G-pinions

I figured the 360 experience didn't get any better than playing Marble Blast Ultra with Tom while listening to Dane Cook and doing our best not to fall off ledges while he spoke of smashing children's ice cream in their faces. Turns out it's just the funniest. As of this moment, it does not get better than playing Rockstar's Table Tennis (henceforth referred to as Table Tennis, or TT, or Titties) while listening to Daft Punk.

Rockstar have taken a classically recreational and simplistic sport and turned it into one of the most compellingly deep, mentally challenging and rewarding gaming experiences available for any system. I was excited at the prospect of a new control dynamic in sports when the game was announced and explained, but never did I imagine it would end up so polished and complete, tuned to a perfection every other previous sports game has barely mused upon. It's as easy to pick up and play as Mario Tennis or Top Spin if you start on easy against the computer (or someone else equally clueless), but quickly delves into expert territory before you know it. It requires a very high level of attentiveness, reflexes and awareness, and really gives you back a challenge as you put more into it. All of the split-second decisions that I imagine pro players make are not only at your disposal, but required to draw upon equally and constantly to survive.

Remember when I bitched about how fighting games haven't evolved in a decade? Well, this is the evolution. Lighting fast reactions, reading your opponent, taking chances when they present themselves - all with a level of intuitive precision I've never experienced before in the sports or fighting genres. You have your aim, spin and strength to consider in every shot, and only when you can read those same qualities in your fiercest opponents can you defeat them. Even the rumble feature is used to more directly impact gameplay than ever I have experienced before - the strength of the vibration tells you how close you are going to hit to the edge of the table, giving you constant visceral feedback about the choices and risks you're making on the fly (at an incredibly fast speed, no less). It's yet another thing you have to learn to read perfectly to succeed, and having it pay off is immensely rewarding with every decisively laid shot.

I know that I'm known for hyperbole and saying everything is "the greatest" in it's category, but this really is the most finely tuned 360 game yet, and at the moment, the most addictive. It also has the best technical graphics on the system and perfect sound design, but that's just extra padding on an already immersive experience. It may drastically skew the usual balance of deep gameplay and thick options/modes available, but once you get into the meat of it you're glad that the development team focused on what they did. After an hour, you won't want to touch anything else.

Brendan was nice enough to email this awesome Oblivion clip to me. It's easily the coolest display of video game physics since No One Can Stop Mr. Domino. Don't try this at home - unless you're Scott, the only G reader who actually owns the PC version. And if you're in the mood for something a little more flammable, check out this Half Life 2 clip. And if you're sick of all this PC loving, here's the classic Warthog Jump video from the original Halo.

Now, if only someone would make a Psi Ops video. It's still the best use of Rag Doll physics I have ever seen.