Community Replay Value of Upcoming Games: Are they Worth The Money?

By iorilamia — May 19, 2011
Tags: alice-madness-returns blog catherine infamous-2 opinion pre-order-bonus replay-value ssf4-ae

Handful of games coming up in the next couple of months and I've been thinking about which will truly be worth my money.

Video games are expensive now a days and the cool swag you get from special editions costs even more. Also basically every game that comes out markets pre-order bonuses, coursing you to spend that $60+ first day even more. I am not a fan of renting because I take my time with games. Also I hate returning them for a lower price than I paid for, sometimes feel like I might as well keep it and try to make the best out of it. So what has always been the biggest importance to me was Replay Value. The ability to play a game more than once and enjoy it, to want to play through it again and the options to experience new things (besides mere achievement hunting ; boring) is what I enjoy. The lack of that in many games has driven me to play only games with multi payer features the last few years.

Here is what I think of the four games I have been keeping my eye out on coming out in the next couple of months, and how my feelings have changed for them overtime leading to how I ultimately think / what I'm waiting to see.

1. inFAMOUS 2 - Jun 7 2011

I only played a little of the first game but I did definitely enjoy it. Luckily the video and previews on this sequel have been very informative. The single player (like the first) has 2 paths to go through, good side fighting bad guys and saving/ protecting the public and bad side, where you destroy the shit out of everything. Alright, that is already 2 play throughs, but what makes the game worth it? The fighting is absolutely epic. The main character Cole of course has many creative electrical super-powers (and even more with pre-orders / special edition). Besides flying around and making cool explosions, he has a melee weapon that involves very brutal combat. Besides playing through the story twice with wicked ass-kickings, what makes the game really shine is the Mission Editor. This time around you can create your own missions, or play other persons missions online! The possibilities are endless from what ive seen, turning the game into a shooter, plat former or basically whatever you can think of.

Now the pre-order bonus isn't necessary, but since i am already sold on the game i might as well. Gold Melee weapon from Amazon, Bad guy skin from BestBuy, Lightning Hook (basically the Bulletstorm Leash, go fuck yourself gimmick game) from Gamestop, which is where I'm getting it and Electric Grenade from Wallmart. The $100 Hero edition adds in a bag, belt and a comic ; lame. Also they all get Uncharted 3 Beta. Long Story short, this game 2-sided play through mixed with epic combat and a flexible mission editor will keep it far from boring.

All of your inFAMOUS2 info in one place http://gouki.com/Catalog/Details/infamous-2

2. Alice: Madness Returns- Jun 14

Alice Madness Returns is another sequel game. The original was a PC mind-fuck action adventure horror game that not many people played. What brings a lot of hype to this sequel is the amazing story behind it and the feel/ style. This single player game is filled with bloody combat as Alice fights twisted figures in her once again Demented Wonderland. The downside is that it looks extremely repetitive. I was very excited following this game until they simply just wasn't showing enough, but then it seemed like the game didn't have much at all. The slicing, dicing and shooting with ridiculous amounts of blood spurting around is cool, but how long does that last? Ok, there are some plat forming elements, that look really pretty and Wonderland-ish, involving invisible things and fairy-tale esque powers Alice has.

A great sale point is when you buy the game, you also get the original as DLC! But that still doesn't convince me to drop $60+. Also the pre-order bonus is weak-sauce. Cd's are cool, but it isn't even real, it's a digital download Cd. Upside is that the music is pretty sweet in this game. In the end, cool visuals and a creepy-sick story is awesome, but that just makes it a rental :P The gameplay has some eerie effects but is basic for the most part. I still keep my eye on this game but at the moment, it has been taken off of my "Buy" list. I wish they would show us a reason to play it more than once besides enjoying the story and increased difficulty.

Get in on the madness here http://gouki.com/Catalog/Details/alice-madness-returns

3. SSF4 AE- Jun 28

Well this is a given. I'm a big fan of SSF4. Playing AE at the mall has given me the incentive to buy the AE dlc (I was going to regardless ;p) This newer version of SF4 personally is awesome for two amazing reasons. My characters got buffed overall (the nerfs were minor) and the top tier charge characters that dominated got nerfed pretty hard (except Bison). There isn't much to say here. Unless you don't own SSF4 and you are wondering "what cool stuff do I get for pre-ordering?" you get a lame Oni Bobble Head Doll thing, might even just be a plush. SF4 series has done a great job being one of the most simple / technical fighting games with great fundamentals that lead into many advanced techniques. The AE versions brings 4 new characters and all the old characters have been changed in some way, either buffs, nerfs or both, a definite must buy for fighting game fans.

SSF4 Arcade Edition News and Details http://gouki.com/Catalog/Details/super-street-fighter-iv-arcade-edition

4. Catherine -July 26

Catherine is a adult mystery plat forming rpg. Interesting genre mix isn't it? I've been following this game since the Japan release and have been extremely back and fourth whether to buy it. The story obviously is the main feature. You play as Vincent, a dude who has bros and a girlfriend, then he wakes up with another chick, starts having crazy dreams and people start dying in the real world with relationship problems. the action part of the game is the dream world where Vincent frantically climbs blocks, it isn't as boring as you think. The game is rather difficult and makes you use your head. He gets points and power ups a long the way as well. What makes the game playable multiple times is that there are several endings. The game is supposed to take around 20 hours to complete the first time around and the higher difficulties are absolutely insane (in the original JP version they had to send out a patch because the game was too hard on the first setting, this will be the default in our version). Besides trying to escape gnarly monsters eating you in the dream world, you also interact in the real world. How you answer texts or not answering them at all, talk to your friends and comunciate with others around you shapes the story to one of its many endings to keep you interested there is a little multiplayer as well. Basically a head to head tower climbing mode to see who reaches the top first or survives the longest.

The Pre-order bonus to Catherine is more than enough. You get a saucey Artbook (meh) and a real Cd. The music to this game is simply amazing and worth it. For $20 more you get the "Love is Over Edition" which consists of a Pizza box from in-game, Vincent's Boxers, a pillow case with Catherine on it and a Empty Hearts shirt (which is what I really want). In the end, with a long and intriguing single player with several possibilities and some fun multiplayer stuff to toy around with, I will be picking up Catherine.

Everything you need to know about Catherine here http://gouki.com/catalog/details/catherine

Any of these games on your radars jimmies, which ones seem worth buying to you? Maybe some of the pre-order bonuses got you sold or Bonus $pecial editions. Leave a comment on what you think.

PlayStation 3

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Release Date: Nov 17, 2006

Buy it! 81% - Rent it! 4% - Flush it! 15%

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Community Replay Value of Upcoming Games: Are they Worth The Money?

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