Forums > Contributor Zone > RotW: Sept. 5-11 (right on time, just like I said I'd work to do!)

At one point, there were plans to actually have this done on time. But I was hung over on Sunday, so that was a wasted day (lay on couch, watch football, occasionally change channel). And the last two days were kind of hectic. So you get the OD-Special once again, which is a Wednesday RotW! So, YAYYYYYY for me!!!!!

Usual rules in effect, assuming I still remember them.

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THIRD PLACE: Final Fantasy XI (PC) by espiga

Well done nostalgic review. You both give a decent description of the game for those (like me) who aren't familiar with this one AND tie things up with a neat little eReunion story. All in all, it's a fun review to read and I really liked how you made it relevant for today by mentioning that you went back to it because an update raised the level cap. Just one nice little touch in a review full of them.

SECOND PLACE: Dead Space (360) by fleinn

You did some really good things in this review. I loved the "while we sit still and wait" interlude riffing on the slow start of the game and tutorial. You also explain the atmosphere and encounters and how they carry the game and mention how the story is lacking and things could have been better if there was a certain cohesion, instead of you going from one encounter to the next. Concluding with a description of one such tense situation is the sort of thing that makes me want to play this game, as you made that scene seem tense.

OVERDRIVE PLACE: Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days (PS3) by hmd

From my time scouring teh Intrawebz and stuff, I've gotten the idea that the average person looks at this game as mediocre, which led me to be surprised to see a 100% positive look at it. And you give a good defense for your thoughts, demonstrating why you got into both the gameplay and the plot. It's really an interesting look at the game, as you barely mentioned the actual playing other than to describe the cover-based shooter style, while focusing on the experience of following the characters (with some nice observations, like the overall lack of music...even for dramatic purposes). That's the sort of thing I can relate to, as I've played games where all I really can say about the gameplay is that it was a solid representation of its genre, but I have a TON to say about the storytelling, characters, etc. You focused on what was important to you and made it work.

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Now, it's time to write other things. Write, write, write!

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I'm not afraid to die because I am invincible
Viva la muerte, that's my goddamn principle

Sweet. I'm glad you got to this relatively on time. I really appreciate that and hope you continue to do so in the future.

As for the results themselves, I was really, really pulling for espiga this week because I personally thought his blew everyone else's out of the water, but oh well. Congrats to him and the others for their placements.

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What espiga does in his free time
[Eating EmP's brain] probably isn't a good idea. I mean... He's British, which means his brain's wired for PAL and your eyes are NTSC. - Will

That review of Final Fantasy XI by espiga was truly a winner. Excellent choice.

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Age is a condition not a state of mind.

I concur. OD has excellent taste because he agrees with me.

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Note to gamers: when someone shoots you in the face, they aren't "gay." They are "psychopathic."

*nods* that review explains why people I know who have played FF11 shuffle around and mutter to themselves when I ask what it was like. Not easy to write a review like that. :)

And thanks for the feedback. Really happy the review came through the way I wanted. ..even if it sounds a bit too much when I read it now..

(Oh, and I'd like to mention Pickhut's Muramasa review for this sentence: "Now, I know it took a lot of time and effort to create the detailed art and animation for the game, and that easily explains why everything was repeated so much.")

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