The weekend is here! The hours are so precious now that this semester is already 20% over. We’re three weeks in and that means the first tests are already stacked up. The way tests are handled here is through a testing center, which means that we have two or three days where we can go in at any time and take the test. Unfortunately, that means we do it on our own time. When you’re like me and have two tests and a quiz in one week (next week) then you suddenly have even less free time when the bulk of it goes to studying and the rest to going back to campus to stand in lines.   Back to the weekend, it’s all about get in and get out for gaming.
Halo Reach
I have never been a big Halo fan and I’m still probably not what you would classify as someone dedicated to the franchise, but Halo Reach has come at a very opportune moment. It’s very easy to jump into a coop mission and play with Graev over the internet. We’re currently on mission 7 or 8 and having a great time playing coop through the campaign on heroic.  We’ve also been playing online multiplayer modes (Big team battle and Invasion) against others and playing Firefight. The past couple of days my cousin has come over and we’ve played together on my little 22 inch tv with Graev. It’s been great fun.
Hopefully we’ll beat the campaign this weekend. It’s starting to get good. I say starting because at first it was a bit slow and rather generic but that didn’t last.
Dragon Age Origins
Since my KotOR save file is in California, I had to start another Bioware RPG. I went with DAO (PC) this time and I’ve really been enjoying it. I’ve logged 20 hours so far as a Mage playing through as generally aligned with good but occasionally dipping into the gray areas when I think it will make the game more interesting. The best part is, by far, the dialogue. The combat is fun but it’s nothing special. It feels just like Neverwinter Nights combat which I do like, but I’m not blown away by it. Dialogue being the best part hasn’t diminished my enjoyment any either. I think it’s easily one of the better RPG’s I’ve played. I should be able to log a couple more hours in this weekend.
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Games with save features or ones that I can put down any time are where it’s at for me. Other than that, I’ve been playing a particular Alpha that I can’t write a single thing about. Those are my weekend gaming plans in a nutshell.
I’ve been passing my time playing Everquest 2 Extended. I hit level 10 with my beserker, and i don’t think my health bar has ever gone below 75% in any battle. Can anyone tell me what level I will need to be before anything has a chance to kill me? I know i could pull a bunch at at time but quests seem to be the fastest way to level and i want to advance quickly. Very little challenge so far.
My experience with EQ2 has been that as long as you do not pull a mob which is clearly conning way above your level or “elite” (forget the EQ2 term) then you will never be at risk of death. It’s been dumbed down a lot over the years.
That said, things get harder than they are at level 10 when you reach the 30’s, then again in the 50’s. It makes jumps and for certain classes it may be different based upon when you get your key abilities.
ive been playing Vindictus like crazy, so much fun.
I haven’t been playing much of anything, really just waiting for Civilization 5 to come out tuesday.
I’ve been trying to get into DA:O but I just can’t seem to, don’t know why.
I’d be really interested in a DA:O review from you. I also liked the first 20 hours as mage very much and agree with your short analysis.
Some time ago I wrote a quite long review myself and since then wonder if other people share my criticism without ‘hating’ DA:O.
So, Pirates of the Burning Sea is going “F2P” aswell.
FPS games like reach aren’t for me, I suck so bad I sometimes make myself motionsick 😛
But I would love to try and play the Reach campaign once on easy or with godmode, for the story.
Halo Reach is turning out to be a very good package indeed and of the Halo games I’ve tried, it’s easily the best.
Pre-ordered Civ 5 today. It’s preloaded and ready to go.
Seeing as you dropped two Bioware references, DA:O and KoToR, I’d wager a guess that you’re playing the Old Republic alpha.
Keen, Is Ultima Online no longer a viable option to play? Hear good things about the sandbox appeal of it. Is it just too old, population issues? Just wondering.
If you’re looking to rekindle what UO really was all about then I highly recommend you try out UO Origins (free shard and pre T2A)
It is most definitely an amazing sandbox. They changed it significantly over the years with attempts at modernization. I can’t attach my recommendation to the updates.
Speaking of wow clones:
Runes of Magic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6ar0lnIQCU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni2jhHp6VeA
Keen, is there a Dark Age of Camelot pre ToA server running anywhere ?
@Joy-Energiser.
I shall only say this, the rest is up to you and the internet.
Uthgard
Anyone playing Runes of Magic?
don’t get your hopes up on Runes of Magic though, it’s the epitome of F2P games. the gear you buy for money is exponentially better than the free gear, it makes pvp retarded.
Thanks, im just trying to find something to get me to Guild wars 2 and Rifts. Maybe ill reup at DAOC do you still need a buffbot to even have a chance in rvr?