Timmo

Even if I did "die so often" (which I don't, also my Dad's bigger than yours), the tension that should be there for potentially dying is non-existent due to the chambers. Is my point clear yet?

So how exactly do I stop them making the game too easy? Saving next to them and then re-loading when I die seems a tad counter-productive...

The resurrection chambers still spoil the game, though.

Hmm. I might try that. I'll find it hard though, because it's two button presses away and only a couple of seconds!

Was really not getting into this, but after 3 areas I can say... it's mostly excellent. The biggest problem is the Joey Deacon-designed save/restart/health system. Proper spacked, that. I'd be almost dead, finger on the B button, before thinking, "why waste a medi-kit, I'll just respawn 10 yards away anyway", and suddenly, I won't be in this wonderful world but instead in a nice little Quake 3 mod with a healthy selection of gadgets and weapons. I really hate the save system. The Gene swapping machines should have doubled up as Metroid style save-points. Someone will come back with "you don't need to save, that's what the resurrection pods are for!", but I'm willing to bet that most people here save and re-load before and after a failed hack. A couple of changes and they could have kept that wonderfully tense atmosphere. Also, they should have turned off saves and resurrection pods for the whole game. Also, you can't pause it. Also, you drown at the start when the plane crashes.

Isn't lack of focus was makes them exciting?

Best band at Pukkelpop! Not got the new album yet but their "here's a new song" blew the crowd away!

As regards your own booze, we heard that too. But they didn't really check our bags and we got whisky and vodka in, no issues. Don't take anything expensive though, as I'm sure there's a chance.

That sounds awful. Brits can't have been 10% of Pukkelpop. The ones I did meet were all super nice, too. I'm not sure what you mean for camping - you're unsure about facilities? There's plenty of toilets etc. Showers although you could well queue for an hour plus unless you get up early (or you could just stay out!) No drinking water but you can get 2 litre bottles for 1 euro. Our tent was near to an all night bar which was grand. If you mean space etc there were no problems at all. Far less were camping than you'd see at an English festival, looks like day tickets hold more appeal abroad. I wish I was still there!

What went wrong at Benicassim? The whole weekend was just a delight. In comparison, Reading last year was horrifically packed (almost claustrophobic, even), uncomfortable and disappointing. An hour walk to the stage is never fun. Pukkelpop was cheaper, had a better line up, had no sound level issues (the quietness of Reading's dance stage last year was a joke), and as I say, no queues or squashes due to good planning. It didn't start well. The travelling to get there was a bit of a pain (time rather than anything else, it's included in the ticket price), and we arrived to pouring rain, my bedding getting wet in the dark. It didn't take long to get settled though, and the rain soon cleared up (incidentally, the only rain of the weekend). It was superbly organised; any extra muddy bits were quickly boarded over and I didn't see a single person fall or get muddy. We left and headed straight for the dance tent (pre festival party) and I ended up having one of the funniest and generally excellent nights of my life. When it kicked off, it felt full and there was an exciting atmosphere, but it was never cramped. Most venues were full but there was always room to get in (the only exception I saw being besnard lakes, which was completely rammed). For an idea of size it was about the same as reading. We always gravitated and met at the special beer tent, (never ANY queues as I mentioned, due to brilliant ticket system) where cheerful cherry beer drinking became an institution. We'd recharge before splitting and heading off to the great variety of bands. Here was the line-up: http://www.last.fm/event/92533 Liars were the best band there for me, so unpredictable and intense. Battles impressed, as did Digitalism. Lo Fi fnk were great fun. The DJs made the weekend for me, though. I've never danced so much. Bad points: poor food, solitary cash machine, no cider. The fact it finishes! That's genuinely all I can think of. I liked the mix of belgians/dutch/germans etc. Next year? Definitely.

Anyone else go? For me it was about 10 times the festival reading/leeds is, similar but with more of a slant towards dance/electronic (Digitalism/Justice/LCD) but a great deal of guitar rock too. (Shins/Kings of Leon/Smashing pumpkins etc) More when I've recovered, but it was incredible. There were far less brits than I thought there would be, seeing as it's relatively easy to get to and only 130 euros. Seriously amazing weekend. Drinks/food tokens are a fab idea. The only queue I was in for the whole weekend was the cash machine, due to my own poor planning.

Ninja Gaiden is possibly my number 1. I really should have voted.

"I'm going immerse myself in this game by having a conversation as I play!"

Sounds like you want Riven, the sequel to 1993's popular PC Adventure, Myst.

Exactly what I thought. The video after the demo made combat look varied and fun, though. That'll do me. I'd get bored of 20 hours of nothing but exploring. My single worry about Bioshock is that I'll have to ration my items/weapons. I really don't want to be doing that. Let me have fun the way I want and all that. The universal "ammo" for the powers suggests it'll be ok though - anyone?

I thought it started stupidly amazingly (the first 5 mins, wow), then tailed off when you got the screaming mentals running at you. Was amazing though. I'm sure the full thing is better paced.

You're a very cheeky monkey.

Oh 83%, why you taunt me so. Consequently, I award this game 83%.

Percentages jumping all over the place, console off and on, frustration. That read a bit like some sixth form-style poetry, didn't it?

In that case I'll take it back tomorrow. My only problem being, if it works fine when I take it in, will they exchange it? (Gamestation)

Could have been that. There's no harm holding onto it, seeing as I've only just got it. Plus, I was worried that I'd go, and they'd plug it in and it'd work fine. Or do they just swap it without any questions?

Hmm, my machine of two weeks had the three red lights appear today. Was just about to set off to get it swapped and it started working again. Does this happen much or should I expect it to fully conk out soon enough? It's no bother really, as long as Gamestation let me keep the HD, which I hear they do.

Basically, the bookends of their catalogue are a disappointment. The rest - amazing.

Hmm, I'd order them: 1) Ninja Gaiden 2) God Hand 3) Devil May Cry 3 4) God of War Have you finished Gaiden? It wins easily for me. then again, I've not gone through God Hand on Hard. I don't think I'm good enough, though.