[:plant:] The GFF Game Club [Now Playing: Max Payne] Now with less spoiler tags

Ahem, OP, you may change it to Philia proper. ^__^

Alrighty, ICO came about from a challenge from Qwarky in my journal's commentary regarding how terrible FFVIII was. (Yes, wvlf, I enjoy the Triple Triad, in fact the music from that game is STILL stuck in my head!) From checking out his backlog and see which FFs he had covered, I saw he was lacking a great title from his finished games belt, Chrono Cross!

Just to prompt Q to play that rpg, I was willing to play through his recommended game thoroughly and immediately if he was willing to consider Chrono Cross on his available playtime soon. Of course naturally, ICO is a small gem compared to a large rpg like Chrono Trigger's successor, he recommended me to play Metroid Prime as well. Two great gems is getting its playtime, thanks Qwarky!

That little story aside, I'm enjoying ICO to its gorgeous environment and its peaceful backdrop. Already I can feel that I'm seeing the grassroots of everything that came together for the next two installments be something quite great in their own unique way.

I was going to go into details about certain elements of this game but I think I'll reserve the bit until the deadline passes.

In other news about ICO, we still have our original copy factory sealed and amazingly enough, this gem can go for 100-300+ dollar range on Amazon! O.O' I mean really, we weren't even deliberately keeping this copy in that condition until years later we borrowed a copy from a friend of ours. Neglecting our ps2 collection helped to keep that seal as it is. But yeah, I wish you guys luck to find a good copy.

Also, ICO is a blue disc game. If you're having problems in loading the game, go here for useful info to offset the DREs. I had already gotten a few DREs with this in my ps2 fat, but on the slim, great so far. So, I figured I should note this for you guys while playing this game.

And yes, I had played Shadow of the Colossus a few years back and going back into this now which knowingly... a sequel to the prequel! (Like Lufia and Star Wars and etc etc) I figured this is going to be a real treat. In fact I'm glad I did (on SotC part).

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by Qwarky

I finished it last night~

I finished it the day OP made this thread. Granted I was working on it for a week prior though. Also lol at SD for trying to play it on a HDTV. It could only say "impossible"! xD

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I said it before and so did Shin. The combat felt like hitting a block of wood with a stick. Once you upgrade, the combat noticably becomes easier. I dunno, its more of a pacing issue I think. I noticed the first half of the game was constantly with these guys while the latter half, you don't see them as much or even get to use your new upgrades all that much either.

Q said you could speed things up by killing the things with using power stone statues. But those opportunities are still rare. I also saw that on occasion the monster who grabbed her and sunk back into the hole doesn't necessarily come back out. Not completely sure on this though.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

ICO: Alright guys, WHO GOT THE MACE?

Seriously, who actually got it without looking it up for it? I would had ran past that room without looking closely. Ditto for that unsuspecting TREE. o.o'

When he (SD) was playing this game, I gave him a hint that there's something in that room and something to do with that tree. He spotted it (the different colored wall) first and saw the pushing animation on Ico when he ran against it. Eventually pushed at the right spot and got in. This strange room has a powered platform (like you do for the openings of the light beams) and a open top box at the top of the small steps. He ran about in it wondering what the hell its there for. It was the most amusing 10 minutes I had saw him play. He got in the open box and tried to get Yorda to CLIMB in.

He finally gave up and went outside and then remembered I gave him that other hint. That UNSUSPECTING tree... >.> He whacked at it and this strange ball came down from it. I told him that it was a "coconut" (I'm quoting from the guide here lol) and it won't explode like those bombs you typically pick up. He suddenly had the idea for what it was for and ran back in there lugging the thing.

I had NO IDEA that you could pull Yorda along while carrying it. I also had no idea that you can literally JUMP about with the thing. xD

Throwing that "coconut" in there took him 7 tries. All laughable and hilarious just all the same when that mace came flying in from the window above them. xD

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I had beaten this game AGES ago and loved it then. Thought it was on the easy side til the final boss battle which took me forever to figure out. xD

SO. WHO GOT ALL OF THE ANIMALS (in photos)?

How about that WHALE in the ice that you can destroy?

I was speaking idiomatically.

Hee hee! You can ACTUALLY miss this. At the very end (he's one of the last animal photo you should take), he was encased in a huge chunk of ice that you would try to dodge when flying in space. But yeah, fire at the ice to break it apart (takes a lot of hits I think) and snap away. And its a missable, you won't be able to get it later.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Da HPV SLAYER

MAN I SUCK AT VIDEROGAME WHY DO YOU HAVE TO DO THIS TO ME SKILLS WHY WHY WHY?

ME TOO. But we can still enjoy a bit and laugh at our miserable failures. xD

FELIPE NO

Sorry about that, Tails. I meant to get with you on Ikaruga the other day.

I haven't gotten around to get to play this but I recall seeing a video of some dude using two fighters with both hands on the keyboard (not sure if its two keyboards) but watching him beat it with SSS rank was insanity. But massive props and pretty awesome to watch. Synchronicity and all that.

Anyway, can't wait to see what's the vote will be for this month. I'm willing to go for Machinarium or Yakuza 2 action.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Yeah that was it. I must be thinking of that keyboard with another shump or something.

But man that's pretty awesome.

And MAX PAYNE.

This game was awesome then, and still is today. We got into the two installments immediately when they first came out and we both played them back to back and enjoyed the hell out of them.

Jam it back in, in the dark.