G-pinions

I'll give you eight guesses who that is. Hint: It's not Master Chef, or Ms. Aran. Now, while you're racking your squishy brain for answers, I'll kill some time talking about how I'm not going to post about God of War until I'm farther into the game. I will say that the game is as good as I could have hoped for, probably better. Not the fifth best game of all time, mind you, but definitely one of the most enjoyable.

Anyhow, did you guess it yet? It's Ratchet. Ratchet: Deadlocked (for PS2 this fall) to be precise, shown in the new EGM for the first time alongside the new Jak and Sly games (which I'll get to in a second). I guess the rumors that Insomniac were working an a PS3 FPS for launch weren't entirely true, at least not yet (unless they've split up their team, which I suppose is possible). So what can I say about Deadlocked? It just seems entirely unnecessary. Up Your Arsenal was a perfect conclusion to an amazing series that could have been reborn is a much classier way next generation sometime. The game was more or less perfect, despite being the tiniest bit too similar to Going Commando. Regardless, two of my favorite games of all time. So why did Ratchet need to grow up? Why did he have to take Jak's lame path of dropping his lovable cohort's name and become all dark and moody? The series might have needed a stronger character direction, as he was the only rotten apple in the bushel, but this isn't the way to do it. 'Squad-based combat play in a combat-based reality show'? C'mon guys...this isn't Ratchet. Online co-op through the single-player obviously sounds enticing, but why not just give the series a rest? Spyro outstayed his welcome, and they're about to do the same here. Ugh.

On the other side of the coin, there's Jak X, a kart-racing combat game set in the Jak universe. While this may seem even more ridiculous and inappropriate, one thing gives me faith and excitement. Crash Team Racing. Specifically, that it was an amazing kart racer, right up there with the 3D Mario Karts. So, Naughty Dog knows what they're doing. It seems like a nice combo of GTA, Midnight Club and Twisted Metal from what I've read, exploring a sprawling city to find various challenges within. The Jak series kind of lost my interest when Going Commando trumped the focus-tested, unbalanced sequel, so I can't say I mind them doing something pretty different this time. Oh, and it's rumored X will have online multiplayer as well, which I can't imagine won't be fun.

There's also Sly 3; as much respect as the series deserves, I just can't get into the lame character designs. The sneaky gameplay is crazy tight though, and this one has co-op (online and off, I assume). So there's that. I just can't imagine third and fourth sequels in three different series will compete with an Xbox2 launch, no matter how good they are. Why not just give them a rest and really get a head start on the PS3 stuff?

While I could regale you with tales of my glorious Timesplitters: Future Perfect experiences thus far, or talk about the unopened Jade Empire demo on my bed, I've chosen something even more dear to my heart: Halo 2, the game I still spend a few hours a night, several days a week with. More specifically, this:



...which was pulled from EB's site mere hours after being posted. As was the case with dozens of other retailers, including xbox.com. So, despite the fact that Bungie has yet to officially say anything besides "we're looking into making the new maps available for everyone, including those without Live" (I expect them to make a proper announcement tomorrow), it looks like this is really happening. Which I'm fine with, as long as all the maps are all simultaneously released via free download on Live as well. The current rumor is that you can either buy the disc, or wait and receive the maps for free, two per month. If THAT is the case, then this is bullshit.

I understand Microsoft releasing the maps as a retail package - it's a brilliant move that will net them a ton of money and make those without Live very happy. And there are a lot of Halo 2 owners without Live (roughly 5 million out of 6.4 million, actually). So the fact that those people are being hooked up, per se, is very nice. Plus, it seems they'll also be getting an epilogue video of sorts (come on, what else could the extra 'cinematic' be?). But if they're looking to make an extra buck off of us current Live subscribers who have waited almost five months for some real content, well, damn, they will I guess. They know full well that every red-blooded Halo player will drop the Jackson on day one if it means playing a single map a day sooner. We're like wolves we are - hungry, ravenous, sexy wolves. Hopefully Microsoft wouldn't do anything that stupid and completely contradict what Bungie has been saying for a good year now, but who knows. New maps are new maps.

UPDATE: As usual, the rumors were true.

I just finished watching Ong-Bak. I thought you might be intersted in reading how the back of the box presents the fantastic story.

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Thailand, statue of Buddha is a sacred an
d inviolable saint thing, however on helpi
ng shameless however sell the statue of B
uddha for the sake of the personal person
al desires.Day the head of the statue of Bu
ddha for for the sake of searching the hom
e town robbing, alone arrive at Bangkok,
and fortune upon to depend to swindle to
rare with the , and the mistake take ased
the own same village. Pass by a unexpecte
d obstacles, under is with the's help, day t
he buildup for for by dint of whole body e
ffort, finally seeking returing statue of B
uddha, and will selling the statue of Budd
ha destroy completely, however......

It's March 20th. Four days before the release of the PSP, and roughly ten and a quarter months since they announced it. I've seen it, I've played it, I'd read thousands upon thousands of words on it. So why in the hell can't I decide whether I want one or not? Well, let me rephrase that. I DO want one. Like a snake-bitten man wants the antidote. It would no doubt fill one of the many holes in my soul that are only appeased by shiny, well-designed apparatus.

For me, buying a PSP now equates to buying a Lamborghini to tool around a dirt road in. Sure, I'd still be fucking psyched that I owned a Lamborghini, and no doubt appreciate the comfortable seat and quality sound system. On the other hand, I wouldn't be using it for it's main purpose, nevermind to it's full extent; I'd get enough use out of it to enjoy it, but there would certainly be things I would be better off doing with my time and money. The problem is this: I've sat in the driver's seat, I've seen what this thing has to offer. And it's so cool and so intriguing that it's hard not to want one even if I don't really need it.

It's a very, very impressive system, and most of the games I've played so far and seen in person have been great. The multimedia playback abilities actually seem like they're going to be worth checking out too, which I'd have to invest in a large memory stick for. And I'd buy a warranty. And a screen protector. And a bunch of other random little crap to enhance my experience. The value pack is certainly value-packed, and more than enough for the average PSP investor, but I couldn't stand the idea of not getting the most for my money. And I wouldn't take it out of my house, which kind of defeats the entire purpose; when I'm not at home I'm either in my car or at my destination, which usually doesn't allow for antisocial videogame playing. So, it's a serious investment of my gaming dollar, even if it's mostly in built-up credit. And the Xenon comes out this fall (for all intents and planning purposes), nevermind the fact that I'm buying two games next week (God of War and Timesplitters: Future Perfect), at least two next month (Psychonauts and Jade Empire), etc. etc. So, I'll have those to play, and a half dozen other games to finish (guess which Sony fan owns MGS3 but hasn't gotten to it yet - just guess).

My point is, it's mere days away and I couldn't be more undecided. I was all set not to get one until I saw her again yesterday, and experienced the beauty of Wipeout Pure and Twisted Metal: Head On. It's just so damn tempting, and I'm easily tempted. And I know that it's now or never, because by the time the price drops Xenon will be out and my attention will be elsewhere. Maybe it all depends on how awesome God of War and Timesplitters are; if they can't get my attention away from this thing, I just may be introducing the world to a shiny new baby later this week.