TNL's GotM: January 2007

Previous entries:
TNL's Games of the Month 2006

And thus starts a new year of months, and with it, a new year of games of the month. This first month has been a relatively light one, as the early months generally are, but there were still a handful of worthwhile titles to play, and of course, a behemoth expansion pack.

As usual, straight ports, retro compilations, and retro XBLA, Virtual Console, and PS Network titles are ineligible.

For my vote, I'm holding off until after playing Hotel Dusk, as I'm pretty confident it will wind up being my GotM.

Lost Planet. It's the only game on that list that I've played.

I really can't see it being anything but Hotel Dusk. I do want to play Lost Planet, though.

Hotel Dusk. Lost Planet lost my vote with its retarded Achievements.

Hotel Dusk all the way

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

Hotel Dusk. Lost Planet lost my vote with its retarded Achievements.

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Achievements have nothing to do with the game itself.

I still pick Heavy Weapon over LP - there's something to be said for a game that you can just pick up and play online or solo and have a blast doing so without reading a 45 page instruction manual.

Hotel Dusk. I played a bit, but fiancee can't put it down. Wario Ware is good, but Hotel Dusk is better. WoW:BC should get my vote based on how much I'm playing it, but.. meh. Hotel Dusk is really well done.

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Originally Posted by haohmaru

Achievements have nothing to do with the game itself.

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I disagree. If Microsoft deserves praise for the idea and making me play games differently, and I believe they do, then the developers that implement the idea poorly also deserve to be dinged for it. The only exception to this would be comparing a multiplatform release. Bad achievements on the 360 still beat none on the PS3.

Crackdown demo IMO.

I think the two are mutually exclusive. Is the 1000 point plateau that much more difficult to reach (hour investment wise) than Oblivion or other titles that require similar time investments? Even if it's the nature of the achievement, I don't think it should be a factor in evaluating the game design and the playability of it. Great game + bad achievements still = great game.

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Originally Posted by Cowdisease

Crackdown demo IMO.

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Confirmed

I voted Hotel Dusk. Even though it just seems like another point and click adventure game, the art style, awesome storyline, and DS touch screen elements make it one of the most original games I've played in a while. Wario Ware was pretty darn close to the top spot though, because the game is really fun and semi-addictive. Lost Planet was just average IMO....and I still haven't had the chance to play Rogue Galaxy yet

The only thing on that list I even played is the Lost Planet demo.

Really though, who needs to buy more games at this time of year? I know you all have 8 game backlogs from November-December.

I voted for Heavy Weapon. 4 player survival is more fun than anything I played.

I'm sure Hotel Dusk is good though. I haven't touched my DS for months.

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Originally Posted by haohmaru

I think the two are mutually exclusive. Is the 1000 point plateau that much more difficult to reach (hour investment wise) than Oblivion or other titles that require similar time investments? Even if it's the nature of the achievement, I don't think it should be a factor in evaluating the game design and the playability of it. Great game + bad achievements still = great game.

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The time investment may be the same, but at least Oblivion didn't require doing the exact same thing four times. If instead of having achievements for the Thieves, Fighters, and Mages Guilds, it just made you do the Dark Brotherhood four times at different difficulties, then it would have gotten dinged too. If I beat Lost Planet on Extreme and find every token, I should get all the other difficulty achievements too. GoW got it right. LP blew it.

Well, for what it's worth, the tokens are in different spots...but yeah, the whole "Beat the game on every dificuly level" stuff is weak. I actually beat Gun on Insane (which is no easy feat)...yet I only got "Beat Insane".

Who starts games on easy? ChaoofNee. I'm sure most people start on at least normal, and I can't seriously think that people have a tendanacy to go, "Boy, now that I've polished off hard mode it'll be awesome tackling easy!" I can almost never go down in difficulty selections because the game usually starts to feel pathetic and then I have hard time bringing myself to beat it.

Any game that requires all difficulty levels for achievements sucks in that regard.

I voted for Phoenix Wright because I'm an absolute whore for the series. Hotel Dusk is great, too.

I wonder how many people have played both Lost Planet and Hotel Dusk. I have, and it was a tough choice for me.

I've played both. I'm a fan of adventure games like Hotel Dusk, and I agree the choice was tough. I really like Lost Planet though. I admit the fact that Lost Planet is on a console that I can play on my hdtv is what pushes it over the edge for me. It's hard for me to give a game on a portable game of the month, even if it is a really good game.

I played five of the games in this poll, including Lost Planet. I liked it, but it was only about seven hours long and I have no desire to play it again. Fun, but not really unique or memorable like Hotel Dusk.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

I wonder how many people have played both Lost Planet and Hotel Dusk. I have, and it was a tough choice for me.

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Is your XBL account on my buddy list not your primary account? Because if it is, it appears you've only finished the first level, which I'd hardly call a thorough representation of what LP has to offer.

That said, having finished the game as well as experienced all of it's multiplayer offerings myself, while I did enjoy LP a good bit, I'd almost give my vote to Dusk without having even played it yet, so I'm probably on the irrational side the other way. :p Admittedly, I am a huge fan of Hammet and film noir, though, so perhaps there is a least some rationale to my irrationality. But I can't speak for others.

I know I would vote for Hotel Dusk if I have played any of these games. But I haven't, so I will not.

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Originally Posted by Andy

Is your XBL account on my buddy list not your primary account? Because if it is, it appears you've only finished the first level, which I'd hardly call a thorough representation of what LP has to offer.

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This is absolutely true. I forced myself to finish RSV before going back to LP, and now Prey has gotten in the way too. The stupid achievements have dropped it like a rock on my priority list, because I know I don't have time to play it four times.

I love the achievements system too, Yoshi, but c'mon man. :p

You're really going to trudge through Prey for achievements instead of playing a cool new Capcom action game? ;) You do get achievements for finishing each level and taking down four of the bosses, which are all essentially investment-free, outside of regularly playing through the game.

I should be done with Prey this weekend, and LP is up next after that before Winning Eleven and Crackdown hit.

I need to get back to LP too, I'm too distracted lately. Bouncing around XBLA games and 99 Nights. Which, btw, is better than anything Koei has produced in that genre for quite some time.

LP gets my vote but that's pretty much all I've played on that list.

I like N3, too, Haoh. It's a worthy $25 purchase if you've enjoyed the DW/SW games.

N3 is retarded. But the DW/SW games are even more retarded.

BC BC BC BC BC.

That said Hotel Dusk comes in a close second.

Why is Lost Planet winning? This should not be happening. Vote for Hotel Dusk, dudes.

It's a tough call. I've played more of LP now, and it is good, but it just doesn't set itself apart the way Hotel Dusk does. I can name other games on the 360 that do the same things as Lost Planet better (except the boss fights). There is nothing on the DS that beats Hotel Dusk's adventure elements.

Lost planet, hotel dusk and phoenix wright look nifty, but I never have time to play my ds so what's the point.

I like Hotel Dusk's serious take on adventure more than Phoenix Wright's comical one. I hope more developers take notice of that. I also still want to see PC ports on the DS, specifically from LucasArts. I'd buy Fate of Atlantis in a heartbeat, for instance.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

I also still want to see PC ports on the DS, specifically from LucasArts. I'd buy Fate of Atlantis in a heartbeat, for instance.

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Today, we're friends.

Does that mean no nookie?

I haven't played Hotel Dusk yet but I'm pretty sure that would get my vote since I love the genre.

I have played most of the other games on that list (Burning Crusade being the only notable exception) and Heavy Weapon wins hands down.

I'm looking forward to playing Hotel Dusk given all the praise. I'm surprised over 15 people here have already played it. Where were all the adventure fans last year when Dreamfall and Sam & Max: Culture Shock came out? Check that shit out if you like the genre.

None of these games interest me in the slightest.

Except Heavy Weapon... that shit is fantastic.

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Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

I'm looking forward to playing Hotel Dusk given all the praise. I'm surprised over 15 people here have already played it. Where were all the adventure fans last year when Dreamfall and Sam & Max: Culture Shock came out? Check that shit out if you like the genre.

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People here think PCs have AIDS.

I've put about an hour into Hotel Dusk. I enjoy the interface and atmosphere, but the story hasn't really grabbed me yet. It just seems kind of dull.

I'm also playing Grim Fandango right now, and I think Hotel Dusk suffers from the comparison. GF is just so much brighter and more creative.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

People here think PCs have AIDS.

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Dreamfall did come out on Xbox.

Dreamfall really does have AIDS on PC - it uses StarForce. Get the Xbox version, which is also 360 compatible.

Crackdown demo ftw.

But HW comes second.