A convert of casual gaming- please help!

[m-bot]

Hi there!

This is my first thread and post! I've been mustering up courage to post here for the past little while. But why should I worry since you all seem like nice people (right?)

So as the title would suggest, it is my New Years resolution to emerge from the world of casual gaming into the intense and extreme world of real gaming. At the moment I only own a Wii (the horror!) so I figure my first step in conversion would be to get a new console. This is question number one, which console should I invest my hard earned money in?

To get a better idea of the games I would like, and thus which console would be best suited for me, let me start off by saying I don't really like FPS! They initiate a fight-or-flight response in me that is not too enjoyable. But there must be more games out there, right? I like what I've seen of Assassin's Creed, and Demon's Soul in terms of new games. Generally I love a good platform/adventure game and could get lost in an RPG forever.

So hopefully this gives you enough information to go on. I'm M by the way *shakes hands*

 

[Cherry Cola]

No, you don't need to get a new console.

I'd say that if your PC is any good, just play games on that.

It's actually great that you've chosen to become "hardcore" right now, because No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle comes out this month. Must buy for all Wii-owners.

 

[m-bot]

I'd say that if your PC is any good, just play games on that.

I only have a lowly MacBook for my lowly essays/school work

 

[delet]

If you want platforming games somewhere in the vein of AC, then I'm thinking you'd want the PS3. The 360 is much more for online play, and a lot of those online games are FPS's. The PS3 has some great games: Ratchet and Clank, God of War, The Last Guardian (Whenever that comes out), and many RPGs for it too (Only one I know of is Disgaea 3 though.) I suggest giving a light FPS a try, though. I used to absolutely detest the games till I got bored and tried First Person mode in Star Wars Battlefront 2 on my PSP. Turns out, I quite like FPS's.

And finally, welcome to the Escapist. Someone's bound to have a nice speech to give you. Read the guidelines, stay courteous and respectful to your fellow member and we can all go through our days posting here in a happy, fun, sunshiny bliss (Or something like that...)

 

[Neonbob]

First off, welcome to the Escapist. I hope behave well and enjoy your stay here.

As for your gaming question, I have to echo Hub's sentiment about your PC.
If it's decent, use it. There are tons of great games on it, and they're usually cheaper than their console counterparts. Nevermind then.

Whatever console you get, your professed love of RPGs makes me think you need Oblivion.
But I guess if you like how AC and Demon's Souls look, then a PS3 is a good bet for you...

 

[Cherry Cola]

I'd say that if your PC is any good, just play games on that.

I only have a lowly MacBook for my lowly essays/school work

You could always buy Crossover games.

I use that for my Mac. Been playing KotOR like crazy.

Buy the cheapest 360 you can find and use that then. You'll survive a long time on single-player games.

 

[Heart of Darkness]

There is no such thing as casual or hardcore. What you need to do first is get out of that mindset. Then just play any game that looks interesting to you. If you want a console, just do a search of what the "best" titles are, and base your decision on the games that appeal most to your interests.

 

[m-bot]

I suggest giving a light FPS a try, though. I used to absolutely detest the games till I got bored and tried First Person mode in Star Wars Battlefront 2 on my PSP. Turns out, I quite like FPS's.

Shoot! I forgot to mention that in my first post, I am open to suggestions on "light" FPS as you called them. Nothing too crazy though.

Thanks for the suggestions so far!

 

[funksobeefy]

what the hell is a light FPS?

There is no such thing as casual or hardcore. What you need to do first is get out of that mindset. Then just play any game that looks interesting to you. If you want a console, just do a search of what the "best" titles are, and base your decision on the games that appeal most to your interests.

Anyways just listen to this, I think its lame to say your a "casual" or "Hardcore" gamer. For me its playing games that I enjoy, some cutsy puzzle games hold my interest for hours. While the next day I get into debated conversations over the min/maxing in WoW and will beat KotOR multiple times just so that I can get the whole game.

I see that if you only play games you like, regardless of what others say is hardcore or not, you will have much more fun time playing. And I would rather have tons of happy gamers playing what they want then a bunch of fools only playing hardcore or casual for the title.

 

[Mr. Fister]

It's actually great that you've chosen to become "hardcore" right now, because No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle comes out this month. Must buy for all Wii-owners.

This. This. This.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Demon's Soul in terms of new games.

Welcome, but I highlt advise against Demons Souls [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.158526] as your way into gaming.

A good Rpg to start with would be something like Dragon Age Origins [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.166483] or The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

 

[m-bot]

I suppose "light" as in not too bloody or scary? Because I am very weak at heart and even playing GoldenEye nowadays makes me break out in a cold sweat. But maybe there is no such thing?

I see that if you only play games you like, regardless of what others say is hardcore or not, you will have much more fun time playing. And I would rather have tons of happy gamers playing what they want then a bunch of fools only playing hardcore or casual for the title.

But I like this. Maybe I'll do this in conjunction with getting a PS3, since I've been on the fence about it anyway.

 

[Vek]

Welcome to the fora, good sir/madam.

Platform/adventure? Prince of Persia is good for you.

You could also try the retro-styled Cave Story, a ridiculously fun and complex pixel platformer. Multiple completion paths, fun gameplay, and not mind-bendingly difficult.

RPGs? Choices abound. Valkyria Chronicles and Folklore for the PS3; Fable 2 and Mass Effect 1 for XBox 360.

 

[Uzbekistan]

*Sigh*

Okay, your getting yourself into some deeeeeep stuff here.

First, I would suggest getting some of the older titles like Pokemon silver before you play Soul Silver.

Second off, what I will recomend to you is mostly from a Nintendo freak's perspective.

Get a DS. A Lite will do, but not a DSi. It will be a HUGE waste of your hard earned munny.

Also, get a PS2. There a lot of good games for that too. If you must, get a PS3 BUT MAKE SURE IT IS BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE. Why they just didn't make the PS3 BC in the first place is beyond me.

Now, as far as games go:

Psychonauts. Kingdom Hearts 1 (But not Chain of Memories or 2. What happened was that Sqeenix saw how good KH1 was and wanted to milk the udders a bit more) Just about any Final Fantasy though I personally don't recomend FFX or x2. They're stupid. As I heard it once said, "FFX is for boys and FFX2 is for girls who want to play dress up."

I hear Silent Hill 2 is good, but don't ask me. I haven't played it. The Bouncer is good too once you know what the Eff your doing. Okami. That is a must for every gamer of RPGs.

....... Fire Red and Leaf green are good if you want to do pokemon, but don't want to go old school with Red and Blue. I am hoping HG and SS will do the same for Gold and Silver, but one can never be too careful.

If your looking for a different type of RPG game, The World Ends With You is good, even though its a bit wordy and the dual screen system really fucks with you. Portal is a good game too, for the same reasons The Bouncer is good.

There are a lot more I could probably post, but these are the ones I can only think of for now.

And this post is pretty wordy as is, and other people can tell you what they like and dislike.

 

[Bloody Crimson]

If all the new-age consoles are too expensive, give the PS2 a try. They can definitely be bought for cheap at the right places. They've got TONS of RPGs, a few shooters and the memorable "Ace Combat" flight simulator. But, if you want to be hip I'm indifferent, so I've got no real preferences as to which is better.

 

[Freshman]

I'd say that if your PC is any good, just play games on that.

I only have a lowly MacBook for my lowly essays/school work

All you have to do is download the umpteen billion patches to run starcraft and your good. (only game installed on MY mac...)

 

[m-bot]

Welcome, but I highlt advise against Demons Souls [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.158526] as your way into gaming.

Thanks for the review. I'll check it out.
I know all the reviews say it's deadly hard but it looks so nice. Maybe that'd be enough to sustain me. Or maybe I'll resort to Little Big Planet and Stephen Fry's calming voice instead.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Welcome, but I highlt advise against Demons Souls [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.158526] as your way into gaming.

Thanks for the review. I'll check it out.
I know all the reviews say it's deadly hard but it looks so nice. Maybe that'd be enough to sustain me. Or maybe I'll resort to Little Big Planet and Stephen Fry's calming voice instead.

Mod Nations Racers comes out soon. Its like Mario Kart except even awesomer.

 

[m-bot]

That's the kind of advice I need Uzbekistan, thanks so much. I'm secretly a huge huge poke-nerd and would by a DS and just play pokemon forever, especially since they're redoing Gold and Silver. I assumed every PS3 could play PS2 games but I'm glad you told me that. I missed out on that generation of games and would like to discover some titles (Katamari anyone?)

I've been searching for Okami on Wii but it's really hard to find. So yes, that one is a must too.

Thanks again for your advice. You win a high five.
*high five*

 

[Uzbekistan]

Ah, another thing to suggest: If you aren't sure about a game you want to get, just check out a walkthrough of it on Youtube. If you don't like it after the first, oh five minutes or so, just skip it. That is unless your a masochist.