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[novery]

Today the December issue of Famitsu Xbox hit newsstands here in Japan with the first ever print review (to my knowledge) of Halo 2.

Halo 2 scored a 10, 9, 9, 9. for a total of 37/40

(For those curious, DOA Ultimate nabbed 10,9,9,8 for 36/40)

-rp

 

[explodet]

#214

 

[IJoel]

SHENANIGANS ARE AFOOT!

Sony paid for those 9s!

Disappointment of the year!

Spoiler

har har har! nice score

 

[Culex]

I think the biggest question will be: how many people will buy the magazine to care?

 

[drohne]

new oxm has been on the newsstands all week, actually. their review is totally silly. there's a sealed section you have to tear open for SPOILERZZZ. and then when you tear it open there aren't any real spoilers inside. :/

 

[Kon Tiki]

What did they give Halo 1?

 

[GhaleonEB]

SHENANIGANS ARE AFOOT!

Sony paid for those 9s!

Disappointment of the year!

Spoiler

har har har! nice score

So, we have so far:

US OXM: 9.7
Some mag in Europe: 9.3
Australia OXM: 10
Famitsu XBox: 37/40 - 9.25 average (and Japan tends to dislike FPS)

So far, so good.

 

[cvxfreak]

Considering the Japanese take on FPS, and the deadliness of Xbox out there, then it's a good score indeed, but this is Famitsu Xbox, so expect a little bias.

 

[Coin Return]

choda dog approves.

the mods do not - bishoptl

 

[MrparisSM]

Today the December issue of Famitsu Xbox hit newsstands here in Japan with the first ever print review (to my knowledge) of Halo 2.

Halo 2 scored a 10, 9, 9, 9. for a total of 37/40

(For those curious, DOA Ultimate nabbed 9,9,9,8 for 36/40)

-rp

That's a awesome score! Especially from a JPN publication(I know it's Xbox affiliated, but still)

Also great score for DOA Ultimate.

 

[novery]

I think the biggest question will be: how many people will buy the magazine to care?

According to Enterbrain, sales of Famitsu Xbox magazine hover around 150,000 per month. (Although I got this figure about six months ago. I imagine the reader base is smaller now.)

-rp

 

[Memles]

Famitsu: 37/40 - 9.25 average (and Japan tends to dislike FPS)

Not true, it is Famitsu XBox. By the same accord, taking Famitsu GC at the same value as Famitsu itself would not be wise.

 

[Kon Tiki]

So, we have so far:

US OXM: 9.7
Some mag in Europe: 9.3
Another mag in europe: 8.7
Australia OXM: 10
Famitsu: 37/40 - 9.25 average (and Japan tends to dislike FPS)

So far, so good.

 

[AniHawk]

Also, I think Japanese reviewers aren't really turned off to FPSers as much as the Japanese public is.

Oh, and the 4 reviews for Halo 2 = 95.6%. W/ reviewers only, it's 94.3%.

 

[GhaleonEB]

I thought the 8.7 turned out to be a 9.3 in reality.

 

[ferricide]

Also, I think Japanese reviewers aren't really turned off to FPSers as much as the Japanese public is.

definitely. regular famitsu can't even tell the difference between shitty western games and good ones. no, i don't have any specific examples off the top of my head.

 

[demon]

It didn't have 'good' art, a 3rd person view and 8 hour cutscenes.

 

[Mrbob]

It didn't have 'good' art, a 3rd person view and 8 hour cutscenes.

Definite GOTY candidate in Japan if these items are included.

 

[novery]

Personally, I trust Famitsu Xbox reviews more than the trash Famitsu Weekly spews out every seven days. The Famitsu Xbox guys played through Halo 2 (because Enterbrain is the only media source in Japan allowed to play it before November 11. I know because I was turned down.)

On the flip side, do you really think the Famitsu Weekly reviewers have enough time to give each game an honest play-through before reviewing the title? I doubt it.

-rp

 

[fennec fox]

On the flip side, do you really think the Famitsu Weekly reviewers have enough time to give each game an honest play-through before reviewing the title? I doubt it.

It's not the same four people reviewing games every week. They go in rotations.

 

[Kon Tiki]

I thought the 8.7 turned out to be a 9.3 in reality.

Maybe, did not follow that thread.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Maybe, did not follow that thread.

It was a tough thread to follow.

 

[novery]

It's not the same four people reviewing games every week. They go in rotations.

Yeah, I'm aware. And I think I remember you criticizing Famitsu Weekly reviews a while back, too.

The point is, Famitsu Weekly reviews are trash. They rarely critique games. The three sentences they write on each game is more of an overview that reads like the back of the game's package.

-rp

 

[GhaleonEB]

Yeah, I'm aware. And I think I remember you criticizing Famitsu Weekly reviews a while back, too.

The point is, Famitsu Weekly reviews are trash. They rarely critique games. The three sentences they write on each game is more of an overview that reads like the back of the game's package.

-rp

I've long hated that format. Give me 2000 words anytime.

 

[GhaleonEB]

UK OXM review is out:

10/10

Summary is as follows :

1. The AI is so entertaining in its own right, you almost don't have to play the game to enjoy it! Watching enemies fight is brilliant fun!

2. Almost every type of multiplayer setup has been catered for : Split-screen, System Link and Xbox Live. No Live co-op though.

3. Takes all the best bits from the original Halo and builds upon them with new features like dual wielding and vehicle hijacking.

4. Fifteen levels, all absolutely massive, and without any of the repetition that tarnished the prequel.

5. Some of the best graphics and art design in videogame history. A fascinating and unforgettable sci-fi vision.

The Verdict :-

We doubt you'll ever play a better single-player and multiplayer game on this generation of consoles.

10/10

http://forum.teamxbox.com/showthread.php?t=304324

 

[Guileless]

 

[Kon Tiki]

Eh? Best art design ever? That is kinda ... you know ... laughable.

 

[shuri]

i dont think I'll ever recover from that pic of the dog with the dildo hat.

 

[Do The Mario]

choda dog approves

hehehe Classic!


Great score!

 

[GaimeGuy]

Eh? Best art design ever? That is kinda ... you know ... laughable.

Technologically great? Maybe.

Artwise? I don't think so

 

[GhaleonEB]

Technologically great? Maybe.

Artwise? I don't think so

You played through it?

 

[Kon Tiki]

I think the term you are looking for is "subjective". We wouldn't want to throw out generalizations, now would we? Either way, I wholly disagree with you--the tech designs was one of my main draws to the original game, and the added flare of the sequel just adds to the anticipation, for me. As always, to each his own.

Ya subjective came across my mind. If I were writing a professional review I would never say 'best art ever', since art is not something that can be judged.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Ya subjective came across my mind. If I were writing a professional review I would never say 'best art ever', since art is not something that can be judged.

I would not go that far - that's like saying music and design are too subjective; this is a review and the subjective opinion of one person. But any claim of 'best art ever' is pretty dumb; had he said 'the art is excellent and does the job well' that might be more accurate.

 

[Kon Tiki]

Visual art?

 

[GhaleonEB]

Visual art?

Fair enough.

 

[Nerevar]

bad art? No perfect 10's?

*cancels pre-order*

 

[GhaleonEB]

bad art? No perfect 10's?

*cancels pre-order*

Australia OXM: 10/10
UK OXM: 10/10

;p

 

[DopeyFish]

Regular Famitsu rated Halo 33/40 iirc

 

[Mashing]

I never put much worth into platform specific magazines review scores as they are clearly trying to get people to buy more software for their platform or buy more hardware. Not that anything really wrong with that mind you, it just comprises their judgement I think.

But what do I know, I'm not a jounalist (farthest thing from it--I hate to write).

 

[Docpan]

The fact that it's not anime automatically makes the art crap to some of you?

*Masturbation emoticon here*

 

[Mr_Furious]

art is not something that can be judged.

Sure it can.

Example:

A look closer:

See. That's bad art now matter how you slice it.

 

[op_ivy]

i love the art and designs... sure, its almost cheesy, but somehow it all works. its like star wrs in that sense. yes the aliens look kinda dumb, but it totally works and somehow it believable

 

[Phantom]

(For those curious, DOA Ultimate nabbed 9,9,9,8 for 36/40)

Shouldn't that be 35/40? or do Famitsu not just add up the scores

 

[novery]

Shouldn't that be 35/40? or do Famitsu not just add up the scores

You're right. And the score was 10/9/9/8. My mistake.

-rp

 

[Miburou]

Where did the phrase "??? am crying" come from anyway?

 

[human5892]

Where did the phrase "??? am crying" come from anyway?

REIROM

 

[Cimarron]

I feel good!

 

[werther]

I'm dissapointed that it scored so low.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Sure it can.

Example:

A look closer:

See. That's bad art now matter how you slice it.

Okay, that's 'bad art'. I would call this 'good art':

But that's just me.

 

[krypt0nian]

Eh? Best art design ever? That is kinda ... you know ... laughable.

IAWTP wholeheartedly...