November 2016 Pickups.

[monjici]

How much did you pay for those NGC component cables?

$205. It is still a lot, but not a complete screw job like most of them (I see them sell for $250 all of the time). But like I said previously, the picture quality is insane. It truly does feel like a different level of console. It gives me a lot more respect for the quality of the GameCube.

I bought one a few years ago, maybe half that price, still, I felt like it was more of a luxury for collectors than a technical need since you could just play the GC games on a Wii with a 20$ component cable. BUT, then I found an excuse: with the GB Player it allows you to play GB games in HD   ... which you can't with the Wii.

[Arseen]

Got 4 out 6 Lego Dimension Wave 7 sets, 2 others are on the way.

[Taketheword]

How much did you pay for those NGC component cables?

$205. It is still a lot, but not a complete screw job like most of them (I see them sell for $250 all of the time). But like I said previously, the picture quality is insane. It truly does feel like a different level of console. It gives me a lot more respect for the quality of the GameCube.

I bought one a few years ago, maybe half that price, still, I felt like it was more of a luxury for collectors than a technical need since you could just play the GC games on a Wii with a 20$ component cable. BUT, then I found an excuse: with the GB Player it allows you to play GB games in HD   ... which you can't with the Wii.

Yeah. Just in the time I've been looking for one, I saw the price raise from $200 average to $250 average. They just keep going up up up.

[Taketheword]

How much did you pay for those NGC component cables?

$205. It is still a lot, but not a complete screw job like most of them (I see them sell for $250 all of the time). But like I said previously, the picture quality is insane. It truly does feel like a different level of console. It gives me a lot more respect for the quality of the GameCube.

One of my top 10 favorite games, easily.

Same for me, even though I'm one of the few who feels that Ico is better. 

I liked it slightly better also.  The only thing is the controls.  Both games have utterly terrible controls.

I wouldn't say the controls are terrible.  They are just not very intuitive.  But once you become used to them, they work quite well. 

TDI, as you suggested, I started playing it last night, and it truly does feel like an epic game so far. I don't know if I would put it at the top of my Playstation 2 favorites list, but I have a feeling once I am through with the game, it will at least be in the top 5 or so.

But as others have said, my biggest complaint is the controls. They are very dated, and if I am being quite honest...sort of shit. Now obviously once I've played the game for enough hours, I'll be used to it, but nonetheless an epic game.

Obviously everyone is entitle to their own opinions, but I honestly think that most people claim that the controls suck simply because they are different than most third person 3D games.  As I said, they are not the most intuitive for someone who hasn't played the game before, but that doesn't mean that they are broken or bad.  The controls are designed around scaling the colossus and they work very well in that regard.  If anything, I would expect people to complain about the camera more than the controls. 

It shouldn't take more than the first who colossi to get used to the controls.  If it takes longer than that, I would recommend getting some practice on the first two because the game starts to get real with the third colossus.

I would like to revise my previous statement! I completed Shadow of the Colossus, and I would like to say that the controls are not even bad at all. In fact, for the type of game, they work fantastically. One thing that really did help me was to invert the Y axis. After that, the controls started to come naturally to me. I had previously said that the camera did not bug me, but the camera is in fact the only 'control-related' aspect which I believe could have been improved, but again, like I said, if you're used to the N64, SotC's camera is no big deal.

Believe it or not, my only real complaint about the game (although it does not really take away from it at all) is how damn stubborn the horse is. You have to kick the **** out of that horse to get him to keep a pace (in reality, a horse as loyal as Agro would barely need a tap). But there are a hundred things about this game (and even about the horse) that make this complaint negligible.

In conclusion, I can say that this game is now easily one of my top 5 Playstation 2 games. It is also easily in my top 10 favorite games of all time. I have never understood or agreed when people have said that a game is art comparable to other forms of art (such as painting or music) -- and of course this is an opinion. I still agree with that, but this game is my exception. To me, SotC is better defined as a piece of art than as a game. It felt as though I was playing a masterpiece. Shadow of the Colossus is like a short story which must be played to be unraveled.

It is truly a fantastic game. I apologize for ragging on its controls. They are unique controls for a unique game -- and ultimately wonderful. Needless to say, while playing this, some of the Colossi made me feel sad and guilty to defeat them (the first flying one  ); others made me feel accomplishment (more specifically the tortoise and the smaller ones which ram you non-stop).

If anyone here hasn't played SotC, you are missing out. I have played many, many games, and very few leave a noticeable impact. The way this game blurs the lines of right and wrong, good and bad, and personal gain, truly does leave an impression. Not only that, but in the age of online multiplayer and near photo-realistic games, it is hard to find classics which truly give you just as good of an experience.

[Bear78]

My pickups from the weekend.  Maybe I'll finally find out how to win at Nintendo!

[wiggy]

Yup, that pretty sums up my feelings about SotC as well

On a related note, every time you play through you retain the health and stamina/strength that you gained from the previous run(s) through (beating collosi grants more of both, while eating fruit grants more life, and white lizard tails grant additional stamina/strength). By the 4th or 5th time through, you can beat most collosi with a few strikes. Some just one or two

[Taketheword]

Yup, that pretty sums up my feelings about SotC as well

On a related note, every time you play through you retain the health and stamina/strength that you gained from the previous run(s) through (beating collosi grants more of both, while eating fruit grants more life, and white lizard tails grant additional stamina/strength). By the 4th or 5th time through, you can beat most collosi with a few strikes. Some just one or two

I did notice the lizards and the alters and such, but I never really investigated them. So for my first playthrough, I believe I was playing with the baseline strength/health/stamina the entire time. I plan to replay this game once I get it on PS3, so I'll look out for all of those things next playthrough.

[TDIRunner]

I would like to revise my previous statement! I completed Shadow of the Colossus, and I would like to say that the controls are not even bad at all. In fact, for the type of game, they work fantastically. One thing that really did help me was to invert the Y axis. After that, the controls started to come naturally to me. I had previously said that the camera did not bug me, but the camera is in fact the only 'control-related' aspect which I believe could have been improved, but again, like I said, if you're used to the N64, SotC's camera is no big deal.

I completely forgot about inverting the Y axis (you only have to do it once and never again).  Otherwise, I would have suggested that first thing when you mentioned problems with the controls.  I had to do the same thing with Ico (might have been unplayable without the option). 

I'm glad you found enjoyment in the game.  Of course, anyone's opinions of the game and controls are their own.  I'm just glad you were willing to give the game a chance before saying the controls made it unplayable. 

I also understand the occasional frustration with the horse.  I felt that most of the frustration comes from the fact that the horse is almost too realistic for a video game.  Removing some of the realism might have made controlling him easier.  And I don't want to spoil too much for those who haven't played the game yet, but yes you are supposed to start feeling a little sad for some of the Colossi as you go, even to the point of stating to question whether or not you should keep doing this.

I would recommend giving the time trial a try (unlocked after beating the game).  Every 2 colossi you beat gives you an item that makes the regular game a little more fun.  Examples include, new weapons, and outfits that can give you extra health or strength.  You can also get maps showing you the fruit and lizards on the maps.  There is so much hidden stuff in the game that it's crazy.  If you get stuck on time trial mode, remember that you don't have to complete them in order.  You can skip a time trial if you want (Colossi 3 is a difficult time trial).

Also, you've now unlocked hard mode.  It's definitely a challenge, but it's also a lot of fun.  Some colossi have extra weak points to attack. 

[larryinc64]

I got this game for $1 at Walmart on Clearance. It's actually not THAT bad, worth the $1.

[Taketheword]

I completely forgot about inverting the Y axis (you only have to do it once and never again).  Otherwise, I would have suggested that first thing when you mentioned problems with the controls.  I had to do the same thing with Ico (might have been unplayable without the option).  

I'm glad you found enjoyment in the game.  Of course, anyone's opinions of the game and controls are their own.  I'm just glad you were willing to give the game a chance before saying the controls made it unplayable.  

I also understand the occasional frustration with the horse.  I felt that most of the frustration comes from the fact that the horse is almost too realistic for a video game.  Removing some of the realism might have made controlling him easier.  And I don't want to spoil too much for those who haven't played the game yet, but yes you are supposed to start feeling a little sad for some of the Colossi as you go, even to the point of stating to question whether or not you should keep doing this.

I would recommend giving the time trial a try (unlocked after beating the game).  Every 2 colossi you beat gives you an item that makes the regular game a little more fun.  Examples include, new weapons, and outfits that can give you extra health or strength.  You can also get maps showing you the fruit and lizards on the maps.  There is so much hidden stuff in the game that it's crazy.  If you get stuck on time trial mode, remember that you don't have to complete them in order.  You can skip a time trial if you want (Colossi 3 is a difficult time trial).

Also, you've now unlocked hard mode.  It's definitely a challenge, but it's also a lot of fun.  Some colossi have extra weak points to attack.  

Awesome. Thanks! I'll look into that stuff.


I got a couple of eBay scores.

I got both Zelda DS games as one lot, and I got all of the Nintendo Game Boy games as one lot (21 total). Titles include LoZ Link's Awakening, Super Mario Land 1/2/3, Donkey Kong, Mortal Kombat, etc. They are all in pristine condition. That lot also came with 13 manuals which is an added bonus. I feel like this is a really good entrance into original Game Boy.

[TDIRunner]

All this talk about Shadow of the Colossus and I end up finding a demo disc for it.  I also found a online beta disc for Gran Turismo 4.  Don't really need either of these, but they were cheap and I'm a huge fan of both games, so they are a nice add to the collection.

[alexenochs]

thanks to -taketheworld- i have frogger, action bass, and ncaa game breaker 98 for ps1 and medal of honor rising sun, barnyard,pirates of the caribbean at world end for ps2 all for the price of a simpsons road rage insert THANKS!
i also got 4 games today cubic ninja seems to be the most valuable find i paid 4 for it 50 cents for nascar 99 and 1 dollar each for the tony hawk games

[sheep2001]

Awesome find on cubic ninja.  That goes for loads as you can use it for a region free hack.

[alexenochs]

Heck yeah! My 3ds has custom firmware 80-90% of it is games I own though I like to preserve my games as much as possible

[JakeHC]

December is going to be an absolutely HUGE month. EB Games had a huge sale with games reduced by stupid amounts. $2000 later....