More Reviews
REVIEWS Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D Review
Gamers have gone bananas for Nintendo's 3DS, but can this port of Retro Studios' 2010 Wii game make the jump to your portable?

Pandora's Tower Review
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but swords and chains excite me. Should you climb the towers in Xseed's JRPG/adventure hybrid to save your cursed (and tragically whiny) girlfriend?
More Previews
PREVIEWS The Last of Us Preview
With Naughty Dog releasing a new IP in just a few short weeks, we got hands-on one more time. But don't worry: This is a spoiler-free preview.
Release Dates
NEW RELEASES GRiD 2
Release date: 05/28/13

Fuse
Release date: 05/28/13

Remember Me
Release date: 06/04/13

The Last of Us
Release date: 06/14/13


LATEST FEATURES Xbox Infinity: Everything (We Think) We Know About Microsoft's Next-Gen Console [Updated... Again]
Microsoft is pulling back the curtain on their next-gen gaming box tomorrow. Here's an updated look at what we're expecting to see.

GR Showdown: Are There Way Too Many Remakes And Reboots?
Gamers continually complain about the lack of innovation from publishers and developers, but in this tough economy, it would seem that sequels and remakes are their bread and butter. Are there not enough new IPs?
MOST POPULAR FEATURES 7 Best Video Game Franchises Of All Time
Gaming is home to some incredible IPs. Here you'll find a slightly objective, yet heavily biased, list of the absolute best of the best.
 
Coming Soon

LEADERBOARD
Read More Member Blogs
FEATURED VOXPOP nick_olsen
Welcome home, Mario; we’ve missed you!
By nick_olsen
Posted on 05/13/13
[ Editor's Note: As Nick Olsen is a writer for Theory of Gaming, this won't be counted in the monthly Vox Pop prize. However, it is very much a worthy read. ] By Nick Olsen Co-founder, Theory of Gaming In 1985 Nintendo started a revolution when it...

DAILY MANIFESTO

What Are You Playing? June 23rd, 2012

Posted on Saturday, June 23 @ 10:00:00 Eastern by

Yes, I finally beat Persona 3 Portable this week, so now I have a gaping hole in my life. Persona 4: Golden's October 23rd release date is sooooo far away. In regards to my PlayStation Vita, I'll be enjoying more Gravity Rush.

On the console side I'd like to pick up Battlefield 3 again and see if the Premium membership would be worth it or not. I've also got the itch to play Deus Ex: Human Revolution again. Now that it's summer it'll be competing for attention to my backlog though. But, let me ask you...

What are you playing?



Comments
  • Guernica
    Guernica

    Joined: Mar 2009
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 10:43 am
    D3 - Finally took the time to make it to inferno so I'm starting on Act I now.
    Super Meat Boy and Psychonauts from the last indie bundle. I'm enjoying them both a lot.
  • zanzibarmcfate
    zanzibarmcfate

    Joined: Oct 2011
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 10:54 am
    Replaying Assassin's Creed II. Anticipating Assassin's Creed III (although I'm trying to temper my anticipation, since it burned me on Revelations).
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 12:06 pm
    I might playthrough Revelations again just to lower my expectations as well. I'm really hyped for ACIII but it's time to back off. It'll be a long summer.
  • sandineyes
    sandineyes

    Joined: May 2008
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 2:19 pm
    I know, right? I felt the story was much weaker than in Brotherhood or 2, and so much notoriety is required for the tower defense thing that I never even saw it after the tutorial. Also, after Brotherhood I was just too burned out on assassin training and landmark purchasing to do even more of it. I haven't kept up with ACIII, but I'm worried that rather than a true next installment in the series, it will just add some more random features to the previous games and call it a day.
  • Alex_Osborn
    Alex_Osborn

    Joined: Jan 2012
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 5:01 pm
    I haven't played any of the AC games after trying the first one for a few hours and quitting out of boredom. Which (if any) should I play to prepare for AC3?
  • zanzibarmcfate
    zanzibarmcfate

    Joined: Oct 2011
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 5:39 pm
    Probably TL;DR-worthy:

    Well, depending on how much you care about the story, try to slog through the first one (I personally enjoyed it, but I can see how some wouldn't). Definitely play AC2, as it's the best in the series so far (it also provides a short recap of AC1 should you choose to skip that one). If you like AC2, then Brotherhood is a good follow-up. Feel free to skip Revelations, as I don't remember the story progressing very much and the execution of the game is lacking (they implemented a horrible first-person platforming element for the modern-day character Desmond, as an example).

    But if you would only be interested in the ancestors and not the modern-day story connecting these games, then I don't think playing any of the previous games will be all that critical, as AC3 introduces a new protagonist that hasn't appeared before in the series.

    Hope that helps.
  • zanzibarmcfate
    zanzibarmcfate

    Joined: Oct 2011
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 5:44 pm
    Probably TL;DR-worthy:

    Well, depending on how much you care about the story, try to slog through the first one (I personally enjoyed it, but I can see how some wouldn't). Definitely play AC2, as it's the best in the series so far (it also provides a short recap of AC1 should you choose to skip that one). If you like AC2, then Brotherhood is a good follow-up. Feel free to skip Revelations, as I don't remember the story progressing very much and the execution of the game is lacking (they implemented a horrible first-person platforming element for the modern-day character Desmond, as an example).

    But if you would only be interested in the ancestors and not the modern-day story connecting these games, then I don't think playing any of the previous games will be all that critical, as AC3 introduces a new protagonist that hasn't appeared before in the series.

    Hope that helps.
  • zanzibarmcfate
    zanzibarmcfate

    Joined: Oct 2011
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 5:57 pm
    Damn it. Any way to implement a delete button for duplicate comments like this?
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 9:25 pm
    AC2 is the best narratively. AC: Brotherhood is the best mechanically.
  • thedarkstar
    thedarkstar

    Joined: Feb 2011
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 11:18 am
    Round 2 of Dead Space 1 on hard mode. Kind of annoyed they don't let you change the difficulty after you beat the game. Also, probably some Gravity Rush and Shinobido 2 on the Vita.
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 12:06 pm
    GRAVITY RUSH. How far are you? Love that game.
  • thedarkstar
    thedarkstar

    Joined: Feb 2011
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 10:39 pm
    Not very. Right in the beginning. I hope to spend some more time with it soon though.
  • StringerBell86
    StringerBell86

    Joined: Mar 2012
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 11:23 am
    **FourSquare check-in** -- "I am the mayor of Tartarus!!"

    Yep... still playin P3:FES. On hour 52. I'll catch up to ya soon Daniel! Hopefully, before I turn into a Persona -non grata. lol
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 12:08 pm
    HAHAHA, didn't think anyone could make a pun out of Persona. What month are you in?
  • Kakulukia
    Kakulukia

    Joined: Nov 2005
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 3:12 pm
    At what date does the game end?
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 3:23 pm
    It lasts about a full year.... there are two endings, one at December 31st and another on January 31st.
  • StringerBell86
    StringerBell86

    Joined: Mar 2012
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 9:36 pm
    I try...

    I'm about in the middle of the October lunar cycle. This game has become a daily routine of mine almost. I find myself humming the soundtrack a lot when I'm not playing lol
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 7:34 am
    Yeah the soundtrack is super addicting. It gets better as the game progresses too, more nuanced, deeper.
  • Jonathan_Leack
    Jonathan_Leack

    Joined: Jan 2012
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 11:33 am
    Civilization V is eating my face!
  • MasterRabbi
    MasterRabbi

    Joined: May 2007
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 12:35 pm
    Civilization 5, got the expansion. It's annoying my face though, since I have a bug with the UI only when playing G&K.
  • MasterRabbi
    MasterRabbi

    Joined: May 2007
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 7:54 pm
    Fixed! Too bad that save is corrupted, it was one of my favorite starts.
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
    Bummer. My Metal Gear Solid 2 HD save got corrupted when I tried to transfer it to my Vita today.
  • Stickyellowsock
    Stickyellowsock

    Joined: Oct 2009
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 12:48 pm
    Well since Battlefield 3 is having a double XP weekend I guess I'll be playing the new Close Quarters DLC....Waiting for max payne 3 DLC
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 1:27 pm
    Double XP? I gotta hop on that on PS3. You're on 360 though right?
  • Stickyellowsock
    Stickyellowsock

    Joined: Oct 2009
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 2:54 pm
    Ya I have a PS3 but I can't stand the button layout for shooters. I buy all my shooters on 360
  • tinymhg
    tinymhg

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 12:52 pm
    Diablo III. Still need to wait uptil 1st to buy the expansion for Civ V though.
  • TurinAlexander
    TurinAlexander

    Joined: Sep 2006
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 2:05 pm
    About halfway through the Lonesome Road DLC for New Vegas. Once that's done, I have Darksiders and Arkahm Asylum GoTY to play. I picked them both up for five bucks a while back and haven't done anything with them but install them. I've also barely touched Just Cause 2. I'm still amazed at how massive the game world is in that one.
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 3:24 pm
    I need to pick up Darksiders, and I'm in the same boat with Just Cause 2. It's been sitting on my shelf mocking me since I bought it.
  • thedarkstar
    thedarkstar

    Joined: Feb 2011
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 9:54 pm
    I loved the original Darksiders. It's like it mixed Zelda, God of War, and a smidge of Onimusha in a blender and hit Frappe. Lol.
  • Crucial-Kenny
    Crucial-Kenny

    Joined: Apr 2011
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 2:13 pm
    Rage. I like it, not sure where all the hate comes from. Trying to finish that and maybe another game or two from the backlog before I start a new job in a couple weeks, haha.
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 3:24 pm
    Rage is a pretty decent shooter and the car combat is arcadey and fun. I thought it was good but not the second-coming of shooters they billed it as.
  • Chunibrow
    Chunibrow

    Joined: Mar 2010
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 4:52 pm
    I am also playing RAGE and I also enjoy it. If Fallout 5 had Rage's fluid gunplay combined with everything else from Fallout 3 it might be the best game I ever played
  • OdiousLupous
    OdiousLupous

    Joined: Jul 2011
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 6:10 pm
    The ending was more a setup for a sequel than a stand alone ending.
  • Crucial-Kenny
    Crucial-Kenny

    Joined: Apr 2011
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 9:01 am
    I could see how it might be disappointing to those who believed the hype and were expecting a huge open world game, but I got it out of the $10 bargain bin last week. Totally worth it. I'm one of the few who didn't like Fallout, it felt boring to me. I guess I just prefer games like Rage and Borderlands.
  • Kakulukia
    Kakulukia

    Joined: Nov 2005
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 3:19 pm
    I'm finishing up Max Payne 3 before getting on to my wonderful Metal Gear Solid marathon. I'm hesitating between doing that in order of release (1,2,3,4,PW) or chronological order (3,PW,1,2,4)... thoughts?
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 3:25 pm
    I recommend chronological order. See what sense you can make of it in that way.
  • OdiousLupous
    OdiousLupous

    Joined: Jul 2011
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 3:44 pm
    Diablo 3
    TF2
    Shogun Total War 2
    Saints Row 3
    Dirt 3
  • tinymhg
    tinymhg

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 8:25 pm
    Hey! Can you play a game without a number in the name?
  • OdiousLupous
    OdiousLupous

    Joined: Jul 2011
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 8:01 am
    I was thinking that before I hit the add comment button... so many sequels and threequels.
  • Bras
    Bras

    Joined: Jul 2008
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 4:51 pm
    I just had a dream that I was playing Dark Souls, actually it was a nightmare because I was IN the game and had to fight a huge skulltula!
  • Alex_Osborn
    Alex_Osborn

    Joined: Jan 2012
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 4:58 pm
    Been trying to get into Infamous 2 for a couple of weeks now but I just can't. It's fun and all, but I'm not digging the characters and story
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 7:35 am
    I had the same feelings for the first infamous. Now Sony's given me the second for free and I can't being myself to play.
  • dirty_f
    dirty_f

    Joined: Nov 2010
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 7:30 pm
    Wells i gots me both Dead Space 2 n RDR: Undead Nightmare the other day for 40 dollhairs. So i'm plannin on playing Dead Space today/tonight. gonna have to uninstall a game tho coz mah PS3 is one o them ol 40Gig ones.
    Goodbye Rage. i had fun with you, but didnt finish you coz i got bored.
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 8:27 am
    I got bored of Undead Nightmare and gave it up, but I loved Red Dead so I'll give it another shot soon.
  • dirty_f
    dirty_f

    Joined: Nov 2010
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
    oh really? i can imagine it's not gonna have quite the same feel as RDR. i just loved Red Dead so much i need more. i've considered another play-through of RDR, but felt so content and satisfied (but at the same time sad that there was no more) after i completed absolutely everything i think i might just leave it as a great memorable experience and hope for a full-length sequel/prequel. a prequel seems more likely eh?
    did you play through it again? did it keep its greatness?
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
    I didn't play through the entire game again, just the missions I enjoyed. Rockstar Games have so much padding I don't know if I could sit through all of those horse rides a second time.
  • C_nate
    C_nate

    Joined: Apr 2009
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 8:12 pm
    Waited until it was dirt cheap and picked up FFXIII-2 for $20 brand new. Committed the same sin as the one before of starting off slow as hell and nearly putting me to sleep at points but I'm about 30 hours in now and the gameplay is starting to get better. Sadly, the story is still dumb as **** and the characters alternate between bland, and annoying. It's an improvement over the last one in some areas and worse in other. Two steps forward and one step back I guess you could say. Oh, FF what happened to you? Used to be one of my favorite series but I'm beginning to realize that I'm falling out of love.
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 8:29 am
    Bummer. I gave up on FF a while ago. They need to build the series up from the ground again.
  • StringerBell86
    StringerBell86

    Joined: Mar 2012
    Posted: Jun 25th, 2012 at 8:20 am
    I gave up after hour 20 or 25. I just hit a wall where I didn't give two ***** about the outcome of it all. FF-13 just BARELY held my attention until the end.

    Persona 3/4 seem to be the only good (and most innovative!) turn-based JRPGs to come out over the past 4 years. You should jump in if you havent already
  • Imnickson
    Imnickson

    Joined: Jul 2006
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 10:28 pm
    I got a Vita this week, so I will be playing Lumines, Gravity Rush, Lego Batman 2, Motorstorm RC, Super Stardust Delta, and possibly some Pursuit Force, and Killzone: Liberation
  • Imnickson
    Imnickson

    Joined: Jul 2006
    Posted: Jun 23rd, 2012 at 10:29 pm
    Oh and Diablo III. Need to get my wiz above 50.
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 8:30 am
    Nice Vita get! Gravity Rush is awesome.
  • Imnickson
    Imnickson

    Joined: Jul 2006
    Posted: Jun 25th, 2012 at 12:58 am
    I'm loving Gravity Rush, I never thought I would love a handheld but the thing is so damn....sexy, sweet, awesome, all those types of adjectives.
  • warmaster670
    warmaster670

    Joined: Jun 2007
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 4:50 am
    Your mom.

    But in between that Civ 5. ;)
  • damo_rox619
    damo_rox619

    Joined: Jan 2007
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 5:37 am
    i've actually been able to enjoy the Sims again recently, I really struggled to enjoy it before because i used to be addicted to achievements. Now that i'm over that unhealthy obsession i can play games that don't have a pre-determined goal again
  • damo_rox619
    damo_rox619

    Joined: Jan 2007
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 5:39 am
    also can anyone tell me if Xenoblade Chronicles is any good? Feel like trying a good JRPG
  • HorriblePerson
    HorriblePerson

    Joined: Sep 2011
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
    Yes, it is. One of the best games the Wii has to offer.
  • crazydanO5
    crazydanO5

    Joined: Feb 2012
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 5:52 am
    Diablo 3. Great ending, and now I'm trying to beat Nightmare and above.
  • damo_rox619
    damo_rox619

    Joined: Jan 2007
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 5:54 am
    im really struggling with nightmare myself, it's not so bad with the demon hunter but the barbarian feels at a big disadvantage with his melee only style
  • ShadeTail
    ShadeTail

    Joined: Nov 2006
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 8:59 am
    I'm playing the international version of Final Fantasy 12. The story is the same "meh" nonsense as the original, but the game mechanics are a lot more fun.
  • Masterwabbit
    Masterwabbit

    Joined: Mar 2009
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 10:07 am
    Deus Ex: Human Revolution on my PC. Thank you Valve, for making the game dirt cheap for the weekend, and thank you Square Enix/Eidos for making what is an amazing game.
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
    DXHR is awesome. A true followup to Deus Ex.
  • elmoreoocyte
    elmoreoocyte

    Joined: Apr 2012
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 10:24 am
    D3 still...Also dusted off some MTG decks to play with friends.
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
    I never got too deep into Magic, but I played a lot of Pokemon and the Star Wars TCG. Magic was always at the shop's weekly tournaments and I tried it a few times with a deck I borrowed from a friend.
  • drathbone
    drathbone

    Joined: May 2011
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
    Ahh ol magic. I did a thing with the release from last year (cant remember the name) 5 of us put like $30 each in to buy the big box set and got a several packs each then played against eachother with what deck we could make out of the cards. That's the first and currently last time ive played in like 10 years. The new MTG 2013 duels of the planewalkrs just came out on xbox. i might check it out
  • elmoreoocyte
    elmoreoocyte

    Joined: Apr 2012
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
    As a kid there were some older guys I knew who played (early-mid 90's) but I never even tried it till 2 friends and I attended Imagicon (super shitty con but I'm in Birmingham so you take what you can get). We were on our way out, hadn't found anything interesting, and each bought a starter deck and 20 sided die. we played a lot, but then I got engaged and moved so it wasn't just a 5 minute drive for us to all link up and play anymore. I taught my wife to play but it's not the same as sitting around a table, drinking and shooting the **** with old friends.

    The 2013 Planeswalkers game is actually what has us playing again. The two guys I play D3 with tried to talk me into getting it, but as I told them, the point of a card game is it's something to do when I'm tired of staring at my computer monitor. So I've so far convinced them to meet up a couple times now.

    I've never done the whole comic store/card store scene. I'm nerd to the bone, but they even creep me out a little.
  • drathbone
    drathbone

    Joined: May 2011
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
    Dragons Dogma and gonna try and get in Xenoblade. I also picked up RAGE in the bargain bin like a few other people seem to have done. I also just got injured at work some I'm going to be out for several weeks....its gaming time
  • elmoreoocyte
    elmoreoocyte

    Joined: Apr 2012
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
    You guys are really making me want to try Dragon's Dogma.
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 8:26 pm
    As soon as I see Dragon's Dogma on sale I'm buying.
  • Snacko
    Snacko

    Joined: Jul 2011
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
    Just finished God of War III and was really pleasantly surprised. I liked it a lot more than the first two.

    Right now I'm making a conscious attempt to play through every game in the Ys series now that Origin has finally made its way over to the US (except for Ys V, which no one seems to care enough about to put into English, including fans). I'm a little less than 3/4 of the way through Book I & II (I finished both Complete and Chronicles, but I'm liking this one more), almost done with Wanderers from Ys (TCD version) and I'm fairly early on in my Dawn of Ys import. I've imported Origin, but I only played it through at one character and am considering getting the Steam version to support XSEED. Then I'm starting over on VI and plowing through SEVEN, with maybe a replay of Oath somewhere in there.
  • danielrbischoff
    danielrbischoff

    Joined: Nov 2009
    Posted: Jun 24th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
    Wow, all of Ys? That's quite the undertaking. Let us know how it goes in WAYP :)
  • MasterRabbi
    MasterRabbi

    Joined: May 2007
    Posted: Jun 25th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
    I'm really excited to revisit Ys, go XSEED!
  • Chunibrow
    Chunibrow

    Joined: Mar 2010
    Posted: Jun 25th, 2012 at 12:54 am
    Finally... Diablo 3!
  • macewindrew999
    macewindrew999

    Joined: Nov 2011
    Posted: Jun 25th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
    DC Universe Online. Downloaded it about a month ago and cant stop playing it. After the disappointing SWTOR I had to find something
  • phantomasko
    phantomasko

    Joined: Oct 2010
    Posted: Jun 26th, 2012 at 9:29 am
    my PS3 is kinda broken for awhile so Metal Gear Ac!d and some PSX classics (THPS3, Duke Nukem, Tomb Raider)

Post a Comment
LOGIN or REGISTER to post a comment or rate this article.
More On GameRevolution