Will all next gen games be FHD?
Yeah, it broke release date. But, holy crap it looks bad. I thought all those screenshots I was seeing were early testing pictures, didn't realise it was the actual release version. Also, they've basically told everyone that the game is not finished but they'll release DLC later giving better graphics and fixing a lot of the problems, the thing is this isn't free DLC (as it should be), this will be a full priced piece of DLC. They've screwed over their audience pretty bad there.
Will be giving this game a miss.
this was developed by wicked witch, makers of the horrible wii afl live, although the publisher tried to hide this information, and yes, its terrible, wasted $65
Diablo 3 on PS3: 4 Hours In. Solo, offline.
Last night, I played until I took down the Skeleton King. Graphics are OK. Actually, on PS3 it looks better and has a better framerate than when I played it on my Mac, but I'm a fringe case. The 360 version copes better with frame drops, apparently, but we are talking about a game that drops from 60 FPS down to 30 FPS worst case scenario on PS3. I've not seen anything noticeable playing solo in Act 1. Supposedly there's some screen tearing but I haven't noticed any yet.
I started a Witch Doctor and was pelting jars full of carnivorous spiders at enemies fairly quickly. I haven't played a ranged class in Diablo since the original, so I can't give an authoritative opinion on whether the console version of D3 is better or worse for ranged. I will say that mobility seems a tad better with a controller, especially now that you are given a 360 degree roll with the right stick. Aiming takes a while to get used to even though there is a lock on button. There's a certain amount of auto-aiming that does an alright but not perfect job for ranged characters.
I can imagine melee characters feeling fantastic on this port. Diablo 3, for all of its faults on PC, was the best feeling Action RPG I've played. The Monk class felt godly as you heard, winced and felt every punch rip through enemies like a meat grinder. If you played Diablo 3 on PC but didn't like the way the classes or combat felt, I'm not sure if there are enough changes in the console version to sway you.
The biggest change you will notice, at first, is to the loot drops. Supposedly an example of how Loot 2.0 will work on PC later this year, the console port tries to keep loot relevant to your character. Actually, I don't think anything dropped that I couldn't use on my class until the Skeleton King dropped some Wizard stuff. You'll notice there's heaps more drops of gold pieces, too. I found Blizzard made loot drops way too sparse in this first part of the game, but it ramps up as you make your way through the Cathedral level before meeting the Skeleton King. I'll check back later to tell you all how the loot drops go during the later Acts.
I kind of like the inventory. Every time you pick up an item, the game gives you a simple picture above your health bar showing whether your DPS, Armour or Health will rise or lower with its stats. This speeds up the game quite a lot, as you don't have to look inside your inventory to check if each pick up will increase those three stats. It doesn't breakdown magical properties, though. Apparently you can quick equip with a d-pad button press as you pickup loot, but I didn't see that last night. There's no inventory tetris, either. I don't know if loot takes up one slot per item, or if bigger items take up more slots. Either way, you have 60 slots.
Comparing items in the inventory is a little slower than in the PC version, but I got used to it pretty quickly. All of the menus are now radial, which is fine, but some may not like them. Despite how unwieldy the inventory looks at first, I believe Blizzard have done a great job with making the UI as responsive and efficient as possible for a controller. (Although... don't sit too far away from your TV, some of the text is a bit small. Not majorly, though.)
In fact, the port seems to be designed to give the most efficient playthrough possible of D3. Being able to label items as junk in your inventory allows one-button selling at a merchant, too.
Apparently all of the gameplay improvements up to the 1.08 patch have been included, according to Blizzard's FAQ. This means you can increase monster strength right off the bat. I'm not sure it's wise to do so on a ranged character, though, until you pick up a follower.
It's important to note that there isn't anything actually new, I suppose, in this port. It's better to mention what the port doesn't have: no battle.net login, no online requirement, no auction house. For me, these are actually improvements, as the domino effect that these omissions have makes the game more fun for me. Eg. Blizzard is required to give you better loot more often, because there's no other reasonable method to get it. And by better loot, I just mean what's been expected from Diablo clones in the past. What made Diablo 1 and 2 work. Now, Diablo 3 is judged by whether or not the combat is fun. Hey, the blacksmith is even worth spending time and coin on now, too.
As far as I can see, all of the achievements from the PC version are included as "challenges". IT IS STILL ODDLY QUITE SHAMEFULLY SATISFYING TO HAVE THE GAME GO "DING" AT YOU REGULARLY.
I haven't played any co-op yet. I have no idea how smooth online is on the PS3. I'll try on the weekend.
TL;DR
Offline: I already much prefer playing this on a couch than hunched over my keyboard and mouse. Oh, and Witch Doctors are bonkers. I'll be interested to see how smooth the online is.
As an aside, my first hour was quite similar to Brad's reactions in Giant Bomb's quick look. First impressions aren't great, but you will probably be hooked by the end of the first hour. (Finding the lock-on button is pretty important.) They complain about having to share loot between local couch co-op players, but to me it looks like the game multiplies the drops to match the number of local players. Online has the same drop system as PC.
http://youtu.be/-Bro7RRbZKQ
Afl live 2 is broken. So much lag and freezes. I reckon they rushed this game, should have waited another year.
At least you didn’t spend any money on it huh.
Afl live 2 is broken. So much lag and freezes. I reckon they rushed this game, but I maybe should have waited for retail code and not got a pirate version.
The pirate and legal version is exactly the same. Also bought the first game since I enjoyed it after I tried it out by downloading it first.
Once the patch arrives for this game, hopefully they fix the issues.
People like you 12 months from now: "Why don't they make another AFL game?"
afl live 2 is out and you can download it (if you have a modded console).
Not really. Wasn't like that in 2004 tbh.
Way to miss the point.People like you 12 months from now: "Why don't they make another AFL game?"afl live 2 is out and you can download it (if you have a modded console).
Not really. Wasn't like that in 2004 tbh.
Nah I get it. People like me are the reason why games don’t sell that well, so they cant make sequels etc. I’m just saying that in 2004, when they made the afl game I didn’t say on the following year where’s the other afl game.
I get a laugh watching people be continually disappointed by an AFL game.
I mean really, after all these years, people still actually play those games?
Nah I get it. People like me are the reason why games don't sell that well, so they cant make sequels etc. I'm just saying that in 2004, when they made the afl game I didn't say on the following year where's the other afl game.
Well good for you. Now stop being a pirate jerk
Is Saints Row out yet? not only does it get delayed, but it gets delayed an extra week again on PS3. Not sure I'll even play it that much anymore seeing as GTA V is out 2 days before it.
FARK GTA IS SO CLOSE. KIND OF. HOW GOOD WILL THIS FKG GAME BE.
I've seen heard a few "I can't believe those are console graphics" comments by a few people. I don't doubt that the graphics will look insane for a second. Take Red Dead Redemption which came out 3 years ago and look at the awesome scenery there. GTA V will knock your socks off.
BUT, as a PS3 user, performance worries me a bit. Don't let me down Rockstar.
The pirate and legal version is exactly the same. Also bought the first game since I enjoyed it after I tried it out by downloading it first.
Once the patch arrives for this game, hopefully they fix the issues.
I bought it... and mine works perfectly fine.... no lagging and no freezing.
I've seen heard a few "I can't believe those are console graphics" comments by a few people. I don't doubt that the graphics will look insane for a second. Take Red Dead Redemption which came out 3 years ago and look at the awesome scenery there. GTA V will knock your socks off.
BUT, as a PS3 user, performance worries me a bit. Don't let me down Rockstar.
Shouldn't PS3 perform better than 360?
The pirate and legal version is exactly the same. Also bought the first game since I enjoyed it after I tried it out by downloading it first.
Once the patch arrives for this game, hopefully they fix the issues.I bought it... and mine works perfectly fine.... no lagging and no freezing.
Not to mention my bloke is the midfielder the bombers need. Smashing everyone in clearances.
I'm at level 23 on my Witch Doctor in Diablo 3 PS3.
A typical encounter has my Witch Doctor:
1. Casting zombie hands from the ground underneath a group of enemies
2. Protection from said group of enemies with the Witch Doctor's two zombie dogs and giant undead ogre
3. Sucking the life force of his enemies (up to 5) which increases his INT by up to 3x
4. Sending FIRE BURSTING FROGS at said group in many multiples of 3.
If the encounter is taking longer than 6 seconds:
5. Unleash FLYING FIRE VAMPIRE BATS to finish the group off.
I've seen heard a few "I can't believe those are console graphics" comments by a few people. I don't doubt that the graphics will look insane for a second. Take Red Dead Redemption which came out 3 years ago and look at the awesome scenery there. GTA V will knock your socks off.
BUT, as a PS3 user, performance worries me a bit. Don't let me down Rockstar.
Shouldn't PS3 perform better than 360?
Neg.
Split memory and whatnot. If it was developed specifically for PS3 then I wouldn't be worried. But being ported from PC/360 which have a shared memory pool always concerns me. Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Borderlands, all open world, all ported, all with performance issues.