catbarf on 21/2/2009 at 21:14

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I did! The 360 version was loads of fun. I actually preferred it to the PC version- it was really a very different game, and the plot and feral powers made it a lot more enjoyable for me.

And I think the map editor is better than that of TS2. Lots of control over the shape of the land, rather than pre-built tiles to cut and paste.

Shadowcat on 22/2/2009 at 01:35

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FWIW, I just finished Far Cry recently, and for the most part it was awesome.

gunsmoke on 23/2/2009 at 16:23

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Oh yeah. I owned it when it was brand new. I lost it (and most of my strategy guide collection :mad::mad::mad:) when I to moved in w/my girlfriend. I only have the demo of Instincts, but wow! The demo has the first 2 levels (Welcome and Beach). It is almost an hour of gamplay. Beach is fucking HUGE.

Anyway, the orig. Xbox version is probably the front runner in the contest for best consle graphics of the last-gen. Wow. Simply jaw-dropping. Gives Riddick a run for the money. They really did the PC game justice, and fixed a lot of the problems it had. Namely, they finally balanced the A.I. They were way to twitchy and sensitive to be much fun.

It really feels like an improvement, rather than a cheap cash-in. It is made by fans of the original, and for all the Deus Ex fans out there it is Eidos Montreal whom developed it :thumb: a definite good sign).

The added in feature of being able to go prone under buildings, and even roll onto your back to shoot up through the floorboards is awesome. They even included a flick-press combo to flip back up on your feet if it gets hectic. The traps are a nice addition. They kept the unlimited rocks, so you can lure the enemy to a certain area where they will spring a trap.

The feral powers add a really cool twist to the gameplay as well. They work similarly to the suit in Crysis, or various powers in games like Project-Snowblind, Psi-Ops, Deus Ex & IW. Completely changes the gameplay for the better. More options are always welcome, in my experience.

It has some of the HUGEST levels I have seen. Plus, no in-level loading!!! Just an initial 7 second load at the start of a level, and you are in for well over 30 minutes (sometimes over an hour) before you will see any sort of loading. The framerate never lags either. Even when the simulated HDR effects and bloom are active during a particle/effect intense firefight. Yeah, even on the old Xbox, they managed to have an effect CLOSELY resembling HDR. When you crouch into a pipe you can't see a thing for a oucple seconds while your eyes adjust. Same when you exit into the sunlight. You are blinded. Try looking right into the midday sun, sometime.

The maps are extremely realistic, as well. Keeping true to the PC original, there are both tropical levels (at varying times of day), and underground corridor and enemy base levels. Like I said, I have never seen the Xbox produce such exquisite graphics, and I am stunned at not only how they managed to produce them, but how the fuck did they keep the framerate so high and stable?

The exploration is great, the gunfire and firefights are satisfying, and the feral powers ice the cake. There is even an expansion pack. If you get the 360 version, it comes w/it, but for Xbox it is 1/2 the price of a normal game. Xbox Live! is awesome, very active, and the incredible map maker adds endless replay. Get it.

Fragony on 27/3/2009 at 11:47

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Isn't it availlable for the 360 as well? Terrific game indeed, much more sinister, got a bit hard in the endgame but not as cheap as the pc version. The hunted becomming the hunter was cool, but it kicked in a bit too early you never really felt that vulnerable, there should have been a few, or at least one, seemingly hopeless battles before getting your instincts. Can't complain though, had a blast.

june gloom on 27/3/2009 at 18:45

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Since the first answer isn't exactly clear, no FC2 is most certainly not better than Stalker SoC.