Pondering October Purchases

[Gabriel]

Overspending during the summer combined with sky high electric bills have taken their toll on my credit cards. Now I have to spend a couple of months playing catch up. Because of this I've been forced to reduce my videogame budget from "whatever I want" to about $100 a month. This is really a good thing because it makes me focus much more tightly on the games I highly enjoy, and I'm not going to get into this season's hardware launch frenzy.

 

At the moment, I'm trying to figure out my purchases for October. Super Robot Taisen Original Generation 2 is a lock. Mortal Kombat Armageddon is fairly locked in, as I'm a MK fanatic. The last spot for October is fluctuating a bit.

 

The first candidate is Spectral Souls for the PSP. I love Tactical RPGs, and this one seems promising. Plus, I'm a little worried it will disappear like Generation of Chaos, so I feel a little bit of urgency to get it while it's new.

 

The next candidate is Mage Knight: Destiny's Soldier for the Nintendo DS. It seems like it would be like a Tactical RPG, and I used to enjoy the miniatures game a great deal. However, it doesn't seem like there's much of any information regarding this game online.

 

I'd really like to get Ace Combat X and Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded (both for PSP), but I figure those will be distributed in large enough numbers that I can find them later. After doing some checking and thinking, I can definitely do without the Capcom Reloaded disc for a while, as long as I snag the PS2 Capcom Classics Vol 2 next month.

 

I'm also interested in Star Trek Encounters (PS2) and Star Trek Tactical Assault (PSP). What I'm worried about is the dreaded licensed property curse on games. Star Trek games suffer even more badly that most franchises from the curse. Star Trek Encounters is launching as a budget title, which is never a particularly good sign for a non-classic collection. So, I'll probably just wait for Star Trek: Legacy on the X360 instead of picking up Encounters. Star Trek Tactical Assault has some pretty screenshots and really does look like portable StarFleet Command. And it has one of my favorite fan created starship designs in the game.

 

So, does anyone have any firm opinions about Spectral Souls and/or Mage Knight DS since they're already out? Anyone other than me have high hopes for Star Trek Tactical Assault?

[CPUWIZ]

I am not into RPG's much, but if you haven't picked it up yet, get Ultimate Ghost'N Goblins for the PSP.

[Tan]

I'm such a fan of the show i played and beaten Shattered Universe , so to me Encounters will be a heaven send and keep me occupied until Double Agent and Legacy

[jbanes]

I'm also interested in Star Trek Encounters (PS2) and Star Trek Tactical Assault (PSP). What I'm worried about is the dreaded licensed property curse on games. Star Trek games suffer even more badly that most franchises from the curse. Star Trek Encounters is launching as a budget title, which is never a particularly good sign for a non-classic collection. So, I'll probably just wait for Star Trek: Legacy on the X360 instead of picking up Encounters. Star Trek Tactical Assault has some pretty screenshots and really does look like portable StarFleet Command. And it has one of my favorite fan created starship designs in the game.

Activision broke that curse a long time ago. Some of the best games have been Star Trek licenses. e.g.:

• Elite Force
  
• Elite Force II
  
• Bridge Commander
  
• Armada
  
• Armada II
  
• Starfleet Command
  

Prior to those, the only good Star Trek games were the graphical adventures like 25th Anniversay, Judgement Rights, and A Final Unity (Best. Game. Evar. ).

 

Sadly, I'm not familiar with the new ones you're talking about, so I can't comment on them directly. Hopefully, Bethesda's decision to flood the market with half-a-dozen titles at once isn't a bad sign. However, the curse on the games in general is long gone. It was lifted just in time for Beavis and Butthead to drive the franchise into the ground. :irony:

[Jess Ragan]

What, no love for God Hand? I'm starting to think that I'm the only one here who's preordered it.

 

JR

[Gabriel]

I'm such a fan of the show i played and beaten Shattered Universe , so to me Encounters will be a heaven send and keep me occupied until Double Agent and Legacy

 

I like Shattered Universe too. It's not a great game, but it's fun. When M5 popped up it gave me goosebumps

 

When Encounters comes out you'll have to let me know how it is.

[sega saturn x]

Summon night 2?

[Gabriel]

I'm such a fan of the show i played and beaten Shattered Universe , so to me Encounters will be a heaven send and keep me occupied until Double Agent and Legacy

 

So, have you picked up Encounters yet?

[Tan]

I'm enjoying Encounters very much, it's like Starfleet command without the micromanagment and more of a challenge. There's a bit of learning curve to the control scheme but once you get used to it it works smoothly. The graphics are surprisingly well done and it's got great sound effects and mission previews done by Willian Shatner. If i had to rate it i'd give it something between a 7.5-8.0/10. Considering it's price it's more than i expected for my money's worth, and i think Legacy's imminent release is the only reason it's not a full price game, somewhere around 8-10 hours or more of gameplay with an off-line multiplayer for $15 isn't bad at all. If your still unsure there are 2-3 gameplay vids on Youtube you can check out as well.

[Gabriel]

I'm enjoying Encounters very much, it's like Starfleet command without the micromanagment and more of a challenge. There's a bit of learning curve to the control scheme but once you get used to it it works smoothly. The graphics are surprisingly well done and it's got great sound effects and mission previews done by Willian Shatner. If i had to rate it i'd give it something between a 7.5-8.0/10. Considering it's price it's more than i expected for my money's worth, and i think Legacy's imminent release is the only reason it's not a full price game, somewhere around 8-10 hours or more of gameplay with an off-line multiplayer for $15 isn't bad at all. If your still unsure there are 2-3 gameplay vids on Youtube you can check out as well.

 

Ah, what the hell. I decided to buy it. It was only $15.

 

I sat entranced with it all this evening. It was definitely worth the $15.

 

My only complaint so far with the game is the silly multi-level stuff. It really serves no purpose other than adding a superfluous use to the shoulder buttons on the left.

 

I cheered when I saw the old FASA Romulan Winged Defenders pop up.