Warhawk trophies are go

So, I’ve got a little secret. I kind of like trophies. I’m not a trophy whore by any means, but it’s interesting to think about how some of these are going to work and make you play differently. With Super Stardust HD, I tried to get the bomber trophy and it was harder then I thought, but I pulled it off eventually. So, going into the new 1.5 patch for one of my favorite online games, Warhawk, I was interested in how this was going to work. Sometimes, different tactics don’t always work on the battlefield and in some battle situations. But, I’m happy to report that Warhawk doesn’t break the game with the addition of trophies. In fact, I seemed to get them without even really thinking about them.

Case in point: I was playing a game of Collection. What is at it’s base a multi-flag CTF, the goal is to recover four ‘cores’ and return them to your base. I was running, and in some cases driving a 4x4 to the closest core. On the way, were proximity mines. My personal favorite weapon since you can use them in so many ways, offense or defense. So, grabbed some prox mines and made a run for the core. Once I got there and picked it up, I was accosted by a player in a warhawk. Most of the time, a ground troop fighting a plane isn’t going to end well. But, I don’t let this stop me most of the time. Going down swinging is the best way to play online games when your on the brink of death anyway. So, I open up a can of haul-ass back to the fort with someone in a plane shooting at me. I fight back as best as I could. Shooting machine guns, hand guns, flamethrowers, the works. I randomly throw out a prox mine and, by some amount of luck, it sticks to the left wing, three seconds later, the plane explodes and I run, relatively unscathed, back to score.

As I run back, I notice the trophy icon pop up for killing a Warhawk with a ground weapon that’s not the rocket launcher. And there in is the reason the trophy system works for Warhawk. The challenges aren’t completely taking you out of what you might do, or try in desperate situations, in the regular game. The list of trophies in the games are posted here for those interested: http://www.ps3trophies.org/game/warhawk/trophies/

It’s no real secret that I love Warhawk. It’s a very good game that has a lot of different modes and a lot of different ways to play in those modes. It’s got a lot of players, so you won’t have a hard time finding a game. It’s a game I tell everyone with a PS3 to get. And with all the updates coming for it along with booster packs, it’s a game with legs. And trophies add to the experience without disconnecting you from the action.

And listening to N.W.A. .while you’re busting a cap in someone’s ass is cool, too. More on the booster pack later on when it’s released later today. Check out the trailer here:

In Deck/On Deck - Max Edition

IN DECK:

Blue Dragon

It’s certainly not a new game but it’s the one I’m currently playing the most of. Honestly, I tried Blue Dragon’s downloadable demo a couple times, but couldn’t get into it at all really. After hearing great reviews from pals, I’ve now borrowed it from a friend and am completely hooked in, with it helping fill the void of a console RPG to play this summer at the last minute. Although this game features probably the most generic main characters that Akira Toriyama has ever designed, it still is quite engaging. It’s totally past-gen RPG with current-gen aesthetics. It’s also making me want to check out some of Mistwalker’s other offerings.

Bionic Commando Rearmed

I loved the original so BC Rearmed is a dream come true. If you haven’t bought this game yet and have a platform it’s on, shame on you. This is the best remake and downloadable title I’ve experienced this generation, mainly because the game takes everything that made the original so great and adds so much Awesome Sauce to the mix. The fact that it’s been highly successful in its first week is great news, as it’s sending a message to developers that excellent downloadable titles made as a labor of love for creators and fans will sell well. It also sets the stage for the upcoming 3D console version of BC to deliver. Beating Rearmed co-op on easy was a beast, but worth the exploding Hitler brains. Next up: a run on medium solo.

Capcom Classics Collection 2

Capcom’s Magic Sword is probably one of my favorite all time arcade games (next to Pac-Man) and now, thanks to a loan from my sister-in-law, I can play it whenever I want on PS2. Great co-op, cool assist characters you save from dungeons and can level up and the lack of needing $20 in quarters to get to the end keeps me coming back. I’ve also beat King of Dragons and Eco Fighters (of all things) recently in co-op sessions, and taken a few swipes at Strider and Black Tiger too. Good times.

Final Fantasy III

I gave FFIII to my wife a couple Christmases ago, but we’ve both only picked it up a few weeks ago when we went to visit her family in Canada—and I’ve been playing more of it than her of late. RPG fans with DSes don’t need to hear me rave about this game, they know what’s up. I love everything about this game, except I’m not crazy about the jobs system and have left most of my party in the same jobs throughout. Now more jobs are opening up and I don’t want to miss the opportunity for diversity, but the limitations imposed when you switch jobs makes it a little imposing. I’m kinda torn in whether to stay in current jobs or experiment a bit, which has seen me put down the game for a couple days. I plan to resolve the dilemma ASAP.

Grand Theft Auto IV

I’m probably one of the few people who hasn’t beat this game yet, and while I still am chipping away at the campaign from time to time, what I’m really playing right now is online sessions with my brother and a college buddy. Getting the three of us together for mayhem in Liberty City with a soundtrack of our private jokes and cackling can’t be beat.

ON DECK:

Okami

I ordered this awhile back and it’s still waiting for me at the shop. I’m excited to play it and will be picking it up very soon. I’m a little wary about the Wii paint strokes though…

Final Fantasy IV

Also on order, but on hold until I finish FFIII.

Soul Caliber IV

Holy crap, this is the game I just can’t WAIT to own. The gameplay is nice for veterans, but beginners do well too. Just ask my wife, who kicked my ass non-stop long after the initial rounds where I went easy on her. Lots of cool new characters and the customizable character creation mode is fantastic; one of my buddies whipped up Nightwing and Harley Quinn of Batman lore. I’m not too keen on the Star Wars characters however, so I could care less if I’ll be playing Yoda instead of Darth.

Max

Hola from Max

I’m J’s pal Max, also a gamer fanatic, but I don’t think even I am as hardcore as J is these days. I’ve been a Nintendo fanboy most my life and in earlier years worked at several Nintendo-centric fan sites until health issues required me to stop. Since then, I’ve diversified myself a bit more, as it’s hard to have a diet of Nintendo alone in today’s gaming climate (hell, it’s been that way for awhile). I currently have/play a 360, Wii, DS and PS2 (which is my brother’s, but he’s in no hurry to have it back). I’m also lucky enough to be married to a gamer, who kicks my ass in F-Zero, Puzzle Fighter and any other games I try to play against her.

J invited me to help out on the blog and the upcoming podcast. I’m more than happy to chip in, because it’s rare to find people in person who are ultra passionate about games like he is. Personally, I’ve been an addict since Pac-Man gobbled up countless quarters and my eternal soul in my early childhood, but I fucking love it. These days, I try to buy all my games at Super-Fly Comics and Games (www.myspace.com/superflycomics) instead of dealing with the pre-order & used game hard sell at Gamestop (and as far as I know, so does J). If everything goes well, we may be doing our podcast from Super-Fly too.

Like J, I’m pretty busy with work & school & married life, but I’m all about making an effort for this blog. Hopefully, we can provide something a little different at the Driver I.D. If we don’t, feel free to call us jerks, poseurs and creeps but at least know we’re trying to be cool.

Max Lake

In Deck/On Deck

in this segment, we talk about the games we're playing and the games we're waiting to play.


IN DECK:

Call of Duty 4

ok, i'm late to the party. the best game of last year and i'm just getting it. i always meant to get it at some point, but after buying multiple games in the winter months in 2007, i was tapped out. but, i rectified the problem as of last month.

needless to say, COD4 is a game that people are pretty fanatical. alot of level 55s. as i found out quickly, this means that the first few matches i was getting my face shot off. while i'm getting better by baby steps, (i'm currently at level 22) it's still difficult to get into some matches without feeling like people spend way too much time playing this game. i'm still having a good time playing COD4 and it's taking up alot of my gaming time as of late. i'd like to join a clan so i have people i know watching my back in team matches. playing with unknown people is cool, but most are out for themselves and don't look out for their teammates. i always try to play as a good teammate; ghosting people, watching their six, throwing stun grenades in the area of people that my teammates are shooting. being a good guy and all.

really fun. i'm glad i finally got this one.

PAIN

i know. i know. pain? yeah. it's a low brow, corny tech demo at best game. but damnit, it's fun. call me a non-gamer if you will, but it's to the core of human beings. falling down is funny. getting kicked in the groin is really funny and so forth. flinging your character into the side of a car is fun. glass breaking and exploding boxes make for a good game. sorry if you're too high brow with your Braids and your MGS4s to really appreciate a game where you hurl a guy into a huge bowling ball, causing it to fall into oncoming traffic and causing the biggest accident this side on I-75. i'm looking forward to the new amusement park level next week. and trophies.

Bionic Commando: Rearmed

i loved and hated BC back in the day. one of the hardest games i'd played. so, to my great joy, capcom decided to re-release one of the hardest games on earth. of coarse, i bought it on day two. it is as hard as i remember, and the new challenge rooms are insanely difficult. i got though all of three rooms before i moved back over to the main game. i would suggest that everyone that loves a very old school challenge, pick this game up. i'm three levels away from the end and shit just got real. i'll be attempting to not throw my silver dualshock down the stairs.

ON DECK:

Warhawk: Operation Fallen Star

first post

so, i've been talking about starting a gaming blog for a long time. longer then i'd like to talk about. the fact that no one i work with or live with cares as much as i do about systems, console sku, graphics and whatnot. i've posted on other gaming sites and blogs, but ultimately, it turns into "my virtual dick is bigger then yours" "my system has the best games." "my system sold more then yours." "360 red rings...." "PS3 IS DOOOOOOOMD!!111!!!!!1" you know how it goes. it's old. i've found that most of these sites have editors and contributors that definitely lean toward one system or company. it's very disconcerting at times to read "news" stories on some gaming blogs taking not so subtle shots at developers and consoles. i won't name names, but i'm sure you know what i mean.

so, i'm taking initiative and starting up the Driver I.D. to talk about games. it's the American dream.

now, to clarify. i'll only be talking about the systems that i have. why would i be running my mouth about games i can't play? that's not to say that if something comes up that sounds interesting, that i won't comment on it. i like to talk about things i know for sure and that effect me as a gamer. i'll leave comments open, but i'd like this to be pretty civil. after all, it is just video games.


i'll update when i can. i'm currently in school, working to become a licenced massage therapist. i also have a job that i'm at more often then i'd like to be. but, i'll try not to leave this dormant. from time to time, i'd like to get outside contributions for the blog. i'm trying to get a podcast together as well. i'll be setting up an email for people to send questions, topics and comments for the show.

if anyone reads this, glad to have you reading. we'll try to make it a good time.


J.Whittaker (gaming profile coming soon)