, fantastic. However, as much fun as I have had with the Half Life 2 series, judging purely by the "original" HL2 campaign, it isn't as awesome for me as Halo 3 funtimes.
Halo 3 beats Episode 2 because it is longer and has co-op.
Bioshock beats both because it is the game of forever.
Portal is a great game, but I dont think it really counts in this discussion. the game is great, but it doesnt exactly have a worthy 'campaign' seeing as it is about as linear as a game can get.
Explain how Halo 3's length and co-op can topple Episode 2's amazing story, realistic and complex characters, great set pieces, and rich world?
Here's a great way to explain it: It doesn't.
Here's another way to explain it: because I was being polite and didnt want to flat out say Episode 2 sucks balls.
It doesn't have realistic and complex characters, but I don't think that works against it, but I think Halo 3 absolutely has an amazing story, great set pieces, and a rich world. Better than Half-Life 2 or either episode.
Episode 2, as part of the greater whole, is good. but on its own, its like a footnote on awesome. Still good gameplay, but pretty much shit all happens. Its like Episode 1 but in reverse. Instead of running away form somewhere you are running to another place. Half Life 2 is one giant chase scene, thats all.
I think Halo 3 probably suffers the most from having little to no ties in with the first 2 games (I mean directly, like flashbacks, a recap or anything) and as such, you cant jump in without having played 1 or 2 at least a little. Still, it felt more satisfying, it had a more climactic ending and a better pace and more varied environments.
Bioshock is a bit of an anomaly really, cause it is so unlike the other two as to be incomparable. First run through, breathtaking. And can easily sustain a few more aswell. But like Episode 2, once you are done with it, you are done with it. Much sooner than Halo 3 too. With the meta game and all kinds of co-op craziness I think Ill be playing Halo 3 single player a lot lot longer than the other two games.
For me, Orange Box is all about TF2 and Portal. Episode 2 is nice but hardly the gem of the package. I dont understand why people are so hyped for it. Orange Box as a whole, yes, but Ep2 on its own. Nice, but only nice.
my biggest gripe with halo is that i didn't feel like it had any memorable characters.
but that's just ME. i can totally see how someone would get attached to the chief or cortana or whoever. that makes sense. but i personally just didn't ever find myself caring at all about what happened to them. it might have something to do with the fact that i see the chief's helmet everywhere, to the point where i see him as kind of soulless.
i still loved it. the gameplay was compelling, for as long as it lasted. however, i highly doubt i'll ever play through it again.
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I had some pretty huge issues with the game including the dull as fuck combat with boring enemies, having to constantly hack things with that godawful pipe minigame that I got bored of after the first 3, and the big daddy disabling character movement and changing my view. I do not enjoy having control over my character revoked.
After having to restart the whole area I've basically said fuck it, it's going to be far too dull to go through that area, especially considering the fact that I have to spam 'ITEM GET!' on every container-like environment object and enemy I see, not even to get cool equippable items, but just to have enough ammo to shoot some unremarkable generics.
Since I haven't bothered at all with Halo, Episode 2 defaults to win status.
Although, the 'Tank beats everything!' bit was awesome.
The only reason I tried to push through is because I LOVED the setting and the whole story to it. Sadly I didn't get that far in to it.
Halo 3 I'm playing through at the moment with a friend in coop. I suck at it, I really really do, I'm pretty fucking awful at FPSs but I'm really enjoying it. It's just flat out fun and enjoyable.
PSN: SirGrinchX
Oculus Rift: Sir_Grinch
Whats surprises me about Bioshock is how many people who disliked the game couldn't get past the first Big Daddy. BioShock was the first console shooter I'd played in years, and I beat him in two tries. I'm not particularly good at shooters, so maybe the game simply wasn't for them?
It helped I got him stuck behind a wall though.
PSN: SirGrinchX
Oculus Rift: Sir_Grinch
But shortly after the plot twist, the game did really feel like a chore. I couldn't stop playing, I was still pretty addicted to it, but I wasn't really having fun anymore and the wonderful atmosphere that had pervaded much of the game slowly bled away until by the end of the game, it was barely even there.
Because of that, I'd have to say Halo 3.
I really didn't much care for the first two Halo games. I played Halo 1 more times than I can count because it was kind of fun and I didn't have anything better to do, but Halo 2 was a snooze fest and I barely managed to get through the campaign.
But Halo 3 is wonderful. It's easier than the other two in some ways, which I dislike, but overall, I'd say it's the best of the series. The level design was the best I've seen in the series, the back tracking didn't feel tedious anymore as it always opened up new routes and made you go back a different way, the weapons are more balanced than they've ever been, and the story, while not the most original thing in the world, was beautifully executed.
And its combination of beautifully written and performed music, graphical fidelity and massive scale turned many even partially mundane moments into amazingly epic sequences that put goosebumps on my arms and chills down my spine.
A shadow of Bungie's former greatness or not, they still know their craft.
For me, HL2's strong characters really give the story a human warmth that a lot of games lack. I mean, the main character relationship is father/daughter, and there's a strong female lead who only needs rescuing once over the course of the entire game, AFIR (and even then she isn't rescued by you).
Of the 3 Ep 2 is my favourite, but even then, it's very short and the first 1/3 is pretty boring.
Honestly, they're all good games but I wouldn't feel comfortable hailing any of them as the best FPS of this year. They all have too many giant flaws for me to really consider any of them spectacular. None of them have made me want to go back and play them again, and though I attempted to anyway I didn't get far before boredom set in.
What's the only thing more epic than a tank section in Halo?
A tank section with two tanks.
What's more epic than two tanks?
Three tanks.
That said, I thought The Darkness was a damn good single player experience.
I feel the same, except I haven't played any of 'em.
A lot of people aren't gonna like halo cause: "It's halo."
and a lot of people aren't gonna like bioshock cause: "It isn't a SEQUEL!"
but.
they're all good games.
i like Bioshock because of the atmosphere, the art-style, the varied combat options and the story.
i like Episode 2 because i'm invested in the story and the characters, the set-pieces are awesome, and a whole lot of other reasons that have just escaped me.
Bioshock for atmosphere.
Halo 3 for Co-op.
I am happy with all 3 purchases.
It's in First Person! You Shoot things out of gun!
Also being an Puzzle-Comedy-BestGameOf2007 doesn't stop it from being an FPS.
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Bioshock beats both because it is the game of forever.
Portal is a great game, but I dont think it really counts in this discussion. the game is great, but it doesnt exactly have a worthy 'campaign' seeing as it is about as linear as a game can get.
I'm working my way through Ep 2 right now, so I can't form an opinion on it just yet.
Prime 3 is second to Halo 3 right now, mainly because the length and linearity of it were a letdown after the fantastic first entry in the series. To be fair, though, the first Prime is tough to beat.
I felt the actual mechanic of telling the story in Bioshock sucked.
Great story, some great moments, but the recordings and the radio got old real fast. The battles became formaliac rather fast, too, and feel even more repetitive than Halo 3's. I blame that mostly on the confined spaces. I have no interest in playing through it again anytime soon.
Halo 3's campaign started off slow but by the end it blew me away. I liked it a lot more than I even thought I would, it all just felt so Epic when taken in conjunction with Halo 1 & 2. As a standalone the story probably wouldn't have much of an impact on me. I have started playing through it again on legendary with a friend and I'm enjoying the hell out of it even this second time.
I just started Half-Life 2 and it is boring me to tears but I'm not very far into it yet.
Half Life 2
Bioshock
Metroid Prime 3
Halo 3
How is Halo 3 even in contention for this? I think the Scarab battles were the only high points in the Campaign, and they weren't even that high. To reach the elevation that is the Citadel, Cohen's "episode" with the Nutcracker playing in the background, or Prime's boss fights? Surely you jest.
If only after every time I completed it and would to play it again if all my memory of the prior play through was erased!
out of those, I'd say HL2 is probably the best. but I am compensating for my metroid bias. gotta loooooooove those metroids.
bioshock is obviously the worst out of all the games listed so far. Why? I'll tell you why!
Episode 2 is just that perfect combat of storytelling atmosphere and spot on nigh perfect gameplay
Halo 3 was just awesome, it had alot of awesome moments and the scope allows for some awesome combat... that and every battle's near sandbox esque nature allows you to do just awesome things like hijack a banshee out of the air kill a bunch of shit toss it off to a friend playing coop and then have some fun and spartan laser his ass as he tries to kill stuff
Explain how Halo 3's length and co-op can topple Episode 2's amazing story, realistic and complex characters, great set pieces, and rich world?
Here's a great way to explain it: It doesn't.
I really dont see myself replaying any part of Bioshock on a regular basis at all, nor Episode 2.
Orange Box for me was TF2 with extra goodies.
Here's another way to explain it: because I was being polite and didnt want to flat out say Episode 2 sucks balls.
It doesn't have realistic and complex characters, but I don't think that works against it, but I think Halo 3 absolutely has an amazing story, great set pieces, and a rich world. Better than Half-Life 2 or either episode.
Halo 3, so fucking awesome. I've played the shit out of it and I want to play it more. Full of winsauce. So much fun, so much pure fun. 4 player co-op for the win. Awesome level design, great graphics, excellent controls, amazing sound, I loved the story, I got pumped playing through it and now I want to play through it again. 10 out of 10 for me.
Not got the Orange Box yet, and I can't bloody wait to play it! Portal sounds like hotness. I enjoyed Halflife 2, but not played through Episode 1 yet, so playing through both Episodes in one stretch should be great. Not got a PC to run it properly at the mo, so will have to get it on 360, would rather play it on PC though (Like I played HL2). Amazing how much content and value they have packed in, fantastic. However, as much fun as I have had with the Half Life 2 series, judging purely by the "original" HL2 campaign, it isn't as awesome for me as Halo 3 funtimes.
So for me, so far, Halo 3 wins by a country mile.
Episode 2, as part of the greater whole, is good. but on its own, its like a footnote on awesome. Still good gameplay, but pretty much shit all happens. Its like Episode 1 but in reverse. Instead of running away form somewhere you are running to another place. Half Life 2 is one giant chase scene, thats all.
I think Halo 3 probably suffers the most from having little to no ties in with the first 2 games (I mean directly, like flashbacks, a recap or anything) and as such, you cant jump in without having played 1 or 2 at least a little. Still, it felt more satisfying, it had a more climactic ending and a better pace and more varied environments.
Bioshock is a bit of an anomaly really, cause it is so unlike the other two as to be incomparable. First run through, breathtaking. And can easily sustain a few more aswell. But like Episode 2, once you are done with it, you are done with it. Much sooner than Halo 3 too. With the meta game and all kinds of co-op craziness I think Ill be playing Halo 3 single player a lot lot longer than the other two games.
For me, Orange Box is all about TF2 and Portal. Episode 2 is nice but hardly the gem of the package. I dont understand why people are so hyped for it. Orange Box as a whole, yes, but Ep2 on its own. Nice, but only nice.
but that's just ME. i can totally see how someone would get attached to the chief or cortana or whoever. that makes sense. but i personally just didn't ever find myself caring at all about what happened to them. it might have something to do with the fact that i see the chief's helmet everywhere, to the point where i see him as kind of soulless.
i still loved it. the gameplay was compelling, for as long as it lasted. however, i highly doubt i'll ever play through it again.