Ah, the smell of new video game purchases. I'm thinking about going out and getting Dark Arisen and a Steam card for Killing Floor, Mass Effect 2, FTL or Brave New World expansion for Civ 5 if they go on sale this weekend. Too many choices, so little time on Earth.

And we're about the same age Ben, so don't sweat it. I can still probably run laps around most of the younger people here :D

I'm pretty healthy too so I thank the divine for that,Chris! My only lament is the thinning hair on top of my head but when it comes to cardio, things could be much worse. lol.

Tomb Raider is just plain fun. I really enjoyed it. Unrealistic, yes. It it's a freaking video game, for crying out loud! My nephew played though it in a day, but he's not into exploration like his auntie, and there's a ton of exploration to be had.

I remembered you saying good things about it,Tam. That was one of the deciding factors in my purchase! Well, that and being stranded on a spooky island seems rather awesome. (Even if it's not "awesome" for Lara. Poor girl! At least she doesn't have to fight Dinosaurs in this one. lol.)

I have Tomb Raider but the beginning is rife with QTEs and I kept dying and then got fed up and quit.

I can handle QTEs most of the time. They're not my favorite thing in the world but I can put up with them if the rest of the game holds up. Still, I wish they'd die out. lol.

Tomb Raider looks like it's a least a little more believeable than her some of her PSOne adventures.  I've been a little curious to try her latest outting.

It's a mixed bag,Jamie. I think it's a good game but I can understand why fans of the franchise are a bit disappointed it became more like "Uncharted 2.5". Still, I love games like Uncharted so I should be able to dig it!

I wasn't that big of a fan of Tomb Raider, but hope you like it. Think it's better if you've never played Uncharted 2, which does most of the same things minus the exploration in a much better package. 

Only game I bought on sale was the Sonic Collection for the DS. All the Genesis Sonic games on one cart for $10? Hell yeah!

It probably helps I know of but haven't played the Uncharted series,Cas. Maybe a few things will be a bit more "fresh" to me. I imagine the game I'll compare Tombraider to a lot is Resident Evil 4 on account it also has big set piece moments,huge areas, yet still  forces linearity on the player sometimes. Though Uncharted became its' own distinct thing I get the feeling RE 4 is one of its' older relatives.

I'm still waiting on a nice price drop on Tomb Raider.  I'll more than likely get it next year.  

I almost picked up Dissidia 2 last year, but I could only find the 1st game.  

Tombraider is only 14.99 on Amazon,James. Or at least it was last time I checked. lol.

I was just on amazon minutes ago.  They ran out of Tomb Raider.  I could still order for the price, but I decided not to.  

Wow, your birthday is December 22? Mine too! Sounds like you're exactly ten years older than me. I've haven't made any decisions yet on what I'd like to get but that'll depend on how much money people give me lol. We actually got Tomb Raider at the beginning of this month though. My wife snagged it for $10 during a sale on GameFly, which is actually a great place to get used games. I'd love to get Dissidia. That second one is basically an expansion of the first, right? Filling out my PSP collection is going to be much more difficult now that GameStop rarely carries PSP games anymore. Oh well. Got plenty to work througha as it is. Anyway, enjoy the games!

Duodecim has more characters and added a "tag-team" feature that works similar to Marvel vs. capcom's. Beyond that I'm not quite sure what other bells and whistles there are,Daft. Forgive my ignorance. lol.

Even as someone who is a noob to almost anything Final Fantasy, I really like Dissidia. I haven't played the second game, so remember to tell us how it is.

I will,Alejandro. I'll do a review on it when I get my filthy mits on it!

 Firstly, Tomb Raider can eat a dick. Secondly, Dissidia sounds like my kind of fighting game. Thirdly... Download Path of Exile and play with me!

Been thinking about Path Of Exile. I just wish "MMMOs" held my attention longer,Blake. Is this one "different" somehow? I remember people telling me it was like Diablo and that would be a draw for me. I just hate when I feel like I have to make a comittment to keep my character leveled up to "keep up with the group" as it were. MMOs come with their own kind of peer pressure. lol.

 You can play it entirely single player. In fact, the main mode is singleplayer. Once you finish the normal, Hard, insane style difficulties, then you can compete in leagues to get ranked, but they aren't necessary. It works mostly like Diablo, in that it's single player UNLESS you join an open party. There's a chat bar that can be turned off and you can ENTIRELY ignore multiplayer.

Wow,sounds pretty accomodating. Maybe after leveling up a character on my own I'll feel more secure joining a group! I admit I have been keeping it on my radar. I like rpgs with a "dark fantasy" aesthetic. (Then again, I sometimes like rpgs with a bright lighthearted aesthetic too. Derp! lol.)

Yeah, there are levels in this that are direct homages to Diablo 2 and Titan Quest, although it's got plenty of unique gameplay features. I mean there's no gold, everything is done on a bartering system. You give items in exchange for other items. The skills are done through skill gems, not levelling, although the skill gems can be levelled up, and there are leagues, which change the rules of the game if you get bored.

Now that you have a PSP Ben, I'd highly recommend downloading the two Corpse Party games if you have the memory space for them! The first one is rather creepy in a way we don't see in media much anymore, and the sequel has the same type of story, but I haven't gotten into it much because of anxiety issues. Not the best idea to play a game with high schoolers being trapped in a school in another dimension that's full of tortured souls trying to kill them when in this state! 

Dude, you're awesome! I totally forgot the Corspse Party games were on the psp! Now I feel senile. lol.

Happy early birthday!  Have a power pellet!

The Dissidia games are great.  One of my favorites on the PSP.

You'll have to do some convincing to get me to play the new Tomb Raider game, though.

"The violent death scenes" Lara endures aren't my cup of tea either,Cary. I feel as if the same game would have been just fine without them. Watching Lara take a wooden shaft through her throat isn't my idea of a good time.

Bleh that doesn't sound good at all.  Lara is too pretty and nice to die like that!

My brother had let me borrow the first Dissidia a few months ago. I still haven't played it lol. It looks cool though. I second JCal's recommendation to get Corpse Party. It seems like something you could easily get into.

Corpse party is my jam. I'm glad JB reminded me they're availible for the psp,Aaron! I forgot somewhere along the line.

I had a blast with Tomb Raider. Yes, the QTEs early on are poorly executed (but they're not prominent throughout the game) and some combat encounters feel a little too difficult at times (there's a moment in a monastery that almost drove me insane with repeated attempts) but it's a beautiful looking game with some creative design (especially the tomb passages).

You haven't played with Tifa yet!?!?!?!

Get the Tifa game! Enjoy it! Cherish it! Given the choice between Lara Croft and Tifa Lockhart it's Tifa all the way!