...the game absolutely owns! I am creating this thread to de-mistify some of the rumors I've seen on sites ond forums.
Too Difficult - not true
I was a moderate fan of the NG Black on Xbox but I thought it was too hard. On top of that if you decided to play on easy after dying 3 times, the game made you feel like shit by saying you suck over and over.
This is not the case in Gaiden 2. Thanks to the fact that your energy meter refils after every fight other than the permanent damage, and health is regenerated at every save point, with lots of save points... this game is finally playable even by non hardcore members of the gaming comunity. Its still challenging, but not frustratingly hard for beginners thanks to the easy mode that is selectable right away.
Visuals - great
Game looks better than NG Sigma, quite easily. More body parts flying, more detail and variety in models and faster action. People are saying its lil 585p or something. You won't notice anything like that because the action is so fast and brotal...the game didn't stutter at all for the first 4 levels too which is a plus.
Audio - amazing
This has to be one of the best musical soundtracks I've ever heard. The music pumps you up like crazy...its reminds me of the music in the bike chase sequence of the Matrix sequel. Sound fx are top notch.
Gameplay too similar and not evolving - complete bullshit
This is the biggest bullshit I've heard from reviewers about this game. Like GTA4 is the exact same game to me asGFTA3, with same driving missions, same framerate and control problems and same ultimate sandbox gameplay and it gets a 10 from everyone. While everyone seems to be ripping in to this game for being "more of the same". This game doesn't re-invent the wheel with gameplay...but its definetly fine tuned to a point where it makes other games like this (such as DMC or god of war) look like try hard-wannabies. Those games have more style but much less substance. The gameplay is perfect for veterans and great for people starting the series (on easy). 2 played online deathmatch would have been amazing...but thats something that we may get in DLC later maybe.
In any case, this is the leading candidate for game of the year for me...and MGS4 better be amazing when it comes out in 2 weeks as this is the one to beat in my books.
