ok hi guys ill try to make this as short as possible, i just want to talk a bit bout NTW, its the first time ive ever played total war games and this is my first TW game, i got this game a couple of days ago, i want to like it and i think it would be a really good game when i really get the hang of it, i played all the tutorials and know everything in the game but there are some things that really PIS ME OFF, atm im playing campaign mode, i finished the iraly seige yesterday and it was a TOTAL FLUKE, no idea how i won that last battle anway, i am stuck on the egyptian seige i find it so anoying, this morning i played for 4 HOURS!! i got up to palestine and ran out of troops and got raided from all directions, im really starting to get sick of this game because i keep on trying and trying and i get nowhere, i love stradegy games im really good at them but not this one, ive neveer came across a stradegy game this hard before, its so anoying because some things you just cant stop like the riots i secure the town peacefully and take of taxes and put police and all tht and out of nowhere they start rioting, like WTF? how do you expect me to conquer all the garrisons ( or w/e theyre called, sorry im new to this game dont know the actual name of things ) if every single garrison tht im going to capture the citizens are going to riot!! ilike i said earlier i wasted 4 hours on this game in the morning i could have gone out with my parents or something, im really cross with all the time i spent on this game and got nowhere i ended up starting all over again for the 6th time? am i doing something wrong? why do i keep failing. i start out very good and end up raided and dead, i mean seriously what a waste of time and money, i always start good construct the maximum things build my army, but i dont know what it is but this game is too hard, i cant explain what im going through if anyone knows or feels what im talking about please leave me messages/comments. by the way whats with the multiplayer theres only like 4 rooms and theyre full, hardly anyone plays online this game was seriously a waste..i dont recommend it to no one. please leave tips, thank you SHOULD I LOOT OR PEACFULLY CONQUER GARRISONS? this is the only stradegy game that ive ever found too hard if you guys know tips and helpfull things for this game please tell me ( like how to stop the ****ing riots )raed34

Total War games are quite different from other strategy games, so they won't really help you play this....

The thing with Total War games is that they are very hard to learn-I grew up on these games and didn't learn how to properly play them until a few months ago (about 6 years it took me). And for the record, a sh*tload of people play these games, so no they are hardly 'ghost-towns'. Look up guides and seek help if you want to learn the game instead of complaining and saying it is sh*t because you don't know how to play it......no offense, sorry.

But how can you give awards to games that aren't even out yet? The verdict is still out on Halo: Reach, Gran Turismo 5, etc... you're basically basing your awards on a beta (Halo: Reach) and screenshots and trailers (GT5).

djsundowner

It is more a GOTY so far, your predictions-etc, kind of thread mate.

As new games roll around I am going to update my list, right up until the year is over.

I know, it's a bit early....but it's a speculation thread really.

For those wondering about the Ico/Shadow of the Colossus Collection, Sony Computer Entertainment's President (Kaz Hirai, I think his name is) said that the Collection is on top of their list for HD remakes. Along with all the rumours coming out at the moment, yeah it's looking very likely for release next year around the same time as The Last Guardian.....can't wait for those either :D

Only game I was 'disappointed' with and paid in full for myself was The Lord of the Rings: Conquest....

I had fun with it.....but really it's a piece of garbage.

Hmmm.....

As game series?

1. Mass Effect

2. Final Fantasy

3. God of War

As single games?

1. Shadow of the Colossus

2. Mass Effect 2

3. God of War III

I'm big on orchestras ;)

Good discussion guys, thanks for your thoughts!

I've been looking forward to the game since it started development shortly after Shadow of the Colossus was released. Hopefully it'll be in our hands within the next year. Unfortunately for me, I'm going to need a PS3 and HDTV the day this game is released, so here's hoping I won't have to declare bankruptcy.

foxhound_fox

:(

I agree with the posts about the game; definitely has been in development a long time.....more than likely will be released next year yeah. Wouldn't that then mean, depending on when it comes out next year, that it could have a longer development time than Gran Turismo 5? Not many people consider that hehe...

I would love to play the game, but I'm perfectly alright with waiting a long time; if the game takes five years to develop (like GT5) and we know it is going to be picture-perfect and massive because of the time taken, then I'm all for it. The one game I will *not* accept that for, though, is Mass Effect 3; that game better take three years at the most, or I'll be punching through Bioware's doors with a flamethrower! 8)

Graphics are amazing, yes, but that's the problem. Absolutely every element of the game was ignored except for the graphics. Good graphics are supposed to improve the game and not to BE the game. You can say they were good, but to me they ruined the game.

But, I was more or less referring to the runner-up spots it had anyways. My bad wording, sorry.

seanehawk

Yeah I agree, and I know what you are saying. I perfectly understand all the criticism levelled at FFXIII, but I dunno what it was, it just really clicked for me. No worries mate :)

First of all wow...one of the most thorough topics I have ever seen, love it. Good writing, proper grammar and spelling, easy to read, makes sense, lays things out nicely, and an interesting read(read it all) hah, nice job.

I however, have honestly not played enough games this year to even provide commentary in many of those categories. I will try to play some more and maybe later get back to you with a more thorough opinion. I will state now that I agree with you on ME2 being GOTY but,I fear that being released in January may end up haunting it. Other GOTY contenders in my eyes from what I've seen and played are RDR, SMG2, StarCraft 2 and in the yet to be released department Halo:Reach and LBP2.

I also have to agree with you on GOWIII being best in the visuals department, I can't really think of anything else that is going to touch it this year. Alan Wake, RDR, and Mass Effect 2 all have appealing visuals (honestly haven't really much of played Alan Wake, but from what I've seen...) and I suspect GT5 will be top notch visually as well, but none of these games will de-throne GOWIII as best looking game of 2010.

In the best RPG department...well I suppose Mass Effect 2 although many don't like to consider it an RPG...just because its not typical doesn't necessarily mean it isn't an RPG...anyway, for the purists who refuse to accept my answer the runner up will most likely be Fallout: New Vegas, which happens to be my most anticipated un-released title along with Halo:Reach.

RTS...well we waited 12 years for Starcraft II...I haven't even played it and I know its epic...although judging from Sid Meier's previous games, Civ V could really give it a run for its money.

Action Adventure...for me up to this point it has to be RDR. A long and enjoyable story, great looking scenery and visuals, a completely open world with so much to do and experience, a generally intriguing cast of characters...RDR is in a lot of ways close to the perfect game, if only that some of the non-main mission parts get a tad repetitive.

Well, thats all I can add for now maybe later I'll re-examine the categories think about it (play some more games of course) and supply my answers to them as well (possibly by editing this post so watch out for that too!).

TacticalDesire

Thanks mate, great post!

Yeah I wanted to add in a lot of other categories like Best Adventure Game, Best Puzzle Game, etc, but I didn't want to even further lengthen the post, and also I wasn't really sure on some categories either (like best fighting game).

Also, for the Best Gameplay Moment which I sadly forgot about, here's my opinion (WARNING: SPOILERS):

Best Gameplay Moment this Year (so far): My nominees are; Hermes Chase (God of War III), Poseidon Boss Fight/Introduction (God of War III),Defeating the Reaper (Mass Effect 2), Revealing the truth of the Collectors and the Protheans (Mass Effect 2),Defeating the Collectors (Mass Effect 2), Saving Thane's Son (Mass Effect 2),Battle with Barthandelus (Final Fantasy XIII), Battle with the Gunship (Final Fantasy XIII),Kerrigan saved by Raynor (Starcraft 2), Zeratul and Kerrigan Battle (Starcraft 2).

Those are my nominees so far....will change as the year goes on obviously.

Guys, heard off IGN (it's their main news-story for today) that The Last Guardian, Team ICO's next anticipated hit, will be appearing at the Tokyo Game Show next month.

In the words of Fumito Ueda's twitter;

"We should be able to show something at Tokyo Game Show, so look forward to it."

Basically, what else could it be? Remember, earlier in the year he revealed they were either going to show it at E3 first or the Tokyo Game Show first......can't wait! It's been a year since they've shown the game, and it's definitely my most anticipated game.....hopefully we'll get a release date too (please for this year!)

It's going to be another classic....cannot wait at all for it.....